Posted on 08/26/2006 3:21:06 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
Most Christians have supported the 'ABC' approach – abstinence, be faithful, use condoms –in the battle against AIDS. However, faith leaders – including America’s Purpose Driven pastor Rick Warren – are gradually shifting their support to alternative models which are said to be more comprehensive.
Prevention, especially in women who make up over half of the adults infected with AIDS, was a major theme of the International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Toronto last week. During the conference, the ABC model was criticized by some because it fails to address situation and factors such as the helplessness of women. For example, a woman could have abstained from sex until marriage and been faithful to her spouse, but she may still acquire the HIV virus through her husband if he did not tell her he had AIDS or if he was unfaithful.
Rick Warren, who attended and presented at the AIDS conference, said although he thinks ABC is good, he would like to share two alternative models – "SLOW" and "STOP," that consider a greater number of factors and situations. According to Saddleback Church staff members who went to Toronto with Warren, the two alternative models were presented for the first time at the ecumenical pre-conference held a few days prior to IAC.
"Instead of debating ABC, I think the question to ask is: ‘What is the purpose of prevention?’ Tell me what the purpose of prevention is and I’ll tell you which strategy you should use," Warren told The Christian Post this week during an interview. "Is your purpose to curb or reduce the pandemic? Or is it to cure it, get rid of it?"
Warren said many people are more interested in slowing down the pandemic instead of stopping it because they are not willing to make behavioral changes. Although he disagrees, saying it’s a "primarily behavior-based disease," his "SLOW" model offers four steps that will reduce the number of people infected with AIDS.
"SLOW" stands for Supply condoms, Limit the number of partners, Offer needle exchanges to addicts, and Wait for sex as long as possible.
"Those four things will slow the pandemic; no doubt about it," commented Warren. "They’re very popular and at the conference those four were talked about over and over because they don’t require behavioral change. They’re not painful. They don’t allow you to need much discipline. They’re just easy to do. So they’re popular and they’re easy."
However, the "STOP" model, which requires behavioral changes and is "much more difficult," will stop the pandemic in "one single generation," according to Warren. "STOP" stands for Save sex for marriage, Train men to treat women with respect, Offer nutrition and medications through churches, and Pledge yourself to one partner.
Other Christian groups, such as U.K.-based Christian Aid, have also supported alternative strategies to "ABC."
"Now when you ask me what I’m interested in, I’m interested in doing both. I want to ‘slow’ it and I want to ‘stop’ it," said Warren. "So I’ll use anything I can to help save a life."
He is nuts
No Bibilical based pastor would support this
Let's see, he has preached the "seeker sensitive purpose driven" gospel... "Don't preach on sin or hell..., ALWAYS preach 'positive' messages'... you do not want to offend the sensabilities of the seekers."
The "man is responsibel for global warming, what would Jesus drive" gospel...
The "Evangelical fundamentalists pose the greatest threat to world peace" gospel...
Now he is on to his latest and greatest false gospel... his "Let's SLOW Aids through offering condoms and needle exchanges"... false gospel.
But what does it matter; this wolf in sheep’s clothing "pastors" a mega church and is one of the most popular guys out their, so he must be doing "god's work".
Matthew 7:21-22
P.T. Barnum strikes again.
Don't "put it up the down staircase."
That will solve 90+% of it.
I heard a quote is it by Dietrich Bonhoffer? "Principles can never be compromised. Only abandoned" this is a perfect example.
Rick Warren is too LIBERAL for ABC?
Let's look at the elements of SLOW which are societal policy:
Supply Condoms.
Supply Needles.
That's it. That's the whole policy. Help people do that which kills them.
From this perspective, you'd expect the government's policy on gun control would be to teach kids how to aim.
Now let's look at the personal side of the proposal:
Save sex for marriage. Brilliant! Oh, wait, he's not done though:
Or, you could just stick to one partner. At a time. Or at least a limited number of partners. Just so long as you treat them with respect. Other than the fact that you are f***ing them while you also f*** other people.
Or maybe that's too difficult.
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