True Love Waits

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For other uses, see True love (disambiguation).

True Love Waits (TLW) is an international Christian group that promotes sexual abstinence outside of marriage for teenagers and college students. TLW was created in April, 1993, and is sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources. It is based on Christian views of human sexuality that require one to be faithful to one's husband or wife, even before marriage.

In addition, they promote what they consider "sexual purity", which encompasses not only abstaining from intercourse before marriage, but also abstaining from sexual thoughts, sexual touching, pornography, and actions that are known to lead to sexual arousal.^[1]

1 Criticism
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Criticism

The program has also begun providing public school teachers in the United States with lessons about sexual abstinence. They teach that sexual abstinence before marriage is the best way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Many argue that this leaves students with an inadequate education about sex. Critics also note that research shows that students who engage in virginity pledges are less likely to use contraception and are less educated about safe sex than those who don't. ^[2]Supporters of TLW point out, however, that the program does not claim that abstinence is the only way to prevent pregnancy and STDs, simply that it is the only "foolproof" or absolutely sure method. However, studies from Columbia University and Yale University researchers shows that people who engage in virginity pledges have the same proportion of STDs as those who don't.^[3]Therefore, critics contend that programs like True Love Waits fail from a STD and health point of view.

Critics also argue that research shows that virginity pledges don't successfully delay sex ^[4] , and program members are as likely to engage in sexual activities (oral sex and anal sex)^[5]^[6].

True Love Waits has also been criticized specifically for failing to prevent sex. According the the aforementioned Yale Study, "Of 12,000 teens, aged 12-18 years, who completed the TLW program, 88% had engaged in sexual intercourse before marriage within six years of completion."^[7].