Reasons for Religion's Opposition to Sex before Marriage

There is no doubt that there are many reasons why teenagers should not engage in premarital sex relationships. Although teenagers, specially during this time, regard this activity as normal and a way of practicing, it is actually a dangerous, harmful, risky and seriously unsafe activity that implies many negative consequences. However, a statement from The Waters Organization demonstrates a generalization of the adult world s point of view concerning this situation: today it is still not a "socially acceptable" policy to have sexual intimacy outside of wedlock, regardless of the millions who do so each day. Premarital sex damages the very essence and dignity of sex and the person itself. The battle to improve this situation has become endless and it seems that it will remain so until teenagers decide to respect themselves and society stops using sex as a medium to sell, attract and distort reality.

Sex is a powerful force that can destroy if not used properly. Like atomic power, sex is the most powerful creative force given to man. When atomic power is used correctly it can create boundless energy; when it is used in the wrong way it destroys life. Sex is very much the same kind of powerful force. It is a gift from God to give us the greatest pleasure, to help in creating a deep companionship with one's marriage partner and for procreation of the next generation. But if you play with this powerful force outside the bounds of marriage, it destroys you and those close to you.

Sexual activity for young people arrests their psychological, social and academic development. Studies show that when young people engage in premarital sex, their academic performance declines and their social relationships with family and friends deteriorate. This is because adolescents are too immature to deal with the explosive sex drive and it tends to dominate their life.

The majority of women cannot enjoy sex outside of the bonds of marriage. The development of a fulfilling sex life needs the security and peace of the marriage bond. Premarital sex usually takes place sneaking around in hidden places dealing with the fear of being caught, the fear of pregnancy and feelings of guilt. All these worrisome factors threaten pleasure in premarital sex, most especially for women.

Another important factor concerning premarital sex implicates the subject of virginity. Virginity is to be given to the most important person in your life, the person you committed yourself to stay with forever in marriage. Your virginity is the most precious thing you have to give to your spouse. Once you lose it, nothing in the world can bring it back. Do not lose something so precious in a thoughtless way.

Those who engage in premarital sex run a high risk of contracting one of the many venereal diseases rampant today, as well as losing their fertility. Not just AIDS, but other common disfiguring diseases like herpes have no cure. Some venereal diseases have no symptoms and many couples discover many years later that they became infertile because of these diseases. Infertility experts estimate that 80% of today's infertility is due to venereal diseases contracted before they married. The best and only method that guarantees 100% against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is to wait for marriage to have sex and maintain fidelity in your marriage. In fact, according to an article in teen-aid.org, the contraceptive revolution has appeared to make things worse. Unwed births have increased 83.8%, 63% of STD's are from ages of 25 and below, HIV has increased 44% since 1989, and abortions have increased 67% since 1970. In addition, unwed births make up 27% of all births in the United States, which is 2.5 times higher that 20 years ago. This information in unbelievable and should be enough to make anyone think twice about having sex before marriage.

Premarital sex breaks the 10 Commandments given by God. The 10 Commandments are given to man by God to make man happy. They are not outdated and they are not restrictive. If we follow these laws, we can create happy and prosperous lives. If we do not follow them, we will pay a heavy price in divorce, disease, abortions, illegitimate children and loneliness. Modern persons make a big mistake when they think that they can break these eternal laws and not suffer consequences. The Bible has many passages that talk about a person s appropriate sexual behavior. An article from an interactive Bible, called Pre-Marital Sex and the Bible," says: Pre-marital sex? An effort to reach compatibility? An innocent game to play? Not according to the word. God says it is fornication, sin, and those who commit such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. It is not sex which God condemns, but it's misuse outside the marriage bond.

Premarital sex runs the risk of conceiving illegitimate children. Numerous scientific studies show that the children of single mothers suffer psychologically and are less successful socially and academically than children from intact families. Above all, children need both their father and their mother. It is wrong to risk having children who will never have their father's love, protection and care. By doing this, not only is the person hurting herself or himself, but the children who have no fault whatsoever for what their parents have done.

If you date and you do not have sex, you can forget about that relationship when you stop dating. But if you have sex with those your date and then break up, the nature of sexual involvement creates strong, often unpleasant memories for your whole life. Every relationship you break up where you had intimate relations is like a mini-divorce. The psychological difficulty of these mini-divorces does damage to your character. Later, when you are married and go to bed with your beloved spouse, these unpleasant memories will accompany you. It would be terrible to have to live like that.

Life is to be enjoyed and to be lived step by step. By having premarital sex, you do not prove your friends or society that you are a real man or a real woman. Often misled by peer pressure and false ideals, teenagers think that sex before marriage is like a game. The truth is that in that game there are not many winners. Waiting can be tiresome, but in the end is well worth it. True love waits and if a boy or girl truly loves you, they will want the best for you. They will not want you to suffer fear of disease, unwanted pregnancy and the psychological difficulties of premarital sex. They will want to experience love with you only in the very best place of all: the love nest of marriage.