Through considerable experience, I have found that there is little chance of having a reasoned discussion with someone who absurdly and emotively considers "cupcake analogies" as "catastrophic".
It is catastrophic because it encourages the idea that engaging in sexual sin destroys one’s life. No one wants to eat a licked cupcake.
I have also fount there to be even less chance when that same person is an atheist or agnostic, and presumes to lecture religionist on basic tenents of their faith.
The chances approach, or reaches, zero when the same person resorts to pejoritive caracitures of the religionist's faith.
Please demonstrate where I “lecture you about the basic tenets of your faith” and what “pejorative caricatures I have constructed.
So, attempting to explain the obvious distinction (in the mind of this religionist) between atonement from spiritual sin (which can occur in this life) and atonement for natural consequences resulting from spiritual sins (which may or may not happen in the afterlife), would likely be wasted.
But, for those with their minds still somewhat open, let me just relate a personal experience which I believe bears my point out. When I first attended college, I became acquainted with a fellow who had several years earlier made a poor sexual choice, and unfortunately ended up contracting a case of syphillus that was so profound that it left him crippled and bound for life to his wheel chair. And, while he had fervently repented for his sins, and had, I believe received full forgivensss, that forgiveness did not enable him to walk, nor did it make him as attractive to the opposite sex as before his poor sexual choice. In fact, I don't know of a single woman on campus who was interested in dating him, let alone marry him.
About the same time, I knew a teenage girl who got pregnant after making a poor sexual choice. She also fervently repented, and I believe received full forgiveness. But, that forgiveness didn't change the fact that she was pregnant. It didn't change the fact that the pregnancy drastically complicated her personal life, including her ability to attract a mate willing to shoulder the responisibility growing out of the pregnancy, regardless of how she chose to deal with the pregnancy (whether to abort, or adopt out, or keep the baby).
It’s not a catastrophic approach, eh?
I already clearly stated that I believe the consequences and responsibilities of sexual behavior must be clearly taught to children. You are conflating issues. The cupcake lesson is about morality, and what God expects and wants from us, and how God views us. While other human beings are clearly judgmental and tend to categorize people based on their past rather than their current choices, I thought God was supposed to be different.
by the way, do you ride in automobiles? Do you realize what a risk you are taking by so doing? Do you know how many people are crippled or disfigured from car accidents? I bet their chances of finding a mate are reduced as well. And what about obesity? How many LDS singles drastically reduce their chances of finding a mate by being obese? If the big stick is justified to scare kids out of having sex, perhaps the big stick would be justified in scaring kids out of cars and away from McDonald’s as well.