Sexual Abstinence Before Marriage?

[Ogunkoya Mayowa]

I agree with avoiding sexual abstinence before marriage. This is not only what young ladies should avoid but also men. Imagine a lady or a guy being infected with dangerous diseases before marriage, this can later affect the other partner and even the children. God Himself made it clear that we should avoid sexual abstinence before marriage and this is not for any other reason but for our protection.

[Cristina Corui Mihailescu]

Being a teacher, I should agree with the biblical teachings on abstinence. However, nowadays the world sees you as weird if you are still a maid when you get married. So the only advice I give my female students is to wait till at least 17 years of age and to do it out of love, not fun...

[MichelleYong]

I have always been taught sexual abstinence before marriage. I think it is only half-true, and it depends from person to person. Maybe it comes down to what a person perceives sex as. Some may think it is sacred, but some may think of it even more lightly.

[Maduabuchi Okwiya N Eze]

It's true. Women are the most affected in premarital sex, especially if pregnancy occurs. The man responsible for it may even deny ever knowing the lady. Hence, it is best to avoid premarital sex.

[Chiwelite Obioma Mgbeoji]

I agree with the Bible that we must flee from sexual immorality. Religious beliefs aside, however, if it is voluntary between two individuals, then it should not be that bad. I think the whole idea of having sex with different partners, however drags it away from what it should have - intimacy.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I think it's super complicated. As @Brenda Creech mentioned, the pressure is enormous. If that's the reason behind sex, it's wrong. No matter where the pressure comes from (your friends, your partner, tv). For some people, it might be fine, I guess. That said, let's consider ages. Maturity changes immensely between 13 years old and 17, for example. It also depends on your partner's age, and then we get into the consent territory. It's also about (possible) consequences. If teenagers had proper sexual education and access to reproductive health tools, I think older teens could make an informed decision about it. But we would need an immense cultural shift.
Abstinence as a hard-and-fast rule can be tricky. I can see how it might work, but I can see how it could cause a huge amount of frustration or disappointment because marriage could be super confusing and start for someone with zero experience. At least, in my opinion. But I should clarify that I didn't come to age in American culture or a particularly religious family.

[Cheryl Erickson]

I believe in sexual abstinence in young relationships through the early college years. But when people are older and begin to look for a lifelong partner, I think two people who love each other and are committed to each other should make sure that they have sexual chemistry before they make a promise for the rest of their lives. Having sexual chemistry with your spouse is an important part of the marital relationship.

[Brenda Creech]

I think it's super complicated. As @Brenda Creech mentioned, the pressure is enormous. If that's the reason behind sex, it's wrong. No matter where the pressure comes from (your friends, your partner, tv). For some people, it might be fine, I guess. That said, let's consider ages. Maturity changes immensely between 13 years old and 17, for example. It also depends on your partner's age, and then we get into the consent territory. It's also about (possible) consequences. If teenagers had proper sexual education and access to reproductive health tools, I think older teens could make an informed decision about it. But we would need an immense cultural shift.
Abstinence as a hard-and-fast rule can be tricky. I can see how it might work, but I can see how it could cause a huge amount of frustration or disappointment because marriage could be super confusing and start for someone with zero experience. At least, in my opinion. But I should clarify that I didn't come to age in American culture or a particularly religious family.

You made a lot of excellent points! Abstinence was a given when I was growing up, but it was an entirely different society then! The only information we got was sex before marriage was wrong. There weren't any further discussions about it. The sex education class I was in as a teenager was called "Marriage and Family Living!" Needless to say, it was more about marriage than about sex and reproduction!

[Tracy Harris 1]

I think sex before marriage, as long as it is consensual is fine. I think it was originally a concept that stemmed on the virtuous nature of a female to be more appealing when entering into marriage. The male in many cases never had the same pressure put on them, with their promiscuity being a 'right of passage'. This concept is now very much only held as literal in most part by religious bodies and their followers, but the stigma still remains as part of a societal norm. However traditional marriages that are 'forever' are themselves something of a rarity these days, as are the traditional perspectives that go with them.

[Israel10]

I am definitely not of the traditional school of those that abstinence should be practiced before marriage as I am an ardent believer that one must discover one’s sexual compatibility to one’s partner before marriage.

[Rocky Ellery James Tumbelaka]

Sexual abstinence before marriage is definitely a good thing. But I came from society that sexual intercourse before marriage is prohibited. So my first time was when I'm married. AndnI could say that it is the best thing I have ever done with the one I love.

[Hubre De Klerk]

I believe this is a 50/50 situation. I have heard of women who didn't have sex before marriage but then abused later due to their lack of knowledge. I do believe it is your choice what you do, BUT I do believe having knowledge is key to everything.

[Nyam Bura]

I agree with sexual abstinence before marriage. What I like most is the clean conscience that comes with it. Also, the confidence of knowing you are not in danger of getting a sexually transmitted disease. I wish young girls were more educated on this.

[Itz Savaga]

Pair bonding is a real concept, and sexual abstinence before marriage is the number one indicator of the strength of a couple's marriage because they'll be bonding for the first time with just themselves. It becomes harder to form a strong bond when they've bonded at different times in the past with different people.

[readingswithsoso]

Either the woman choses abstinence or not the most important is to be well informed about her body and sex. It's to be informed since a younger age and have someone of trust who can guide and protect. Specially, be open to any questions.
Being informed and supported is key.