B"Why?"U

Issue: Brandon Davies?

Short Answer: Yup.

Reasoning: In one of the most talked about stories in recent sports history, Brandon Davies, sophomore forward for the #3 ranked BYU Cougars, was suspended indefinitely from the team for having premarital sex with his girlfriend.  If you have been living in the vicinity of a quarry for the last week, yes, you read that correctly.  A 19-year old sophomore in college was suspended for having sex.  What's next?  Jail time for 5-year olds who are caught eating cookies?  Fines for 22-year olds nabbed sucking back a few (too many) beers?  Probation for little old ladies busted playing bingo?  Geez.  What is going on in Utah?

I have read, and heard, quite a few opinion pieces on this subject.  Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post writes a great one here.  Most of the opinions are that Davies has been screwed harder than Jenna Jameson.  In this situation, it is hard to argue that BYU has done the correct thing because a 19-year old kid's future may be at stake.  However, I believe BYU is being unfairly painted as the villain in this case.  See, BYU "exist[s] to provide an education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."  I took that quote straight from BYU's website.  Part of ideals and principles of the Church are to "live a chaste and virtuous life."  Guess where I got that quote from?  And, if a student decides to not live a chaste and virtuous life, then that "may result in actions up to and including separation from the university."  No need to click on the link - it is, again, from the BYU website.  My point in quoting directly from BYU's honor code is to show that their virtues are not secret.  They didn't nail Davies on some loophole.  He committed an act that is well known to carry with it suspension from athletic teams and/or suspension from school - for better or for worse.  Davies knew what he was signing up for when he decided to attend BYU.  He knew that having sex with his girlfriend could cost him his career.  So then, who is to blame?

Here comes another "duck and cover" moment for me - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to blame.  I don't specifically mean the Church, but the failure of that Church to evolve with the times.  Folks, I think religion is one of the greatest institutions in the world.  I admire people who strongly believe in their faith, and do good things in the name of God.  However, religion in general has been passed over by society.  Religion refuses to evolve.  I found an interesting article detailing a list of sins in the Mormon religion.  Some of the highlights include:

• Anger, resentment, and ridicule are the same as murder.  Uh, dude, no they aren't.  I get that each are "sins," but c'mon.  Really?
• Lust is the same as adultery.  Again, not even close.  Lust is an emotion that humans cannot suppress.  What humans can do is not act on that lust - only then does it become adultery.
• Not loving your enemy is a sin.  What?  Seriously?  I do not love those who committed the acts of September 11, 2001, nor those who are set on destroying America.  And I never will.
• Worry is a sin.  Here again, the Church supposes that an emotion is a sin.  I am not a worrier, but I know plenty of people who are - parents especially.  So, if a parent worries about their child they are sinning?  How dare they.
• Anything of a prurient nature is a sin.  Premarital sex, masturbation, and contraceptives are all sins.  Well, it seems that some of us stand no chance.

Thousands of years ago (or hundreds in the case of Mormons), the above list may have been sins.  Today, not so much.  Times and people evolve.  I'm not sure why religion refuses to do so.  I guess I'm just not sure how abstaining from sex when you are 19-years old (or anytime you are unmarried) makes you a better person.  Or a more virtuous person.  Or a more holy person.  I think a 19-year old can learn more from actually having sex than he can from not having sex.  Having sex is a grown-up thing.  It can have grown-up consequences.  So, maybe it can help a young boy grown into a man.  Or, maybe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can use it to help end a young boy's promising career.  Which one is worse?