[Sly Fox]

CULTURE DIGEST: Abstinence ridiculed on 'American Idol'

Posted on Feb 1, 2008 | by Erin Roach

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A teenage contestant in a preliminary round of this season's "American Idol" was mocked for his abstinence stance, sending a message to thousands of viewers about how the culture treats the issue.

Bruce Dickson, a 19-year-old from Bastrop, Texas, was asked to tell something about himself during the Dallas auditions for the reality show, and he said he had never kissed a girl.

"What?" Randy Jackson, one of the show's judges, asked. "On purpose?"

"On purpose," Dickson said. "On my wedding day, that will be my first kiss."

The home-schooled, Christian teenager went on to explain that he has made a commitment to abstain from sexual activity until marriage, and his father holds him accountable in his decision.

"Maybe next year he'll come back less a boy and more a man," host Ryan Seacrest quipped as Dickson's segment ended.

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[Hold My Own]

I saw this....while yeah they didnt congratulate her I dont think they ridiculed enough for an article to be written about it...although if you read the quotes i'm sure it'll come off pretty bad...but watching it just seemed a little different



Sorry they talked about a girl who said the same thing, thats what I get for not reading but posting....umm...this guy was kinda creepy I'm not going to lie

[mrmacphisto]

At first I thought the thread was about this guy:

[Fumblerooskies]

What does the kid do...shake his date's hand to ring in the New Year?

[belcherboy]

IMO it was played up by American Idol because that is what the boy and his dad wanted. They wanted to be on tv, and this was an angle that worked. The show is called American Idol and is trying to produce the next pop star. What kind of treatment does a Christian expect? I have no problem with a Christian trying to win this contest, but don't expect a very secular contest, that is known in the first week for making fun of people, to treat you differently than everyone else. Even in Christian circles it is unusual to have never kissed someone of the opposite sex by the time you are a older teenager. Nothing wrong with it, but don't proclaim it from the world on national television and expect no negative reaction. Plenty of people have claimed they are virgins on American Idol that don't get the same reaction. It is CRAZY to a secular world to have never kissed a girl by this guys age.

On a side note, I love this show!

[flamesbball84]

abstinence from kissing? that's a new one...

[kel varson]

I saw that show and didn't think they were particularly mocking or disrespectful. By the same token Christians shouldn't take on a "holier" than thou attitude. Its great to be pure and take a stand, but since when is okay to brag about our level of purity? If that kid had never lusted, well, then he had room to talk.

[Hold My Own]

There have been many Christians on the show...they were treated well

[phoenix]

abstinence from kissing? that's a new one...

Jack Hyles taught that. I really got mad at him for that one. We were on a youth trip to HAC during their Youth Conference, and there was a total babe with us that I was trying to ... fellowship with. She bought into the no kissing thing, and a LOT of guys on the trip were disappointed.

[RubberMallet]

there are alot of things you can do without kis-....errr nevermind