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Essay on Pre-Marital Sex
The term 'pre-marital sex' can be understood in two ways. It can mean either indiscriminate sexual activity before a person settles to one partner in marriage, or the sexual expression of the love existing between two people who intend to marry. The Christian view of humanity is that it is fully achieved by the coming together of male and female, both of whom are separately incomplete. Jesus taught that when man and woman come together they complete each other and become 'one flesh'. St Paul taught the same. A casual multiplicity of partners is in this view damaging to the person and belittles the sexual act. Quite apart from Christian objections to promiscuity, the practical consequences such as venereal diseases which have developed new strains not easily treated -and, of course, AIDS have given strength to the arguments against casual sex.
Still, many young people are wary of marriage. They may be worried by the high divorce rate, they may themselves be the children of unhappy marriages, or they may have had an unsuccessful marriage of their own. Some choose to live, without marriage, in a loving and stable relationship. Others have a 'trial marriage', living together before taking the formal and legal step of marriage.
Many Christians find it hard to condemn a sexual relationship which unites the partners, deepens and expresses their love and results in the procreation of children who can be brought up in a stable and loving home. The strains and pressures of marriage are not caused by the taking of vows but exist because living closely with another person is difficult. The difficulties are not removed by omitting marriage. Indeed the taking of legal vows, before family and friends, can give both incentive and support to the partners.....
