Regarding sexual relationships, what's the difference before and after marriage?

Firstly there is no straight forward answer for your question, but a general reply can be given.

I hardly think that there is any conflict of standards. In fact i think we are not in a society where one can go around having sex, with no explanation with as many women as you want. Modern society, though modern, still does not warm up to it. You don't normally have a harem before or after marriage. Usually the point is even before your marriage you are expected to have one GF and spend time with her. Share you sex life with her (thought you might laugh and say 'Women!' I think there is something to what i have written). Now if you find other women who dont mind 'Sharing' you are just plain lucky....

The main difference I Think is before marriage you are only accountable to yourself and so as long as you dont care what the society says you dont hear/listen to it. Now post marriage you are accountable to each other and trust me you WILL listen to what the society has to say about each other. PLUS the point of marriage is COMMITMENT and if a person is not able to commit I dont see why he or she would even consider to something like it.

To some extent it is also linked with religion and belief system which you have been brought up with. A very loose system would give you more flexibility than another.

The rational here is before you get married and are just dating around, you don't have any real obligations to anyone but yourself. And usually during that time period a lot of people live up this period of their lives by getting away with all kinds of things that would usually piss off a normally exclusive partner. After all this period is known as sowing your wild oats before you take the big leap into marriage. Which where marriage is concerned you have more than one person to consider other than yourself. You have a spouse and or kids to think about. So if you were to sow some wild oats after you were married like you did when you were single then you are hurting several people at once just for your own selfish pleasure. And that is not ok and would be deemed a very senseless choice to make.

As far as I'm concerned, there is no difference between before and after marriage. I know of a few couples who are married, living together, have kids and still have sexual relations with other people. At the end of the day it would only be of concern only if you have a moral, or religious difference. Again, each person has it's own opinion and point of view.

You can live with as many people as you want, before or after marriage... It's just illegal to be *married* to more than one person. People will frown at anyone who says they have a "harem", whether they're married to their "harem" or not... It's just the way our culture is. But you CAN have multiple partners if you so choose, it's not illegal even if you are married.

It's because when you get married, you promise to be faithful. That is the difference. It's like entering into a contract without the intention of fulfilling it. Legally, it's wrong and morally it's wrong. I don't disagree with having multiple spouses as long as everyone involved is a consenting adult. What is wrong with sex before marriage exactly?

Well, the only reasons i can come up with are these:

The person could be seen as doing polygamy. This could be because if your living with a person for x amount of years, apparently your "married" by law.

And you should look at i ethically as well. Its cheating and of course people will frown on cheating. It just wrong according to some people.

although i see where your comming at. But then again, common sense.

.The difference is that when you marry, you are committing yourself to that one person only...prior to marriage, you are free to date or screw as many people as you desire, as you haven't given any the commitment to be true to only them.

If poly marriage were legal worldwide, things would be different...but it is not (in general). So if you choose to marry, most countries only allow you to be married to that one person. Whether or not you have other girlfriends or lovers, is something you'll need to discuss with your wife. Some couples do have open relationships...some are swingers who play with others as a couple.

For those who don't choose to stick with just 1 person, but still want to marry, there are options...as long as you marry someone who is open to them.

Actually, too many partners before marriage is not acceptable as well, male or female. You are using a strawman argument.

I would say having multiple partners IS sensless.. if you find someone you love and aren't married to them, you should stay faithful to them.. just because you aren't married doesn't mean you should roam.. loving someone is just that, loving them and respecting them.. marriage is just the document that binds you legalally.. Love, trust and faithfullness will hold it toghether.. try the book what your mother couldn't tell you and your father didn't know..

well when you are married you have made a commitment to someone!