TY  - BOOK
AU  - Díaz, Javier
TI  - La Sexualidad Responsable En La Adolescencia Desde La Ética Wesleyana. Una Pastoral Para Adolescentes En La Iglesia Metodista De Guanabacoa
PY  - 2018///
CY  - Johannesburg, South Africa
PB  - South African Theological Seminary
N2  - Adolescence represents the moment in which significant changes occur in the lives of  human  beings,  both  in  the  physical,  psychological  and  sociological  order.  As adolescents rediscover themselves, there is a change in their lifestyles. They feel the need to decide for themselves essential aspects of their lives. In this search for identity, associated with it, they confront family control, become rebellious and associate with groups of the same age with which they feel identified. The influence exerted  by  these  groups  of  peers  can  become  very  negative,  because  they become the driving force of bad practices such as smoking, alcoholism and the use  of  other  drugs.  In  the  same  way,  the  group  will  directly  influence  their  self-esteem, which is an important factor for their good development. The rebellion that appears as part of that search for identity is directed primarily towards the family, as the closest circle of the adolescent. In the case of Christian parents, they show that they rebel against the church on many occasions. Sexual  awakening  is  another  element  of  these  ages.  The  positions  that  they assume before sexuality, largely correspond to puberal changes. As they mature their  sexual  organs,  interest  is  seen  in  subjects  related  to  sex,  sexual  fantasies appear and above all, curiosity. In this stage of life, they usually initiate the first sexual practices, in large part has to do with the load of sexual content that adolescents are exposed daily. Among the  causes  that  provoke  the  early  awakening  of  sexual  relationships,  are associated with the erotization of children, which is often conditioned by television itself and the little control exercised by the family. In addition, the use of cell phones and  other  digital  media  in  which  adolescents watch pictures and  videos  of 6pornographic content, lead them to the early start of such practices. As a result of them, unwanted pregnancies appear, as well as the application of abortion as a way  to  solve  the  problem.  Similarly,  the  risk of  acquiring  a  sexually  transmitted infection is high and in the case of those who decide to maintain the pregnancy, they opt for dropping out of their studies. Statistically, in  Cuba  the  pregnancy  rate  in  adolescence  is  high,  however  the fertility rate is low. This is due to the large number of abortions that take place daily in the hospital centres. Faced with this problem, it is necessary for the church to assume a leading role in its mission with respect to its social responsibility. The biggest problem is that the issue  of  sexuality  is  still  absent  in  the  teaching  of  the  church,  even  though  it  is treated  openly in  the  Bible,  oblivious  to  the  prejudices  found  both  among evangelicals and Roman Catholics. Finally, a pastoral proposal for work with adolescents is addressed, which seeks to  transform  work  with  adolescence  and  that  they  feel  identified  with ways  of serving in the church
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