Now that I have your attention....Really, this is about sex.
This week's issue of Newsweek contains an interesting commentary by Anna Quinlan, found on the last page, that deals with the Catholic Church's Priestly sex scandal and how, for so many years, repressive teachings by the Church in matters realting to human sexuality have been very counter-productive and have missed the mark badly while the Church at the same time tried to cover-up cases of pedophilia among priests. Examples given include teachings like no divorce (while people suffer in bad marriages), no birth control (thus teaching that sex is not be engaged in simply for pleasure but with the purpose of procreation), and so on. And yet in the meantime, they obviously missed the boat on the whole problem of sex abuse within their own priesthood.
While JW teachings are not as repressive, at times I have noticed a seeming obsession, if one might call it that, among some JWs in matters of a sexual nature. For example, a CO came through our area a few years back who pointed out all the supposed phallic symbols around town, bragged about breaking up a supposed youth sex ring in another circuit (according to him, he was the only person who figured it out and acted), and told a sister and I the reason why a local brother was df'd (a sexual offense which he detailed, to the shock of that sister and myself).
In another instance, I was once working alone with a sister in field service because the family that was supposed to meet up with us in the territory did not show. When an elder saw us leave the break site togther (they came for coffe break just as we were leaving), I got the predictable phone call warning me about pairing up alone with a sister. Neither one of us even gave it a second thought, especially since it was not planned, but the elder sure seemed bothered by it.
While the Newsweek article and the examples given are not quite parallel in nature, I was just curious about putting this on the board here, kind of thinking out loud as it were, and seeing if anyone might like to offer an observation, whether in agreement or not. Thanks.