this post was submitted on 03 Apr 2026
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A former Cedarville University finance professor whose writings promote a Christian ethic of marriage and sexuality was arrested Tuesday on eight sex-related felony charges involving one or more minors.

The indictment, filed March 27 in Ohio’s Greene County Common Pleas Court, charges John Kent Tarwater with two counts of rape, three counts of sexual battery and three counts of gross sexual imposition.

He was booked into Greene County jail in southwest Ohio, where he remained in custody as of Wednesday morning. No defense counsel was listed in public court records, and no hearing or trial dates were disclosed.

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[–] inari@piefed.zip 133 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Wanna guess his political affiliation? 

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 86 points 2 months ago
[–] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 50 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Ephebophile, which he’s very quick to remind us is different from pedophile?

[–] homes@piefed.world 42 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The only way this matters is because they sit at separate tables in the prison cafeteria.

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

I think they might prefer to stand

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[–] popekingjoe@lemmy.world 109 points 2 months ago

convicted on sex felonies

Christian sexual ethics

Yeah that tracks.

[–] Triumph@fedia.io 103 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's always the people you most suspect.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (3 children)

......for you to poop on?

Actually, no. He'd probably get off on that.

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[–] Dogiedog64@lemmy.world 77 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Always the ones you most expect.

[–] Linken@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

Fork found in kitchen.

[–] Paranoidfactoid@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Yeah. Except, as Trump says, 'Who would have guessed!?'

I feel like this is a “why are you so focused on this topic” sort of question and answer

[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 31 points 2 months ago

Not a Democrat, atheist, or drag queen?

[–] cheeseburger@piefed.ca 29 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So all of these abrahamic religious types really just looooove diddling kids, eh? Fucking hell.

[–] Floodedwomb@lemmy.world 64 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Nah. Plenty of Hindus and Buddhists do it too. The problem isnt a specific religion or religions, people who want to hurt others are attracted to positions of authority. Religion offers the best cover.

[–] crandlecan@mander.xyz 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

"Spare the diddle, spoil the child."
- Omnipotent beings, apparently

[–] OccamsRazer@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

That depends on what role religion plays in a society. In a non religious society, those people are drawn to other positions of authority where they can perpetrate. For instance teachers and social workers are among the worst when it comes to occupations where these people end up.

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 28 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's always the ones you most suspect

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[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago

Religion is clearly the best grift.

If he were a Catholic priest he'd have the entire international power of the RCC protecting him. Dude picked the wrong church.

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 23 points 2 months ago

Aaaaaaand another one.

I'm running out of room guys.

[–] MagnificentSteiner@lemmy.zip 22 points 2 months ago (1 children)

a Christian ethic of marriage and sexuality

Big "sex for me but not for thee" vibes.

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[–] crandlecan@mander.xyz 19 points 2 months ago

😂 let me guess... Another conservative weirdo protecting kids in his own unique way?

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 16 points 2 months ago

So ... when can we expect the announcement of his cabinet position?

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago

so much for sexual ethics.

[–] melfie@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago

The Bible doesn’t specifically condemn pedophilia, and in fact seems to endorse it, so I guess he was technically practicing Christian ethics.

https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/says_about/pedophilia.html

[–] Horsey@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago

In psychology we call that reaction formation.

[–] itisileclerk@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

Ergo, Christian sexual ethics is criminal.

[–] notsosure@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 months ago

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen.

[–] JennyLaFae@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 months ago (4 children)

These people can't even follow societal ethics, let alone the dogma they set. Yet people will continue to swallow thought patterns whole for the freedom to not think.

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[–] lemmie689@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 2 months ago

Mr Tarwater should become Mr Tarfeather.

[–] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That's not going to be good for his book sales

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago (2 children)

He’s got his book on forgiveness ready to go to the publishers!

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

TARGETED FOR MY FAITH: How the Woke Left Tried to Ruin a Good Christian Man

Foreword by one of the Duggars. Or maybe all of them.

This leads to a cabinet position, possibly Secretary of State.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago

Ugh I hate how accurate this is

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

All publicity is good publicity.

[–] apftwb@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

He is an expert in his field

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 3 points 1 month ago

Of course he was.

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