@ Concerned:
I'm beginning to think that abstinence is not a bad Idea.
I am an atheist. I don't think sex is bad or anything, and I think that some religious are silly with their hangups surrounding sex.
However, do think religion started out as a basic guidebook for how people should behave socially, and that zealots just blew it all out of good proportion...
Basically, I think that sex twists and distorts a mans ability to judge a potential partner. Thus, he might stay with a woman he is not really compatible with for a longer period of time because the sex keeps him stuck there...
I think that the christian obsession with abstention (at root) probably has more to do with avoiding sex with the intention of finding a good personality match FIRST, and only then, partaking in sexual acts with eachother, with the ultimate goal of preventing men from entering into relationships that are destined not to work out.
I hope you get what I'm saying...
I'm quite sure now that abstention is the best way to find someone if you are looking for a long term relationship (like marriage) because you'll find out if you want to be with the person for real, free from the strings and emotional pollution of sex.