I read an article about this a year or two ago, and it was very thought-provoking.
One thing that struck me after reading it was that for most of human history, marriage (and thus sex, procreation, and adulthood generally) happened much earlier than today. (And of course, the average LIFE was a LOT shorter). Women often married in their early- to late-teens, and men as soon as they had an established job or trade, again often in their teens. Most women became mothers for the first time in their teens.
For example, a response on the subject from Brave Browser's Leo AI to a query about the typical age of marriage in the US during the 1600s sits well with what I've read over the years:
Typical Age of Marriage in the 1600s
During the 1600s in the United States, the typical age of marriage was even younger than in the 1700s. Based on historical records, here are some general trends:
For women, the average age of marriage was around 12-14 years old.
For men, the average age of marriage was around 16-18 years old.
These ages were influenced by factors such as economic necessity, social status, and cultural traditions. Women often married younger due to the need for a male provider and to secure their family's economic stability.
Even in the 1700s, the typical age of marriage was still in the teens for women ("16-18") and was "20-22" for men.
And today?
According to recent data, the typical age of marriage in the United States has increased significantly over the past few decades. Based on the American Community Survey (ACS) 2020 estimates, here are some general trends:
For women, the median age of first marriage is around 28-29 years old.
For men, the median age of first marriage is around 30-31 years old.
For obvious reasons, waiting longer and longer to have sex may have influenced the perceived importance of the "be a virgin until your wedding day" idea.
Also, the current idea (and LEGAL strictures) on the age for sexual consent combined with the later typical dates for modern marriage make the idea of celibacy until marriage seem almost insane. Teen-age hormone levels make it clear that God / Nature WANTS humans having sex in their teens (can't "be fruitful and multiply" while celibate), just as hunger pains make it clear that God / Nature wants us to EAT when we feel the need for food.
I've always felt that using GOVERNMENT to set a one-size-fits-all age for sexual consent was about as smart as having the government force a one-meal-fits-all breakfast menu on the nation. People are different, for one thing, and watching out for your children is a family / extended family / neighborhood issue, not a state or federal one.
One element of a fix here would be earlier marriage, which would mean more in-person interaction between teens -- preferably outside of an authoritarian government institution like school -- and less moving a family from place to place while the kids are growing up so young people can really get to know each other. In any case, I suspect that when the typical age for marriage drops back down to reasonable levels, prenuptial celibacy will begin to return as a norm, but not before.
Back to the article (or thread) linked to in this post: The author makes a good case for prenuptial chastity being THE most important factor in the long-term success of a civilization.
The single most influential factor in a civilization's longevity and success is prenuptial chastity.
If people were expected to remain virgins until marriage, the culture was more likely to have all of the markers of human flourishing.
They were more likely to be an "advanced" civilization.
What was the best combination, resulting in a culture that exceeds other cultures?
You probably won't be surprised.
Prenuptial chastity combined with absolute monogamy. Absolute monogamy means one spouse for life.
Why was prenuptial chastity the most important?
In cultures where virginity was no longer expected, within three generations, the following disappeared:
absolute monogamy
deism
rational thinking
Without prenuptial chastity, people usually regress into the lowest "dead" category as they become interested only in their own wants and needs.
They become slaves to their appetites.
Cultures that have embraced total sexual freedom collapse within three generations.
They might limp along for a time, powered by some momentum, but eventually, they are conquered or taken over by another culture.
I read an article about this a year or two ago, and it was very thought-provoking.
One thing that struck me after reading it was that for most of human history, marriage (and thus sex, procreation, and adulthood generally) happened much earlier than today. (And of course, the average LIFE was a LOT shorter). Women often married in their early- to late-teens, and men as soon as they had an established job or trade, again often in their teens. Most women became mothers for the first time in their teens.
For example, a response on the subject from Brave Browser's Leo AI to a query about the typical age of marriage in the US during the 1600s sits well with what I've read over the years:
Even in the 1700s, the typical age of marriage was still in the teens for women ("16-18") and was "20-22" for men.
And today?
For obvious reasons, waiting longer and longer to have sex may have influenced the perceived importance of the "be a virgin until your wedding day" idea.
Also, the current idea (and LEGAL strictures) on the age for sexual consent combined with the later typical dates for modern marriage make the idea of celibacy until marriage seem almost insane. Teen-age hormone levels make it clear that God / Nature WANTS humans having sex in their teens (can't "be fruitful and multiply" while celibate), just as hunger pains make it clear that God / Nature wants us to EAT when we feel the need for food.
I've always felt that using GOVERNMENT to set a one-size-fits-all age for sexual consent was about as smart as having the government force a one-meal-fits-all breakfast menu on the nation. People are different, for one thing, and watching out for your children is a family / extended family / neighborhood issue, not a state or federal one.
One element of a fix here would be earlier marriage, which would mean more in-person interaction between teens -- preferably outside of an authoritarian government institution like school -- and less moving a family from place to place while the kids are growing up so young people can really get to know each other. In any case, I suspect that when the typical age for marriage drops back down to reasonable levels, prenuptial celibacy will begin to return as a norm, but not before.
Back to the article (or thread) linked to in this post: The author makes a good case for prenuptial chastity being THE most important factor in the long-term success of a civilization.
Wow