Is sex with a minor wrong?

Question

Consider: From a scientific standpoint, we are clearly designed to be running around and screwing whatever is fertile. If it didn't work out both biologically and/or socially, it would have long since been gotten rid of. Consider, especially, that men are hardwired to find youthful features attractive.

From a religious standpoint: If God (insert higher being who created man if not a monotheist) didn't want us to have sex with 14 year olds, then why can they have children (Go forth and multiply), seeing as how humans were designed to exacting specifications laid down by God (or gods, or whatever)?

In response to early answers let me point out:

1) 30 years old was never old, even in ancient society. People lived to old age quite often even back then, you are thrown off by the fact that life expectancy was much lower. What this means isn't that people didn't live to be old, but rather that most people died as babies or children. Once you've reached puberty, you've largely made it over the hump and could be expected to live a fairly long life.

2) The laws of men are by and large based on societal laws that evolution has given us. Loosely. More tightly, many legal codes are based on guidance from ancient religious texts. Do not murder is as relevant today as it was a few thousand years ago.

Answer 1

You've got some valid points. It does seem weird that it was okay to marry a 12 year old 200 years ago, but now it will somehow be psychologically damaging.

Also, in some countries right now, it is legal to have consensual sex with a 14 year old or even younger. For example, in Italy it is 14 years old, and Italians don't seem to be more perverted or more sexually messed up than we are - if anything, less so.

In the US, the age of consent differs from state to state, which makes the situation legally and morally complex, not to mention contradictory.

I have put in a link to a website with worldwide ages of consent for you to look at.

Answer 2

Biologically speaking, there is a point to that.

Socially speaking, times have changed. Children are not raised to be responsible for themselves and their families in the same sense they were in the past. Even though they look mature, they're immature mentally.

Or maybe my previous explanation is incorrect. I'll give it another shot. In the past old at was living into your 30s. It is no longer necessary to hurry up and have children before you die, or to try to have enough births to beat the child mortality rate and continue the species.
In addition, the possibilities and problems of society have become so diverse, it would just seem to make sense to let people wait until they are old enough have some meaningful grip on the world around them.

Answer 3

You sound like you are trying to justify the behavior of yourself; or someone you know! The reason it is morally wrong to copulate with a minor, is because they are too emotionally immature to accept certain things. That is why our society has laws and age limits to when people can do certain things! Like, the driving age, smoking age, drinking age, voting age, and military age. We have these rules to mediate immaturity and allow our young people to grow up!

Answer 4

It depends on where you live. Some people their life expectancy is not high so they start early to make sure they have people to carry on when they are gone. The mother have to be young and strong to fend for her children. Another way of seeing it . Let us not impose our standard on other society. When in Rome do as the Romans do. I don't support it in the society I am living in.

Answer 5

No, of course it isn't "wrong". However, it is against the law. This is an important distinction. When all is said and done what Nature/God says is irrelevant, we must live by the laws of men.

Answer 6

14 year olds are still children. It's illegal and immoral. Grow up.

Answer 7

Its wrong,perverted,and pathetic a guy can't get a girl his age.