So someone I know posted this as a note on Facebook today, and I felt it worthy of a rant. (Format edited for improved readability!)

"Love vs. Sexby Joe Garry (notes) 10:28pm Wednesday, Oct 11
A teenage girl about 17 had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.
As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.
She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.
Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.
The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.
Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.
Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.
When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.
The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one question.
Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

Amazingly, whether you believe or not, you're never alone. Did you know that 98% of teenagers will not stand up for God?
Repost this as Love vs. Sex if you truly believe in God.

PS: God is always there in your heart and loves you no matter what.....and if you stand up 4 him he will stand up for you.

I bet 93% of the people that read this wont repost it"

The first thing that bothered me about this, besides the obvious idiocy of it, was the fact that it was titled love vs. sex. Was this title merely to grab attention? Or is the connection to god supposed to symbolize love and rape symbolize sex? The vs, in either case, implies a message that sex and love are on opposite ends of the spectrum and creates this idea that you're supposed to hate sex. This is especially true if the parallel to rape as sex is supposed to be drawn.

Also - what is the point of these stupid stories. Does anyone [i]really[/i] take anything useful away from these things? Just what is the message in here? It's that if you pray and put your trust in the Christian god to protect you, you'll be impervious to dangers. The girl in the story made a stupid decision to continue down the alley, thinking she'd be safe. Is it really a good ideal to not be afraid of anything? Does being deluded into thinking that you're safe because some supernatural being is protecting you help you in the real world, or hurt you.

The problem with these stories is that Christians or people prone to the mindset of Christian society will probably glaze over the moral and not really think about what it really implies. They will just see a story of justice and safety, but when we really examine the story it should be obvious that the things portrayed as ideal in the scenario really aren't. It's bullshit feelgood propoganda with no message in practical application with a deceitful and anti-sexual title.

The only good parts were the "98% of teenagers will not stand up for God" and "I bet 93% of the people that read this wont repost it", though they're obviously bullshitted statistics. The less people that would stand up for this idea of god in a situation in which doing so endangers them, the better. It's a sign that people are capable of thinking rationally and are still able to think morally and ratioanlly, despite what they claim. And the less people that push this mind-numbing propaganda out onto the internet, the better.