A Guiding Light Between Love and Sex

While I agree with Armstrong Williams’ concerns on how sex is treated outside of a loving relationship, his resorting to an insipid “chewing gum” analogy to support what is nothing more than religious dogma reverses any credibility he may have had (“The Birds and Bees, but Hold the Pollen,” Commentary, April 18).

Insisting that only within marriage can sex with love truly blossom implies that love exists in a vacuum until then.

While I understand the intentions behind such thinking, Williams would do a great service if he was just honest and said he wants us to join his congregation. There are many people who never get married, for whatever reason. Are we to believe that God only intended for those who get married to experience the beauty of intimate love? I doubt it.

TODD GROVES

Santa Monica

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Who is Williams’ audience and what does he want to have happen with children and sex? Surely, no thoughtful adult would have much trouble with his ideas about “the truly beautiful possibilities of human interconnectedness--the act of two people guarding over each other, body and soul.” So, are his comments meant to be understood by “children [who] simply lack the emotional component to understand sex”?

We all--teenagers and young adults especially included--learn about ourselves and our various environments by experience. It is in our very human nature to do so. Yes, sex is beautiful. But sometimes it is ugly too. The best ways we adults can help our children understand the inevitable complexities of their sexuality is allow them to experience it for themselves under our loving guidance, without undue shame or guilt, along with truthful and objective information as they need it.

BRIAN A. KELLEHER

Mountain Center, Calif.