druidess6308: I'm curious. The subject comes up because the man I've started dating is a member of the Baha'i faith, and they don't believe in premarital sex at all. And sex includes kissing, the research that answered that telling me why he hasn't kissed me yet, though we've now had three dates. Apparently they do believe in a short courtship, though, because of this and their awareness of human nature.
I asked him what his own views are regarding this, and he's not sure. I'm willing to give him time to figure it out, and to wrap my mind around the thought of marrying someone without ever having had sex first. Without kissing, though, I have to see...this isn't easy for a woman like me. No premarital sex was difficult enough to wrap my brain around, but doable. I want more than a slaking of physical need when we join because with this man I want full unity of mind, body, and spirit.
His roommate and some of my friends have stated that we can't consider ourselves to be in a relationship because we haven't had sex yet, and it made me wonder how that became the definition of being in a relationship. If two people wait until marriage, does that mean they're not in a relationship at all until they marry?
If you were interested enough in someone, and your feelings were definitely growing strong for them, could you date someone whose beliefs were like this, even if those weren't your beliefs?
That's a tough one.
Waiting for marriage to have sex, in my opinion, while worthy of respect, just doesn't suit everyone...including me.
Some men are fine with it, or they appear to be, but as far as I'm concerned, sex just isn't something I'm willing to go without for any length of time, especially if I'm in a "relationship". Health problems do arise once in a while and going without then is only logical but for some belief in chastity? Yes, if I was 20 again...
But at 39 years old, I don't expect anyone to ask me to 'wait' until marriage, it's, to me, a ridiculous request.