http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/those-numbers-got-stupid?bffbvid&utm_term=4ldqpj5#.xxBgakQGXK
So why would I post this? Because from both a moral and psychological point of view, it interests me. So here's my take on what this says about chastity.
Before I start on my tirade, I want to say that the power of the Atonement is real. Christ can take away all sins, including sexual ones. The path to repentance is not easy, but it is always possible. For those of you who have transgressed, it is not my place to judge. I never will. I'm good like that. I say what I say not to condemn you, but with the hopes that those who have not yet experienced this pain can yet be spared. For those of you who are not religious, don't stop reading, because this argument is of interest to you too.
First, the moral. And I do say "moral", and not strictly "religious", because despite the claims of most, I do believe that this a question of morality, and not which god you worship. If you want proof, look at the cultures of the world. With few exceptions, from east to west, across recorded history, sex outside of marriage has been condemned, regardless of whether the people were pagan, Islamic, Buddhist, or Christian. The very connotation of the words we use to describe those who "sleep around" is proof alone.
Some of these people didn't even know an exact number of the people they had slept with. Really? Sex has become so recreational that they can't even recall the names and faces of those they did it with. This, to me, is truly tragic.
When you have sex, you are sharing a part of yourself with your partner. Beyond the spiritual connotations, for those of you who don't consider yourself religious, think of the emotional repercussions. What happens when you've given yourself to so many people but then find "the one". What do you have left to give that hasn't already been given? Despite the claims that "the past is the past", I think the awkwardness between the couples is proof enough that on some level, it IS an issue. We have all these systems to protect our homes, our assets, our data, and yet the system for protecting the most personal part of our bodies (our souls, to take it beyond the literal) is degrading.
And now, the science. This study shows that on a LITERAL level, we may keep a part of those that we have sex with inside our bodies - permanently. In today's world, we are extremely conscious of what we take into our bodies - look at the growth of the organic foods chemistry for proof. However, our choices in sexual partners are going the other way, as if 50 mg of MSG or aspertaime is more toxic than a one-night-stand.
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/03/18/this-study-will-make-you-think-twice-about-who-you-are-getting-into-bed-with/
When you have sex, you are literally taking someone into you. I only ask that you do this with as much care as you should, because you're worth it.
