We live in a world where media and culture glorifies the idea of casual sex and promote more about safe sex rather than waiting for the one that you'll be with for the rest of your life. Sometimes shows and movies sends a message (especially to the high school viewpoint) that "being a virgin" is equal to "not cool." The idea of "one night stands" and "sex after date" are also prominent for the adults. All of this is there even when the negative aspects of promiscuous sex are warned all over the place, like unwanted pregnancies, STDs, as well as emotional turmoil. This links onto the topic about whether abortion should be legal for those who don't want the baby, while we focus less on how women got the unwanted pregnancy in the first place. There are school districts that continue to debate on whether their sex education is an "abstinence only" policy or a "safe sex" policy, but that would be a debate for another time.

I want to pose this question. What is wrong about the idea of abstinence till marriage? What is so unattractive about the idea of saving it for someone that you love for the rest of your life? (Or is this because marriage has become a tarnished idea as well?)

Sex is not really the problem, its the person you have sex with (you never know what ones intentions are). Getting married does not guarantee that it is the right person to have it with. In fact, marriage is much like a condom. The purpose is to protect but sometimes it breaks and then you got major problems on your hands.

Some people don't want marriage, some do not want babies, and some don't want sex till marriage. It takes right combination to get it right, but most the time you are shooting in dark with someone you don't love or someone who does not love you (people play mind games all the time in relationships). It's basically gambling in a way, biggest risk you can take is having sex with someone or getting married to them. Now if you use internet porn there is no gambling, you are guaranteed no stds and no babies and no legal binding contract between someone.

Usually when people marry they love one another. I think a big handful of people get married not cause of love but for other reasons like fame and fortune or do it cause they can. How many people actually remain married for their entire life to the same person? A lot of the time marriages don't work. They are great for babies but its not the answer for when to have sex nor is it the answer to its the right person to have sex with.

Watch divorce court on TV to see proof that having sex after marriage is not the best idea in the world nor is having sex before marriage. Either way, it can end in disaster. You will actually be very lucky if you find someone who has the same morals as you which enable you to love each other for rest of life. All you can do is evaluate and take the risk cause only time can tell if having sex or getting married was the right decision.

We live in a world all about self pleasure and instant gratification.  I think that's the problem, play4fun.  Everyone wants to do what's quickest, most heart-racing, and most fun.  Everyone wants what makes them feel good regardless of consequences or possible consequences.  It's  world of self-entitlement:  "I like it and want it; therefore I shall have it."  It's the same reason kids are so disrespectful, people are less considerate, and everything is 'on the go'... even sex.

That's really the best way I can describe why I think people see nothing wrong with casual sex.  It's all about self.

What saddens me is something you mentioned... that people who choose to wait are usually mocked and looked down upon.  "You're missing all the fun", or "You need to take a test drive before you get married!" are also common cries which really just bum me out  little.  I think it's sad that morals are frowned upon and loose-ness is deemed to be awesome.  This applies to more areas than this one, however... so it's not just sex that belongs in this category.

There is no problem with abstinence as such; to quote a slogan I saw in Canada : "abstinence is the only safe sex".

The problem arises when it's taught to be the ONLY way to avoid diseases and unwanted pregnancy. Also, virginity before marriage arises from its roots, i.e. a transfer of property between the father and the husband. It assured the husband that the children would be his.
Like it or not, marriages for love have really started when capitalism, that promotes voluntary action and non-coercion, was blossoming in the 19th century.

Of course, if some people DO want to wait till they get married to have sex, they are free to do so. However, sex education (where it exists) must be realistic and teach children ways to deal with sometime uncontrollable urges

What is so special about abstinence? There's nothing wrong with sex so long as it's done safely, and that's why good sex education is important. "Abstinence-only" programs are just a way for repressed people to force their particular brand of morality on others, and there certainly is a degree of control that these people try to excersise. Just look at the social perceptions around promiscuity. A woman who sleeps around is a s*** and shamed by society in general, whereas a man who does the same is congratulated by his peers. This is a relic of mysognistic customs that date back thousands of years (just look at the ancient Greeks) and have no place in modern society. Shaming people, regardless of gender, over having sex is a real problem.

The sooner we as a society can past our nonsensical fears about sex and understand that it's just another activity, the sooner we can leave this sort of double-standard behind. Sex is healthy and enjoyable. It leads to stronger relationships. If you want to be abstinent, that's fine, but don't act like it gives you some sort of moral high ground. That's just silly.

There is nothing wrong with it. If you don`t want to have sex, then you don`t have sex and people should respect that since it is your choice as a person.

I may go a little off topic here but since they were mentioned, the best way to avoid STD`s and unwanted pregnancies if you do have sex is to use a condom. They are not of course 100% proof, but if you use them right they almost are. Also it helps if the person you have sex with is also somebody you can trust and respect and he or she trusts and respects you too. If you want freedom with anything you should always remember those freedoms also come with responsibilities. And something you do comes and bites you in the rump you take care of those things like an responsible adult.

There is nothing wrong with the idea of no sex until marriage.  I happen to disagree with it but I will not think negatively of anyone who supports it.

Human sexuality is a confusing subject that is subject to all sorts of criticisms.  You can't take a stand without people actively attacking you.

Sex is a way animals pass on their genes.  The drive and desire to continue the species and spread your genes is a powerful one.  It is one of the most power natural drives animals have.  We eat, sleep, defecate and procreate.  Those are our major jobs.  So to hold back sexuality is like holding back eating food until you have a meal with a particular person.  Sex is a natural expression of emotion and genetic needs and I believe there are no restrictions on it as long as people can consent with full understanding of the situation.