No No Nookie

While I can see where it might work for some people and there are times every relationship becomes a little asexual - there is a bonding that takes place with "sexual" contact and it would seem to change the relationship's basis to not have sexual contact.

I've never heard of this, although I do know of women who would rather cuddle then have sex, and who don't enjoy sex at all. They are NOT asexual, just don't enjoy the sex act itself.
I think this might be partly physiological and partly an absence of decent partners! But I'm sure there are reasons why, evolutionarily, there are people not interested in sex.

I think that a relationship without intimacy can't really work on all levels. Connecting sexually is just part of connecting outside the bedroom, imo. If the relationship isn't working in one part of the house--it's going to strugle in other parts as well. :)

Interesting comment, Rachel...but I guess thinking of it that way, there's no "evolutionary" reason for homosexuality, either. Are the two things connected, do you think?

The reason for these type of new marriages/relationships could be attributed to anti-depressants. However,it is my belief that it can also be attributed to the Internet. More than 40 million men use the NET for porn and self-gratification. This behavior certainly takes any enjoyment from their wives. And of course, through the NET, porn is just the beginning. Chat rooms, web cams, etc. provide for all sorts of "misbehavior."

It is worthy of mention that there are people who have what the bible refers to as the "gift of singleness" there is nothing medically od phisiollogically wrong with them, they are very capable of being emotionally involved by not sexually involved,God simply made them that way. There is absolutely nothing wrong with their sexual orientation.

How can ayone even think of swapping germs with a stranger when there are all of these DISEASES going around! I mean, we can be romantic but come on...
AIDS and herpes are gross!

I think religion plays a lot into it. Being raised in a strict household where my father is a preacher and my mother a tightly devout old-fashioned christian, I was never allowed to talk to my parents about boys or sex. I couldn't even say the word. I remember being a preteen and asking my mother when I would be allowed to date and she responded so coldly, "don't ever bring that up again do you hear?" My sister was disowned by my parents because she started having sex when she was a teenager. I was raised afraid of sex. Not so much just because of that either but because I was assaulted when I was a girl. so it's sometimes still hard for me to be okay with sex. There are months where I go without sex to the point that I hate it and wish it didn't exist. To other times where I'm horny as hell but still torn because I learned that sex is bad and dirty and that I'm bad and dirty for wanting it especially because unwanted sexual advances were made toward me. so I am not surpried at asexuality at all.

Amy, I think there might be an evolutionary explanation for homosexuality. I'm no expert, but in the animal kingdom, for example, sometimes the alpha male runs off all the younger males and the alpha keeps a harem of females for himself. Maybe that happened in human history too (it happens now in polygamous communities in Utah). With no female partners available, the young males might turn to each other for sex or submit to homosexual sex to keep the peace with more aggressive males. Those outcasts who don't submit or bond with other males would have a lower chance of survival.

Later, when the alpha male dies, those younger males might get a chance to reproduce, thereby passing on their homosexual genes. Just a theory.

Although birds can spread germs to people, illness caused by touching or owning birds is rare. To best protect yourself from getting sick, thoroughly wash your hands with running water and soap after contact with birds or their droppings. WBR LeoP