That would seem accurate, but I think one case I made strongly is one we can all think about. If our neighbor is sacred, and they are, how do we treat them?

And yes, sadly, too many men are pigs and those of us who aren’t suffer for those who do. My own wife can find it hard to believe that I’m one of the rare good guys, especially since I have a high drive.

Thanks…good points on the link between marriage and apologetics. I posed the same question to my husband this morning, and his response was, “because men are pigs.” As for the violence toward women, his take was more or less what I had gathered – that it’s about domination and being in control over someone else; which still seems ironic in that a man would look to a person who is half his size and weight for self-affirmation, rather than conquer something truly greater than he – e.g., a mountain, an enemy in battle – to prove he is a man. Considering this misuse of physical strength, I suppose rape and sexual abuse boil down to cowardice.

Well Terry, since you asked me, I shall answer the best I can. I think we could say the same about anything. If nature is a beautiful thing, why do we sometimes ravage and destroy it? If food is a beautiful thing, why do we misuse it and gorge ourselves? If our neighbor is a beautiful thing (And indeed all our neighbors are) why do we speak ill of them? James 3 comes to mind here. Why? Because we’re fallen sinners. Many of us lose sight of this good and our culture being one that promotes the materialistic mindset that we are just bodies does not help us out here. We must all strive to overcome our culture. Ultimately, I think we Christians should be setting the bar for the best sexual experiences. We are often not doing so because we have failed so much on marriage. If we want to know why the world dishonors marriage, I reply that it is because the church sadly did it first. As an apologist, I realize now that good marriage is essential to good apologetics. The family is sacred and must be protected.

Hi Nick…I was thinking back to this blog last night after a make-out session with my husband (which is what made me think of your comments), and I wondered: If the female body and its various parts are indeed so beautiful to a man (as Bobthemusicguy also commented in a later blog), why do single men (usually; it seems most men “grow up” to an extent when they get married) discuss and describe them in such crass and crude terms, either to our faces or to other men behind our backs – the latter accompanied by laughter and high-fives? (“Break that down like a double-barreled shotgun!”) I would think there would be an air of hushed reverence surrounding such topics if men actually feel the way you describe. Maybe it’s a silly question. Do they think it’s complimentary? Or that a “hey, baby – nice —-! ” should be a turn-on? Even more, if a thing of beauty should be protected treated gently, why does it incite some men to violence? That second question is likely a topic in itself; and I don’t expect you to speak for all men. But I thought you might shed some light on what seems to me a disparity between a man’s opinion on what he sees and his words and actions.

Libl, that’s beautiful! An amazing example of ‘take every thought captive’!

I get his rejection. He just needs to watch what he says. My wife struggles with self-image as well and she finds it hard to think she’s beautiful, but I love the goods. Even if we can’t have sex, if I could just get to see her sometimes, that’s enough to get me through the day. I honestly don’t understand husbands who don’t want to have sex. It makes no sense to me.