One of the biggest problems that people face is the morality of sex in different situations. Maybe it worries us so much because it is such an intimate and meaningful event. From a purely biological point of view, sexual intercourse is the means of what could be considered the most important biological function of man: reproduction, the continuation of our species. But, as beings concerned not only with the biological aspects of life but also with morality, we must ask ourselves the question: When is it morally appropriate to have sex? Let's leave religion aside for the moment. Obviously, different religions (and even different sects of the same religion) have very different views on when, where, and how sex is appropriate. However, if we simply look at sex from the perspective of a general human being, who is not affiliated with any religion but strives to be moral, can we find a general rule as to when intercourse sexual relations are appropriate? The first and most obvious question is: Should sex – and here we'll assume heterosexual and vaginal sex, for simplicity's sake – be reserved specifically for marriage? Many religions, including Christianity, would obviously say that sex should definitely be reserved for marriage and marriage. only. But from the point of view of the general human being, it can be argued that sex does not necessarily have to be put aside for marriage. Perhaps this seems shocking, not because people rarely have sex before marriage, because we know the opposite is true; but because premarital sex seems somehow wrong to many people, even those who practice it. In some religions, sex only within marriage is often considered an absolute, but even Lauren Winner, in her Christian-oriented book...... middle of paper ... towards each other, those who are planning to get married, or those who don't believe in marriage at all but are willing to commit to each other for an extended period of time. Sex is not a thing to do. taken lightly. This isn't something to do with that attractive person you met last night, or with your partner of just two weeks. It should not be considered without discussing the potential consequences and without being prepared to confide completely in another human being. Just because sex isn't necessarily reserved for marriage doesn't mean it's something to be undertaken casually and unconsciously. Works Cited “Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Marriage.” Merriam-Webster Online. 2010. Merriam-Webster, Inc. March 24, 2010 dictionary/marriage > Winner, Lauren. Real sex. Grand Rapids: BrazosPress, 2005.