The canary in the coal mine

Last updated on: November 6, 2012 at 7:43 pm by Dawn Eden

The canary in the coal mine 2012-11-06T19:43:45-05:00 Dawn Eden

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“[If] you watch any TV at all, spend any time on the Internet, or just shop for groceries or deodorant, it’s virtually impossible to avoid having in-your-face titillation imprinted on your brain.

“And purity? Who talks about that these days? Who (especially in secular culture) even knows what it means anymore? And ads like the one that Lena Dunham made for the Obama campaign, comparing first-time voting to first-time sex, imply contempt for anyone who considers sexual purity to have any value. (‘It’s super uncool,’ she says, ‘to be out and about and someone says, “Did you vote” and “No, I didn’t vote, I wasn’t ready,”’ followed by a smirk that could be read as meaning ‘that’s ridiculous.’) …

“Those who struggle consciously with the fallout of childhood sexual abuse are, I think, another equivalent (like people with environmental allergies) of the canary in the coal mine, which most people know refers to the canaries that coal miners took into the tunnels to use as detectors of the lethal gases, such as methane and carbon monoxide, that could leak into the mine. If the canary died, the miners would know they had to get out of there.

“We would do well to consider seriously the effect that our culture’s (and government’s) overemphasis on, and disrespect for, sex has had, is having, and will have on all of us—before it’s too late.”

— The anonymous author of Falling by Faith, a woman who has been blogging her reactions to My Peace I Give You as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Read the rest of her thoughts on the topic here.

Previous Post

November 5, 2012

Catholic man with homosexual inclination tells why "gay identity" philosophy is un-Christian

Next Post

November 8, 2012 The Dominican who found in Christ's wounds an answer to the problem of evil

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Angels Blessed John Paul II Blessed Virgin Mary Caryll Houselander Catechesis on Human Love Chastity Conversion Human Sexuality John Henry Newman Jorge Mario Bergoglio Joseph Ratzinger Life in Eden My Peace I Give You Mystical Body of Christ New Evangelization Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Prayer Recovery from Abuse Redemptive Suffering Sacred Heart Saints Spiritual Healing St. Dominic Savio St. Ignatius Loyola St. John Bosco St. Kateri Tekakwitha St. Maximilian Kolbe St. Thomas Aquinas The Cross of Christ Theology of Wounds Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who saw a plumb line in a vision, symbolizing judgment?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Amos Micah Obadiah Joel