Quote Originally Posted by Jimbo View Post
This is a strange idea for me. I don't think there's anything like it in Australia per se. Is abstinance primarily a religious thing (Christian and other)?

What happens if you meet your future wife and she's not into abstinance? Do you let the love of your life slip away because you're not prepared to do now what you will most certainly be doing later (post-wedding)? Or does the definition of the perfect partner include abstinance on their part too?

Please excuse my ignorance - I'm genuinely interested in this and how it plays out in practice.

James.
I would say it is primarily a practice associated with Christian beliefs, at least in the States it is. I am sure other cultures have other religions with similar practices, though I currently can't name any off the top of my head other than Judaism.

As for your future spouse not having the same ideals, I would hope they would have enough respect for your beliefs on the matter. Christianity and Judaism teach that one is to not be unevenly yoked, 2 Corinthians 6:14. The yoke is alliterating to Oxen being yoked together.

This may seem very bigoted, and I completely understand how one could view it as such, but it is really more of a practical purpose then a, "Holier then though." sort of thing.

Scenario: Let us say that a young Christian women were to get together with a non Christian man. The fall in love, and though he doesn't like it (who does) the you man holds out and remains abstinent out of respect for the young woman. They get married and live happily for several years. The woman is a little saddened by husbands unbelief, but she still loves him and so she puts it in the back of her mind. Then they have kids. She wants for her children to have the same sort of upbringing that she had, in a church. But her husband is un-supportive and so they soon find themselves at odds with each other. Not only is the marriage under stress, but so are the kids. Things begin to fall apart and break down. One ox is fighting the other, and no progress is being made.

This is just one example of things that I have seen come from marriages with a Christian and a none Christian. It is not intended to be bigoted, but practical for the forming of healthy relationships.

Matt