-->

                                            WHY WAIT UNTIL MARRIAGE?

BY ARIWOOLA TEMITAYO

Crucial moral values are being fought in our cultures. Nowhere is seen more vividly than in the present sexual attitude and behaviors of Americans. The average young person experiences many pressures in the information of personal sexual sex standards.

 The facts than some standards must be chosen cannot be ignored.Sex is where to stay, and it remains a basic force in our lives. We cannot ignore its presence any more than we can ignore other ordinary human drives.

This chapter explores contemporary sexual perspectives within a biblical framework. Each of us need to think through the implications of sexual alternatives  and choose a personal sexual ethic based on intellectual and xtian factors, not merely on biological,emotional,or social ones.

              SEX AND LOVE

Before we begin our survey of various perspectives, we need to examine carefully the relationship of the physical act of sexual intercourse and the more intangible aspects of a meaningful relationships between two humans being..

 Is having sex really making love? Modern case studies, psychological insights, church teachings, biblical premises all seem to suggest not. As a psychoanalyst Eric fromms puts, to love a person productively implies to care to feel responsible for his life not only his physical powers but for the growth and development of all his human powers.

 If sex is merely a physical thing, then masturbation or other forms of autoeroticism should provide true and complete sexual satisfaction. Such is not the case. Alternatives to normal sexual intercourse may satisfy physically,bot not emotionally.Meaningfully,sexual activities  as well as a desire to known and be known, to love and to be loved. Both desire makes up the real quest for intimacy in a relationship, sexual intercourse represent only one ingredient that allow us to represent true intimacy.

 A superior sexual relationship exist where the bond of mutual communication,understanding,affection and trust have formed, and two people have formed  and two people have committed themselves to each other In a permanent relationship. The more of these qualities that are present, the deeper the intimacy and the more meaningful in the relationship. The relationship becomes more valuable as time passes because it is of one kind-unique. To spread intimacy around through a variety of sexual liaison destroys the accumulated value of the previous relationship(s) and dilutes and scatter in little doses to a number of people what one has to give.

 Area challenge faces young people today. Given the choice between hamburger at five o clock or filet mignon at seven-thirty, are there any good reasons to forgo the hamburger and wait for the filet? Why not both? Why not take the hamburger now and the filet later?

 This attitude is precisely the rational of those who encourage sexual activity outside of marriage. But it is not possible to do so without encountering problems later. Too many hamburger as well.

ARGUMENT FOR PREMARITAL SEX

 Now we will begin to consider the arguments that are presented to justify sexual activity before and outside marriage. We will analyze the arguments briefly and explore the general implications of each rationale so that you can decide which will provide the best path for your future.

           PROMOTING ABSTINENCE PAYS

Their enthusiasms for abstinence-only educated are well founded. Even though the abstinence message has been criticized by some as naïve or inadequate, there are good reasons to promote abstinence in schools and society.

1. Teenagers want to learn about abstinence. Contrary to the often repeated teenage claim, not everyone is doing it.

2. Abstinence prevents pregnancy. Proponents of abstinence only programs argue that will significantly lower the teenage pregnancy rate and cite lot of anecdotes and statistics to make their case.

3. Abstinence prevents sexually transmitted diseases (std) After more than three decades, the sexual revolution has taken a lot of prisoners. Before 1960 there were only 2 STDs that doctors were concerned about; SYPHILIS AND GONORRHEA.Today, there are more than 20 STDs, ranging from the relatively harmless to the fatal.