Why is virginity highly valued in religions?

Answer 1

In my opinion, it is highly valued because sex is not something that should be taken lightly. It can do many things, the most obvious, bring a new life into this world. It is to show that one has held off and waited for 'the one.' I'm a virgin and im proud of it.

Also, even if it wasn't highly value in religions, I think I would have still done what I am doing now. Waiting until marriage. It's also about morals and caring for yourself. If people really loved themselves, they wouldn't be out, getting STDs and such. But that's just my opinion.

Answer 2

You are assuming that Christian customs are the only religious customs that exist. In Christian Western Europe the only true value of a woman was as a breeder of sons and heirs. A promiscuous woman could never be sure of the paternity of her child, and a wealthy man wanted a surety the son was his. If he got her as virgin, and kept her safely locked away from all contact with other men, then he could be certain. This is by no means universal in world Religions as a whole. Among the Celts a mans heir was the drawn from his sisters children, since, having come from the same womb, his sister, and by extension her children, were clearly of the same blood as he. mong the Saxons the Overlord had the right to the first night with any Bride, so a groom had no expectation of taking a virgin to his wedding bed. You shouldn't over generalize.

Answer 3

You've gotten a lot of "magical" answers here, but the truth, I believe, is simpler.

If you look at the rules of any given religion, you'll see that the point of them as a whole is to promote harmonious society. Pure and simple (whether you believe they're God-inspired or man-inspired doesn't matter). The details and philosophy of how to do this may differ from religion to religion, but, if everyone followed them, the basic end result would be the same: an ordered and functioning society.

The 10 Commandments is a great example of this.

I mean, think of it this way: You've been given the task of running your society. You'd like it to be successful and grow. You'd like everyone to be happy and prosper. People, unfortunately, still have a tendency to act like animals. They fight, they steal, they squabble over resources -- all functions of putting self before society. So what rules could you institute to realize your vision of a happy, prosperous populace?

How 'bout: Don't lie to each other. Don't steal from each other. Don't kill each other. Etc.

Religions are about civilizing the uncivilized beast (there's a reason Satan is often portrayed as half man, half animal and referred to as "the beast" -- he's the part of us that would succumb to that animal nature). Religious directives are often about overcoming our basic animal impulses, guiding us toward cooperation and mastery of self.

And, again, whether you believe this is some God's intelligently-directed plan or just a cooincidence of existence doesn't matter. That doesn't change the fact that it's the obvious thrust.

Now, I told you that to tell you this: Our primitive, animal nature would have us be non-monogamous. For whatever reason -- stability afforded by family units, maybe -- many societies have idealized monogamy.

The idealization of virginity is an offshoot of the idealization of monogamy. If you enter a marriage -- meant to be a bindingly monogamous relationship forever after -- as a virgin, then, by definition, you're monogamous throughout your entire life (I know that, in reality, it doesn't always work out that way - but that's the idea). You've achieved the ideal of "civilized society" as defined by either God or man (whatver you believe). You haven't just gone out into the world and jumped on everyone and everything you can, as an animal would. You've taken control of your impulses, your desires. You've evolved. You've become "human."

Answer 4

Religions provide most people the solace of a community with the same basic values about life, especially what we should strive for before meeting our maker.

Virginity is akin to innocence, childhood, and all that G-d gave us with to start with. Nuns, priests, and monks who devote their lives to celebacy believe this will lead them to a path of enlightenment much the way the virgin Mary was visited by an Angel.

Abstinance is symbolic of being without sin. When you abstain from physical pleasures, this includes indulging in excesses of money, comforts, and slovenly behavior.

I believe virginity should be considered a state of mind, especially in these modern times, as defined by positive behaviors and not by whether or not people have actually had sex. In defense of children who have been raped or sodomized, there should be a new more intelligent definition of "virginity".

Answer 5

Virginity represents purity, of heart and of body....most religions put men up on pedestals as rulers and even owners of women...and thus purity, chastity, is everything. When a man takes a woman for his wife, they they want to buy her new...it's really that simple...in some cultures if another man touches his wife...he throws her out on the street. It's terrible what religion...and MEN...do to women...makes you wonder what the world would be like if they all treated women with plain old RESPECT.

Don't you find it curious, all the people who whine about religion, that it's men who push it? I mean women are suppressed and abused by religion...and yet are expected to uphold it highly. I think there might be some truth to that DaVinci code thing where they say the greatest fear that religious leaders had was that they would find out that perhaps Jesus wanted Mary Magdalene to continue his preachings....now that would explain a LOT! :~)

Who knows what has been twisted and turned in the past...the fact that people follow anything that is written in any book is a farce...if you want to know GOD, he lives in you and me, and I think we're all pieces of God....some just never find where they fit in the grand jigsaw of life.

Answer 6

Because the religions were started by men and have always followed the desires and needs of men. Those men wanted virgins, so they made that a part of the religions to make it more likely that people would obey and give them what they wanted.

Answer 7

the two genders initiate as virgins. it particularly is valued in many faiths, no longer purely Islam... you have been misinformed it form of feels. And there are some religions that fee it, yet that does no longer mean it should be hung onto until marriage. it particularly is approximately your self-- no longer approximately your destiny companion. So in reality, you're in simple terms making ethnocentric assumptions.

Answer 8

It is Good to stay a virgin. but sometimes a women makes a mistake. maybe she was abused as a Child. maybe she never knew Love before. maybe she was Just crying out for someone to care. does this make her a whore? NO it makes her Human.

Sometimes It's better to ask about a person's background before anyone Judges that person.

So like I said it's better to stay a virgin then you won't have tp worry about being called all sorts of names. Just my 2 cents worth

Answer 9

Because it is about protecting ones honor and self-respect. Too bad it is looked down upon. The way things are going I won't be surprised if a new law is passed which requires you to not be a virgin after a certain age!!

Answer 10

Because virgins have always been highly prized by men no matter their culture.

I am a virgin by the way. I am female also just so you know.

In America, virgins are ridiculed because we are not whores, but that is a label I can live without, so being a virgin does not bother me in the least because I could become a whore anytime I want, but a whore could never become what I am, ever.