Some students prefer to hold off until wedding day
Midland sophomore Sarah Houseal thinks sex is an expression of love between two people saved for marriage.
Houseal said every time married couples engage in sex, they are reinstating their vows.
“I think if you go too early before you make that commitment, it can ruin the relationship,” she said.
Houseal is Catholic.
“My religion definitely promotes that (view of sex),” Houseal said.
However, Houseal said she isn’t just saving herself because the Catholic faith says so, but rather because she agrees with the reasons.
She said her family and friends also feel the same way.
“I don’t know of any (religion) on some level that don’t have restrictions,” said David Smith, philosophy and religion professor.
Smith said sex generally is reserved for a marriage relationship in many religions.
But Greg Spinner, assistant philosophy and religion professor, said that isn’t always true.
“Most religions have guidelines,” he said. “It doesn’t mean everyone agrees.”
Spinner said each religion has a range of conservative and liberal thought. For example, some Christians believe in divorce, whereas others don’t, he said.
There is a gap between religious guidelines and the behavior some people participate in, he said.
“People interpret the Bible,” Spinner said.
Dan Nowiski, Harbor Beach senior and Student Government Association president, said he feels sex makes a relationship stronger and more personal.
Nowiski is a minister for the Community of Christ in Mount Pleasant.
“I believe sex is for a committing couple,” he said. “It’s just something I would want to have in a personal setting.”
Nowiski said he thinks religion has played a part in his views on sex. But overall it’s more of a personal reason.
Houseal said she isn’t looked down upon because of her choice to wait.
“Even if (others) don’t necessarily agree with me, it’s respected,” Houseal said.
She recently got engaged to Delta College freshman Tyler Angus, who said he shares the same feeling about waiting until marriage to have sex.
Angus said most of the people he goes to church with agrees with his and Houseal’s choice to wait, although not everyone feels the same.
“The friends I hang out with don’t normally understand,” he said.
The couple has been together for two and a half years and hasn’t yet set a wedding date.
There isn’t a real purpose to have sex if it’s not out of love or for a family, Angus said.
“There definitely is temptation,” Houseal said. “I can’t imagine giving myself, other than to my fiancé.”
Houseal said her and Angus’ love and respect for each other gives them strength to resist temptation.
