Tony DuShanes journey coming of age

It is perplexing to see that sexuality and religion education being put in the same sentence. When one is born in a religious family, one must comply with the norms imposed by the leaders of the congregation. In the book “The Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk” by Tony DuShane, tells the story of a teen who belongs to a Jehovah Witness during his adolescence, observing classic theme of coming of age stories. Religion plays a very critical role in individual’s life particularly the teenagers as they progresses to adulthood. The moral builder role of religion has been accredited by many religious and political leaders. Having the curiosity of touching girl’s hand, looking at them in a mature way or having the first kiss are very important for a teenager.

However, Gabe and his friends from Jehovah witness could not experience these things nor have anything to do with practicing sex before marriage. There was a time when Gabe and Camille were sitting at the corner of janitorial office and he reached over and placed his hand on hers and allowed it to stay there (DuShane 4). Gabe wanted to explore how it feels to touch a girl and at the same time this activity made him be sexually aroused. The continuous desire for girls which Gabe was experiencing was linked with the life which he lived as a teenager. At the same time, one must be mentally prepared for any interrogation which might come up. The strict control over the teenager was so intense that many people reading DuShane book might feel bad about Gabe’s coming of age.

Meanwhile, Gabe was still anxious to do those things which he was not allowed to do. He claimed that he have been waiting to see a girl in an underwear (DuShane 130). It was very hard for Gabe to be able to deal with his hormones; he always fantasized of sleeping with a girl. At the same time, Gabe felt bad to be having sexual thoughts in kingdom hall. Religion is always a part and parcel in our lives, especially if one is born into a family that deeply adores the codes of the religion which they fellowship. Religion offers its followers set of rules and regulations which they need to follow and fulfill a purpose in their future lives. As for the DuShane book, it was very difficult to fulfill that strict mandate because Gabe was just a little boy who was going through his adulthood.

It is very hard for a teenager to follow the imposed norms, since one is human, and one cannot deny his own unique experiences which he will have to pass through during life. Steve Dean commented to Pos Dose that the church elders feel compelled to follow up the most casual rumor of premarital contact with questions worthy of the most sadistic Inquisitors. Dean explained that Gabe was having a hard time with the elders of his congregation yet he did not sleep with Krissy. The elders asked him too many questions the reason as to why he did never talked to his father about it. He kept repeating that Krissy was sick because he was covering her sin of being drunk but the elders told Gabe that he was lying to them.

So many sadistic questions like “why you took her clothes off?” were coming on Babes way (DuShane 143), “did you insert your tongue in her mouth?” (DuShane 143), “did any arousal occur when you kissed Krissy with your tongue?” (Du Shane 144). But DuShane who was raised a Witnesses is not interesting to demolish his believe. Black explained the DuShane was very difficult to continue in his congregation, after having passed so many misunderstandings, they badly guilt him at the beginning when he was beginning his adulthood. When he was not like other children, this way of being obfuscated him and he wanted to experience his sexuality like other boys. Having passed through that stage he decided to make his own life, sleeping with his cousin made him realize that sex is normal feeling and that one should enjoy being normally.