I Feel Sad for Britney Says Christian Rock Star - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 05-15-2004, 06:00 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ple_stjames_dc

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - A Grammy-award winning Christian rock star, who preaches a message of abstinence from sex until marriage, says she feels sorry for pop princess Britney Spears (news) who herself once famously vowed to be a virgin until she wed.

Rebecca St. James, a star of the U.S. Christian music scene, said she was disappointed that role models from the world of music and movies such as Spears led youngsters astray with their message of "anything goes, if it feels good do it."

"The biggest thing I feel for Britney is I feel sad for her," she told Reuters in an interview Saturday.

"I also feel sad for the nine or 10-years-old watching her who see her dressing in a very promiscuous fashion, almost asking for people to treat her as a sex object. They are going to start dressing that way too."

Australian-born St. James, who fronts the True Love Waits organization in the U.S. which urges teenagers to avoid pre-marital sex, is embarking on a whirlwind European tour during which she hopes to spread the group's message.

True Love Waits, which already boasts a healthy following in the U.S., encourages teenagers to pledge to their family and friends that they will stay virgins until they are married.

It was a message that once appealed to Spears herself. Shortly after she shot to superstardom as a teen-ager with her debut album "...Baby One More Time" she made a public promise to stay chaste until her wedding day.

But she later shed the image for a far more raunchy look, admitted she had slept with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake (news) and said she thought sex was not "such a big deal."

"She (Britney) has had an unbelievable amount of pressure put on her. She would have people from the top of her record label, to her manager and to her peers saying you've got to be more raunchy, show more skin," St James said.

"It's like water on a stone, it just starts wearing away no matter how strong you are."

Despite the seductive images of sex prevalent in the media, St James is confident she can persuade youngsters to follow her lifestyle, claiming many teenagers saw waiting to have sex as "a new benchmark of cool."

"Young people, whether they are Christians or not, are realizing that abstinence is actually smart because you don't have to worry about STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), AIDS (news - web sites) and pregnancy outside marriage."

"Young people are wising up to the fact that it saves you a whole lot of pain when you do wait."

The singer, who has won a Grammy for "Best Christian Rock Album," made her vow to spurn pre-marital sex at 16 and says she now makes sure she avoids temptation -- even her band are five single men committed to abstaining from pre-marital sex.

"I'm a virgin, I'm 26 and going to stay that way until after I'm married," she said.

"My philosophy is, if you're committed to waiting then don't even go close to the line and only date people who are committed to waiting as well. Even the guys I date... we talk about making sure we don't go close to the line."

St. James is not the only one hoping to keep Europeans pure this summer. Another U.S. abstinence organization "The Silver Ring Thing," which is partly funded by the U.S. government, is touring Britain and Ireland asking young people to remain chaste until marriage and to wear a ring on their finger to prove it.

But both groups would appear to have their work cut out in Britain, where St. James has started her tour.

The country has the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in western Europe and has seen an explosion of sexually transmitted diseases.

St. James is still hopeful.

"I expected way more flak than I've got," she said.

"I've got a lot of mainstream media attention even in countries like Norway that are not known necessarily for their morality. It's such a counter-culture message they are fascinated about it."

Dean Winchester · 05-15-2004, 06:11 PM

I don't see such the big deal.

I mean, I agree that younger people should be less slutty, but to tell them flat out it's "wait till marriage or no way" is preachy. I think it should be more like "make sure you have sex with the right person". Telling someone they CAN'T have pre-marital sex is preachy. I think a better approach to it would be telling kids that they shouldn't put out to just anyone, but to do it with someone they have feelings for.

plus, I think it's funny you see someone like Jessica Simpson, who went on and on about how she wouldn't have sex until her and Nick got married... yet look how she dresses. She doesn't present herself in a much better light than Britney Spears does. Christina's image is dirtier than either Britney or Jessica, but she at least comes across like she has a brain in her interviews.

Mr. Stefani · 05-15-2004, 07:31 PM

Those silly christans.

Hollow · 05-16-2004, 12:35 AM

her sluttiness is getting annoying.

ABlairican Pie · 05-16-2004, 06:26 AM

I've always felt that St. Rebecca James was being too arrogant and sanctimonious. Britney just didn't want to be a hyped-up "role model" anymore, and whether people like her or not, she has a right to express herself however she sees fit.

EmoJoe · 05-16-2004, 10:02 AM

I dont like Britney Spears.

EmoJoe · 05-16-2004, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by safety pin
her sluttiness is getting annoying.

My point excalty.

ABlairican Pie · 05-16-2004, 12:14 PM

Did St. Rebecca James call Norway an "immoral" country?? They're gonna love her over there.

TJL · 05-16-2004, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TMC

The singer, who has won a Grammy for "Best Christian Rock Album," made her vow to spurn pre-marital sex at 16 and says she now makes sure she avoids temptation -- even her band are five single men committed to abstaining from pre-marital sex.

Man, that must be one rockin' tour bus...

Skywalker · 05-16-2004, 01:03 PM

A friend of mine once said: "I'm a virgin by choice, but it's not my choice."

ABlairican Pie · 05-16-2004, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
Man, that must be one rockin' tour bus...

Cashodeen · 05-18-2004, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
Man, that must be one rockin' tour bus...

Cashodeen · 05-18-2004, 08:14 PM

Okay, so Britney said she was going to wait until marraige, and she turned out not to wait. Oh boy, let's get on her case for that.

I know that is just one of the things this group is discussing, (and I can see why people are tired of seeing Britney continuing to push the envelope) but this christian rock singer really needs to give it a rest. Like Captain ABlairica said, "[Britney] has a right to express herself however she sees fit."

She's a big girl now, and she really isn't obligated to be any certain way.

Dean Winchester · 05-18-2004, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cashodeen
Okay, so Britney said she was going to wait until marraige, and she turned out not to wait. Oh boy, let's get on her case for that.

I know that is just one of the things this group is discussing, (and I can see why people are tired of seeing Britney continuing to push the envelope) but this christian rock singer really needs to give it a rest. Like Captain ABlairica said, "[Britney] has a right to express herself however she sees fit."

She's a big girl now, and she really isn't obligated to be any certain way.

very true, Britney is 22 now, she was 17 when she made the virgin comments. A lot can change during 5 years, especially when you go from jailbait to woman in that time

julian bozo · 05-21-2004, 06:13 AM

Britney was married for 48 hours remember

05-15-2004, 06:00 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,364	I Feel Sad for Britney Says Christian Rock Star http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ple_stjames_dc By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - A Grammy-award winning Christian rock star, who preaches a message of abstinence from sex until marriage, says she feels sorry for pop princess Britney Spears (news) who herself once famously vowed to be a virgin until she wed. Rebecca St. James, a star of the U.S. Christian music scene, said she was disappointed that role models from the world of music and movies such as Spears led youngsters astray with their message of "anything goes, if it feels good do it." "The biggest thing I feel for Britney is I feel sad for her," she told Reuters in an interview Saturday. "I also feel sad for the nine or 10-years-old watching her who see her dressing in a very promiscuous fashion, almost asking for people to treat her as a sex object. They are going to start dressing that way too." Australian-born St. James, who fronts the True Love Waits organization in the U.S. which urges teenagers to avoid pre-marital sex, is embarking on a whirlwind European tour during which she hopes to spread the group's message. True Love Waits, which already boasts a healthy following in the U.S., encourages teenagers to pledge to their family and friends that they will stay virgins until they are married. It was a message that once appealed to Spears herself. Shortly after she shot to superstardom as a teen-ager with her debut album "...Baby One More Time" she made a public promise to stay chaste until her wedding day. But she later shed the image for a far more raunchy look, admitted she had slept with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake (news) and said she thought sex was not "such a big deal." "She (Britney) has had an unbelievable amount of pressure put on her. She would have people from the top of her record label, to her manager and to her peers saying you've got to be more raunchy, show more skin," St James said. "It's like water on a stone, it just starts wearing away no matter how strong you are." Despite the seductive images of sex prevalent in the media, St James is confident she can persuade youngsters to follow her lifestyle, claiming many teenagers saw waiting to have sex as "a new benchmark of cool." "Young people, whether they are Christians or not, are realizing that abstinence is actually smart because you don't have to worry about STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), AIDS (news - web sites) and pregnancy outside marriage." "Young people are wising up to the fact that it saves you a whole lot of pain when you do wait." The singer, who has won a Grammy for "Best Christian Rock Album," made her vow to spurn pre-marital sex at 16 and says she now makes sure she avoids temptation -- even her band are five single men committed to abstaining from pre-marital sex. "I'm a virgin, I'm 26 and going to stay that way until after I'm married," she said. "My philosophy is, if you're committed to waiting then don't even go close to the line and only date people who are committed to waiting as well. Even the guys I date... we talk about making sure we don't go close to the line." St. James is not the only one hoping to keep Europeans pure this summer. Another U.S. abstinence organization "The Silver Ring Thing," which is partly funded by the U.S. government, is touring Britain and Ireland asking young people to remain chaste until marriage and to wear a ring on their finger to prove it. But both groups would appear to have their work cut out in Britain, where St. James has started her tour. The country has the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in western Europe and has seen an explosion of sexually transmitted diseases. St. James is still hopeful. "I expected way more flak than I've got," she said. "I've got a lot of mainstream media attention even in countries like Norway that are not known necessarily for their morality. It's such a counter-culture message they are fascinated about it."

05-16-2004, 06:26 AM	#5
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	I've always felt that St. Rebecca James was being too arrogant and sanctimonious. Britney just didn't want to be a hyped-up "role model" anymore, and whether people like her or not, she has a right to express herself however she sees fit.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

05-16-2004, 10:02 AM	#6
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	I dont like Britney Spears.
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

05-15-2004, 06:11 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I don't see such the big deal. I mean, I agree that younger people should be less slutty, but to tell them flat out it's "wait till marriage or no way" is preachy. I think it should be more like "make sure you have sex with the right person". Telling someone they CAN'T have pre-marital sex is preachy. I think a better approach to it would be telling kids that they shouldn't put out to just anyone, but to do it with someone they have feelings for. plus, I think it's funny you see someone like Jessica Simpson, who went on and on about how she wouldn't have sex until her and Nick got married... yet look how she dresses. She doesn't present herself in a much better light than Britney Spears does. Christina's image is dirtier than either Britney or Jessica, but she at least comes across like she has a brain in her interviews.

05-15-2004, 07:31 PM	#3
Mr. Stefani Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Posts: 20,757	Those silly christans.

05-16-2004, 12:35 AM	#4
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	her sluttiness is getting annoying.

05-16-2004, 12:14 PM	#8
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	Did St. Rebecca James call Norway an "immoral" country?? They're gonna love her over there.

05-16-2004, 01:03 PM	#10
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	A friend of mine once said: "I'm a virgin by choice, but it's not my choice."

05-18-2004, 08:14 PM	#13
Cashodeen Hi. Forum Star Join Date: Aug 30, 2001 Posts: 11,362	Okay, so Britney said she was going to wait until marraige, and she turned out not to wait. Oh boy, let's get on her case for that. I know that is just one of the things this group is discussing, (and I can see why people are tired of seeing Britney continuing to push the envelope) but this christian rock singer really needs to give it a rest. Like Captain ABlairica said, "[Britney] has a right to express herself however she sees fit." She's a big girl now, and she really isn't obligated to be any certain way.

05-21-2004, 06:13 AM	#15
julian bozo Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Cullman,Al,United States Posts: 1,534	Britney was married for 48 hours remember