When it comes to premarital sex, different religions have varying opinions. Some communities are very strict and forbid any form of physical intimacy outside of marriage, while others may be more relaxed. Regardless of how lenient or strict their views are, most religious communities will keep an eye on what members do when they're not under supervision. This is known as religious community surveillance.
Surveillance can take many forms. Sometimes it involves hiring people to spy on individuals and report back on their behavior. Other times, it's done through social media monitoring. Religious leaders might even call parents of young adults who seem to be dating someone from outside their faith to talk about their relationship status. This type of surveillance can create fear among those who don't want anyone knowing about their romantic life, which leads them down a path that could cause problems later on.
Young adults often feel pressured into following certain rules and regulations because they don't want to risk being shamed or excluded from their religious community. They also worry about the repercussions if they choose to have sex before marriage.
Some faiths consider it sinful to engage in sexual activity before marriage, so those who participate face severe consequences like getting kicked out of the church or having their families disown them. In this case, young adults must weigh the risks of doing something they enjoy against the possibility of being shunned by everyone around them for life. The decision isn't easy, but it's necessary if you want to live according to your beliefs.
The best way to avoid these issues is to find a partner within your own religion or wait until after marriage.
Waiting may not always work since most people are curious about sex during adolescence and early adulthood. It's normal to experiment with intimacy at some point in our lives, especially when we're young. And while having premarital sex isn't necessarily wrong, it does carry risks. You can get pregnant or contract an STD without protection, which could damage both parties involved long-term. Therefore, whether you decide to wait or not depends on your personal beliefs and how much you value your religious affiliation.