A Christian man has no choice but to be a protector to their daughters. Teaching them respect is not enough, but I'm not sure this degree of protection is necessary. Follow through on promises to protect them. But, we've all been teens before - & we all know that no man can harness a teen's hormone!

John Primeaux, Gallatin, USA

While abstinence could solve many problems in the world, I have several issues. Why do this in such a public way? This is the most personal decision someone could make and is between the young woman and God. Also, these young women live in a bubble created by their parents, and are very naive.

Christine, Webster, MA, USA

What I think many people on this forum fail to realize is that it's not about sex - it's about respect. Respect for oneself, respect for one's spouse, respect for both sets of parents, and respect for God. If you don't have respect for one another, any relationship is ultimately doomed.

Cynthia, Fort Worth, USA

it's education thats needed not notions of purity and chastity through religious belief. There seems to be no choice for these American kids, for a choice to be made you need all the facts. I didn't see any of these kids given real facts about sex by their parents..just religious moral preaching.

Dean , Cardiff, United Kingdom

I am sorry to hear that Rebecca Smith. That is disgusting to hear that from a guy, let alone a father. This is the issue we face with men in this culture. The media puts women out there to be devoured and play to the baseness of humanity rather than be a part of the work to raise the standard.

Wilson, Colorado Springs, USA

A 34 year old unmarried woman, I recently had a heart-breaking conversation with my dad - primarily re: his disappointment in my presumed sin in sleeping with a previous boyfriend outside of marriage. He failed to consider that at age 21 he was married, which failed eventually anyway.

rebecca smith, wilstead,

What worries me more is that I've overheard my dad say to my 14 year old sister- 'men prefer virgins'. This is the worst of reasons for a woman to retain her virginity. We need to equip young girls with an understanding of sex, emotions and identity so they can make informed decisions themselves.

rebecca smith, wilstead, bedfordshire

I wonder what the boys at Colorado Springs think about this ritual.

Ji Han Hyo, Changwon, South Korea

You could of course just educated your children (both men an women) to respect one another. Are such extremes really necessary? I'm a 22 year old unmarried woman living with my boyfriend of two years and I kissed him on our first date, it was a wonderful night and has been ever since. Let them live!

Anna, London, UK

Miss Manners's opinion is that "polite society does not recognize such a thing as a chastity ring. It is so polite that it presumes that a lady is chaste unless publicly proven otherwise

Kate, London, UK

Surely there is a middle road? It's not a choice between waiting for marriage and having promiscuous unsafe sex with strangers every night. It is possible to have a safe and loving sexual relationship before marriage.

George, London, UK

Hannah, it doesn't fall to the women. This is just what Jane chose to cover. There is a whole movent calling the young men to be honoring of women not consuming. In fact, much of this problem comes from the fact that the men are not standing and being men. Certainly it is an age old issue.

Wilson, Colorado Springs, USA

Another misrepresentation being covered, Candice. At our purity ball we never talk about sexuality, virginity or the like. The girls do not sign any pledge or make a public promise. We are calling dads to support, not control, helping their daughters be successful in their life.

Wilson, Colorado Springs, USA

Alexa,
It does apply to boys, but the male side never gets real media coverage over here. You raise and excellent point, though, which leads me to ask: Why does the responsibility fall to (in part the fathers, too) the women?

Hannah, Evansville, USA

I think there is something very sick about these men taking such an interest in their daughters' sexuality.

candice , Colchester, uk

Does this apply to boys or only girls?

alexa, Doncaster, uk

The documentary was truly bizarre. Although I found myself torn. I was appalled at the blatant indoctrination of girls who are much too young to be considering their sexuality however began to wish I'd held on to my chastity a bit longer.I'm 25, co-habiting & have been sexually active since 17

Clare, Belfast, Ireland

It takes an extreme to balance an extreme - the purity movement is a desperate attempt to reject our sick society and one of the father's observations about girls needing a father in their lives is so accurate. Whilst we are in meltdown, the purity folk have created their own Eden.

Sue Fitzsimmons, Cheshire,

I met my 1st serious boyfriend at church, while at university. We married after 2 years of dating we were both virgins on our wedding day. I feel so special to know that I'm the only girl he has ever loved, kissed or slept with. Just over 2 years later we are expecting our first baby in 2 weeks.

Kezi Smith, London, England

I don't think you need to have a ball as an outward sign that you're chaste. I think holding hands is OK, and kissing, as long as it isn't over the top. Chastity is a sign of self respect and self control and an ambition to live a good Christian life
,which a lot of guys(and girls) find attractive.

Fernando A., London,

I like the fact that these girls are being taught to value themselves. As women we are always being given the message that we aren't good enough they way we are. I don't agree with trying to live the "disney dream", but I wish my Dad had taken time to make me believe I am beautiful as I am.

Kat, Guildford,

The programme did make some good points about the importance of dads in their kids' lives and development - but like others here, I was deeply uncomfortable with the way in which these dads were so involved with their daughters' sexuality, and the lack of Christian forgiveness shown to Jessica.

Helen, Bristol, UK

Both my kids stayed sexually pure until they were married, like my wife and myself. We didn't go to some of the extremes of the US purity movement - ie we kissed and cuddled when we were courting but no further - but we found it of enormous benefit in our marriage to have waited.

David Littlewood, sheffield, UK

One in six brainwashed means five in six are up for a kiss! And good luck to the latter. This programme showed the terrifying nature of fanatical American fundamentalism, quite as bad as the Islamic kind, if you ask me. These poor girls were forced to wear a metaphorical hijab, if not an actual one.

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

I always find these articles quite interesting. What would be more interesting is for you to return in 2-3 years time and see how many managed to keep their vow. I'll wager it will be a small number. If they are even willing to tell you without fearing for their safety.

Richard Holloway, London, UK

It's funny that the 'each to their own' argument is always rolled out by conservative types. I have a horrible suspicion it actually translates to 'leave us to our bigotry'.

Joe, Cardiff , Wales

Being chaste and saving yourself is fine - but no kissing or cuddling? Big mistake. I also think it sounds creepy and controlling, is there as much control over the boys - apparently not. Burkhas next.
Also, in fact a lot of these kids think oral and anal sex doesn't count! Deluded & creepy.

Nicki, Southampton, Hampshire

How about teaching the boys too?

Andrea, Okinawa,

The fact that one father had to reassure us that his physical relationship was with his wife not his daughter says it all.

Suzy Bath, Nottingham, UK

I cant help but feel that The Purity Movement is breeding a generation on naive women with limited social experience who are soley dependent on men. I predict either a rise in divorce rates due to these 'arranged' marriages or many depressed, unhappy women who are stuck in loveless ones.

Sarah, Wales, UK

God Bless them. These people are a shining light in our secularised world in which uncontrolled people seek to find happiness through sexual pleasure and the endless acquiring of material possessions, to try and fill the void in their lives which only God's pure love can fulfil.

Emily, London, UK

Mel, K Largo: I was raised in an atheist family, & neither have I. I'm in a v happy relationship of nearly 4 yrs. He is my only serious boyfriend & we one day intend to marry. Many Xtians try to get round the no sex problem through oral sex, which actually carries more risk of STIs. You lose.

Bianca, Paris, France

it is a nice idea, works in theory. im sure it wuld b very fulfilling. What if your not sexually compatible? Not kissing b4 marriage, thats just a step too far! U need to find yourself, not have it dictated by religion or parents! U teen sex is high but as long as ur careful its not anyone business!

Jay, Cleethorpes, England

Having just watched "The Virgin Daughters" I was totally disgusted in the way that those controlling parents moulded and brain-washed their kids to the point that they could no longer think for themselves. I would rate the Purity organization along with the likes of Jonestown, Moonies and Waco.

K Macleod, Glasgow, Scotland

Awesome! now I get to deal with moral self righteousness as WELL as potential backstabbing in divource court by those tramps that I live with. Guess i'll use more internet bandwith to save me the hassle of trying to get laid while on campus. Incredibly funny how 50% of internet media is that form.

Jeff, Madison, USA

It irritates me that 'liberals' who so despise being told how to live their lives are the first to condemn and sneer at more conservative people for the way they choose to live theirs. Surely if 'each to their own' is what you practice it should also be what you preach? Good luck to them, I say.

anita, cambridge, uk

I am an American, married to an Englishman for many years. We have three young sons who I am trying my best to raise according to Christian values, including chastity. I am continually shocked to see the "anything goes" mentality prevalent in modern day Britain.

Georgia Clapham, Charlottesville, Virginia

"many suitors seek permission to marry within weeks. They may be madly in love – but they may also be suffering from extreme sexual frustration. "

I'm willing to bet on the latter and that divorce lawyers will be more common than creationists in a few years time.

Rick, Durham, England

"What next? Chastity belts? Burkhas? Female genital mutilation?
All of these result from the same mindset that equates female subordination with honour and virtue and a desire to control or own womens minds and bodies. "

I totally agree! Its seriously creepy...

ayla, london,

For Hindus,Buddhists,Muslims etc in the Orient & less so in Europe,this is quite the norm.You don't hold hands,you don't kiss,your familys arrange your marriage.I do believe it is good parents teach their kids self-respect,but they also need to be free to live their own lives,controlling wont help.

Thelma, Ireland,

The creepiness of the young age of the girls in this article, and the involvment of their fathers aside, I can understand that someone would chose to "save themselves" for their true love. but kissing? if you're not even kissing, how do you even know you're a couple?

estelle, harrow,

Good luck to them.

Ben, Queensland, Australia

C.B.Ross Scotland - Congratulations on your happy marriage. But our viewpoints are worlds apart. You presumably believe your successful marriage to be because of your pre-marital virginity, whereas I would see your success as being 'in spite' of it. Good luck anyway. :-)

Clarence Malley, Leicester,

I feel so sorry for Jessica. I see her "Christian" parents haven't got the hang of the most important idea in the New Testament yet: forgiveness.

M. R., Stockport, UK

This is part of why the divorce rate for evangelical Christians is more than twice that of the saner population here in the US. When you don't test the horse out before buying it, don't be surprised if you get thrown.

Jason, Columbus, OH, US

I was raised in a conservative Christian family where alcohol was not permitted and young people were encouraged to abstain from sex. Guess what? I've never had any issues with alcohol or I have never had to worry about any sexually transmitted diseases. I guess I missed out on all the "fun".

Mel, Key Largo, FL

All those young people dreaming of Disney-style happy endings and heading for a life of marriage with no idea whether they're sexually compatible with their partners...

Good luck! (You're going to need it.)

Pete, London, England

At least one study, to my knowledge, has shown that the majority of young people who make these "purity vows" (or undergo abstinence-only sex education) end up not waiting until marriage to become sexually active. Most of this is just wishful thinking.

Lili, Chicago, USA

I think the estimate of one in six having taken "the pledge" is way too high. Of those who maintain their virginity for religious reasons, most view the secular world as evil and frightening, and this view is reinforced daily by their coercive families and religion. Sad.

D.A. Christian, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

What worries me is why no corresponding movement for boys. You dont see the mothers bleating about the relationship between mother and son. Its just a form of control by men over women prettied up as bond between father daughter. I cannot imagine my father being involved in my sexualitity

anne, nottingham,

How can one even consider marrying someone they have not even kissed?? darling virgins here, you have NO idea what you are risking.

inga, london,

The Stepford Wives comes to mind.
Do these girls marry and become subjugated wives, after being subjugated daughters?

Arundel, South Coast, UK

Gee, they talk about purity, but yet they have that glossy hair and those long eyelashes: why not dress modestly as well? Just as women are driven by estrogen to attract men, and men are driven by testostorone to chase women, why aren't these purity-minded girls covering their "wares" a bit more?

Frank Lee Speekin, Dayton, Ohio

What next? Chastity belts? Burkhas? Female genital mutilation?
All of these result from the same mindset that equates female subordination with honour and virtue and a desire to control or own womens minds and bodies.
A disturbingly saccharine gloss on a creepily repugnant attitude.

Faisal, London,

Sex isnt dirty, or sordid even if it is out of marriage. We live in the 21st century not biblical times. Although i admire these people that take the purity pledge, they are no better for it than someone who had sex at 16, and i wish they would stop pretending that they are.

kyle, cardiff, uk

I have chosen this path for myself, and my sister has chosen the same. The idea that you need experience seems to cheapen sex in my eyes. I enjoy saving it for my husband. I feel it will be an ultimate gift of love, a sacrifice he will treasure. Sex is a sacred bond. I can't wait!

Tori, Bowling Green, USA

I worry about young girls who show "complete lack of teenage truculence" I worry that there is "no straining at the parental leash, no desire to escape and experiment" - that's not natural, they're teenagers for goodness sake!
All a bit too Stepford Wives for my liking, lets have Stepford Husbands

Gillian, Glasgow,

Fantastic she saved her self... I think.
Just one question.
What happens when you wanna try some candy from the shop down the road?
You cant divorced as its not true to the religion.

Steve, Perth, Australia

Stories like these must make all you Brits happy to have sent your Puritans across the Atlantic years ago. Do you suppose you could do us a favor and take them back for a while?

Taylor, Sioux Falls, SD, USA

Had these Muslim girlsd and fathers, people would have overentusiastic and generous to blame the religion rather than any social and psycholgical aspect of it. I can tell u there would have twenty times more comments.

Tahir Shan, London, Uk

It's amazing at how shallow people are. This is a wonderful story of a fathers love for his daughters. To want the best thing for them is not a bad thing. According to you warped commentators, a woman isn't a woman until she has "sampled the goods" multiple times. How sick is that?

Kevin , Rowlett tx, USA

There is a big difference between a pledge and fulfilling it. Regardless, keep it up! Or not.

Howard, Manchester,

Chastity is one of the many values which have been lost in societies that survives on indulgence. Withholding sex till after marriage is a wonderful thing, including the knock on effects for respecting women instead of treating them like objects (and vice versa) as so many do.

Farrukh, Woking,

Those fathers creep me out - that is way,way too much interest in their daughters' sexuality.

And I don't understand the celibacy = purity argument.
That means that pre-marital sex is impure or dirty.
Weird-in my experience it was lovely! An adventure.

Sue Williams, Oxford, UK

Agree that it would be nice if more people saved themselves for marriage, however, I also agree with the posters who have noted that there is something very creepy about this. It is indeed quasi-incestuous. I fear most of these fathers are living in denial.

Joe, Ontario, Canada

"Ever since then, my mom treats me as a lesser person." Ahh, christian charity - there's nothing quite like it.

Tikhon Savrasov, london,

Any of you puritans wanna be relieved of this burden...can you give me a shout please.

kirk, Rotherham, UK

It's amazing with the level of teen pregnanices and out of control teens over here people still pick holes in this whole thing, it might have unanswered questions but can we at least see that someone is trying to fix an existing problem? The effort is laudable, possibly involve both parents more..

don a, manchester, uk

this sounds like it's about keeping tabs on the daughters and turning them from people with thoughts and opnions into indoctrinated commodities- why would a 5 year old girl need to think about her own 'purity'?

Chichi, East Lancs,

Sex has become the only morality to control population. Greed, gluttony, deceit, envy etc. are accepted as part of culture-necessary to be successful-look what the fat cats have done. But sex belongs to everyone and is packed with guilt and shame. War is OK, waste good for business. But sex?-Oh no!

David P Hall, Bangkok, Thailand

Sounds awfully like the behaviour of devout Muslim fathers. What's next - hanging teenage girls for premarital kissing? Christianity is based on forgiveness of sin, so even the social parricide these people practice against offenders will damn them for all eternity in the eyes of God.

KR, Stockport,

Clarence Malley, Leicester.
I can't speak for others, but both my wife and I were virgin until our wedding night - and we've just celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary! We've also never had to be concerned about STDs. Chastity before marriage, and fidelity within it, is no bad thing.

C.B.Ross, Motherwell, Scotland

It seems that the UK in particular (& i'm a Brit) needs to get with this program as the Parent country setting a good example to it's Jnr., USA.

Brian Goldstein, Oakland, USA

Is there a difference whether you condemned people for their sexual mis-behaviour, or condemn people for what they think sexual mis-behaviour is?

The liberal approach has obviously failed in the UK. The place is a sexual mess - especially among the young.

David, Oxford, UK

guys are a lost cause. I love these double standards that apply regardless of religion and culture. yes!

Armand Tamzarian, London,

What's up with all te random hyphens in the middle of words? 'Rus-sell Brand'? 'con-dom?' 'vet-ted'?

Seriously.

Simon, London,

The thing that bothers me most about this story is the condemnation of those unfortunates who stumble and succumb when presented with such powerful tempations. Where's the support and understanding for them?

jim elliott, Gloucester, UK

While I salute these young people for trying to control themselves, I just don't think they really do. Who knows what's going on behind the parents back! I also cannot subscribe to the "no sex before marriage" idea. One shouldn't have to get married in order to have sex - experience is a good thing.

Paulina, London, UK

What tragic people. Sex is not a sin and to miss out on passion and the joys of the physical in the desperation to be "pure" seems to me to be a life half lived. Religion is about guilt and control. I'm just glad I live in part of the world that's not subject to moral hypocracy of the reigious right

Rob, London, UK

Now I see why so many girls refuse to kiss me or doing something else with me... they just follow their desire of purity! It's not because they do not like me! What a relief!

Salvatore, Cambridge,

It seems to me that in this community it is much more possible and acceptable for a boy to have pre-marital sex than a girl, like Jessica mentioned here. You said it yourself: it's all about controlling the womenfolk.

Jenny, Lincoln, UK

Sexual response isn't something to be turned on and off like a tap: it needs to grow and mature over years. Associating sex with sin can create a deep problem which can't be undone just by getting married. This is a recipe for unhappy adolescence followed by unfulfilled marriage.

Helene, Strasbourg, France

Why do so many people think that they are in a position to make other people's life choices for them. Prepare your children for the world, then let them choose to be whatever they want to be, whenever they want to be it. If they choose chastity or they do not, who are we to criticise.

Steve, Altrincham,

These girls are very chaste..in fact some have been 'chaste' all over town...

kirk, Rotherham, UK

This creeps me out. Very very creepy.

Anna, Brisbane, Australia

Are there any statistics available for the success/failure rate of such marriages? Kissing and having sex only after signing the marriage contract would seem to be a recipe for disaster. Poor kids.

Clarence Malley, Leicester,

This is amazing news! The older generations are upset by this new movement because they find it hard to understand how one can control their own body and desires. I'm a 24 year old virgin who refuses to kiss till marriage. I feel strong, sexy and confident! I highly recommend chasity!

Andrea, Landenberg,

The only logical step for the young and sexually frustrated groom is to take the prospective virgin bride to the groom's mother for an inspection and the groom mother's obvious and traditional family questions, such as:
can the bride cook? can she clean the house? Is the bride frugal?, etc.

paul, Los Angeles, USA

Is there no joy that they will not squeeze from our lives?

Eamonn Keane, Dublin,

Young ppl need proper education, not TABUs. Lets not come back to middle ages. Teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, alcoholism - all starts with a family.

Alex Mesh, Beijing, China

The concept is all very well, yet these kids get married so young. Maybe the opportunity to kiss would keep them going a few more years so they could marry later, when more adult, yet still remain chaste?

Allegra, London,

Appalling, Victorian, anachronistic. A simplistically Puritan answer to a complex question which conservative religions will never solve.

Clive, Caracas, Venezuela

its sounds all too much like telling little girls to be nice and behave for my liking. Teach them to have self worth and not be treated like some possession to be passed on from your father to your husband, females are capable of making decisions about who they share their bodies with in 2008.

sasha, melbourne, australia

I can understand this 'purity' movement as a reaction to the comoditisation of sex. Everything in the US is about money. But everyone knows that the Northern European countries have much lower teen pregnancy and STI rates while being much more open and relaxed about sex. Facts you can not deny.

Jeremy, London,

Are boys included in this movement? Why don't they have a ball etc?

If you're going to have a movement like this, then it should apply to sons as well as daughters....

Kate, Sydney, Australia

I've never had a great relationship with my father but I did not lose my virginity till I was 22 (boyfriend number 3).

He's not 'the one', but waiting was not about religion or purity but my intelligence and ideas of self worth. I didn't need a ring to proclaim a personal belief to the world.

Alex, London,

These people are absolutely right in that the relationship between a father and daughter is VERY important. Its also about respect and personal discipline. Somethings are better when one waits for them!

Elizabeth, Colchester, UK

The solution for teenage pregnancies could be a better dialogue with parents about contraception and a better sexual education at school and not by chastity.

Paola, Paris, France

Colorado Springs is NOT located in the American "Midwest" - maybe you're thinking of Chicago or St. Louis.

csprings, Colorado Springs,

Cynical Britain, with a high rate of teenage pregnancies, might be wise to learn a thing ot too from such concepts as chastity.

gerry, Brisbane, Australia