You know, sometimes it’s like I’m from another planet.  Because what other people find sweet, I find to be borderline creepy.

I’m finally reading about this new phenomenon known as a "Purity Ball".  It’s like a debutante party except, well, I’ll let PZ Myers explain:

Daughters gaze deeply into their father’s eyes and promise  "…to remain sexually pure … until the day I give myself as a wedding gift to my husband. … I know that God requires this of me … that he loves me. and that he will reward me for my faithfulness."

And the daddies’ pledge is even ookier:

I, (daughter’s name)’s father, choose before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity. I will be pure in my own life as a man, husband and father. I will be a man of integrity and accountability as I lead, guide and pray over my daughter and as the high priest in my home. This covering will be used by God to influence generations to come.

"High priest in my home"?  Ugh.

Sounds like a joke.  As in "Hey, high priest of the home!  Will you get off the couch and take out the trash for once?"

But that’s not how some think.  Here’s a testimonial from Generations of Light magazine:

"How can you measure the value of your eleven year old looking up into your eyes (as you clumsily learn the fox-trot together) with innocent, uncontainable joy, saying, ‘Daddy, I’m so excited!’ wrote Wesley Tullis in a letter describing his grateful participation. ‘I have been involved with the Father-Daughter Ball for two years with my daughters, Sarah and Anna. It is impossible to convey what I have seen in their sweet spirits, their delicate, forming souls, as their daddy takes them out for their first, big dance. Their whole being absorbs my loving attention, resulting in a radiant sense of self-worth and identity. Think of it from their perspective: My daddy thinks I’m beautiful in my own unique way. My daddy is treating me with respect and honor. My daddy has taken time to be silly, and even made a fool of himself, learning how to dance. My daddy really loves me!"

Look, I think daddy-daughter bonding is great, and I can understand the appeal for little girls.  They get to dress up and spend time with their daddy.

But PZ is right in his commentary:

That is just so disturbing. Daddies of the world, keep your hands off your daughter’s sexuality, OK? Raise them to be independent and thoughtful and informed and able to make their own decisions, and then just trust them.