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by Desiree Miller

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Majority of MBC Students in Survey Approve of Kissing
Before Marriage

William King first kissed his fiancee, Mia Gwynn, three or four months after they began dating in October 2003. --Benjamin Tertin, photo

Couples should kiss before marriage according to 60 percent of Multnomah Bible College students polled recently. Fifty students answered the question: Do you think a couple should kiss before marriage?

Fifty percent of women answered yes, saying that kissing before marriage is OK. Many women said that it would be awkward after marriage to progress from kissing to sex in one day. Amanda Bunn, 20, said, "It's a normal development to a romantic relationship; it's unnatural not to kiss."

"It's one of those things where you're getting to know someone, as long as it's not out of lust. I don't suggest make-out sessions--that leads to bad places," Mia Gwynn, an engaged junior, said.

Sixty percent of men polled said kissing before marriage is OK. Rick Baker, 21, said, "I think there are appropriate levels of physical intimacy, and kissing is an OK level to be at before marriage. You should be that close."

"It's an honorable goal not to kiss. It's not biblically stated that you shouldn't. [Not kissing before marriage] would be a hard thing to do," Rafe Hogan, 19, said.

Twenty-six percent of students polled were undecided about whether kissing outside of marriage was acceptable. Most who were undecided said the answer depends entirely on the couple and the standards they keep. "Boundaries are different for each couple," Kat Flick, 19, said.

Some people said the question was unanswerable. "It depends on the people; you can't put one answer on it because it's a complex problem, and people are complex," Danny Lemay, 19, said.

Fourteen percent of the students said kissing before marriage was not OK. The majority of these people were men. "You are not guaranteed to get married; so kissing her is stealing a kiss from her future husband," Aaron Eveland, 20, said.

Of the 25 women polled, two said kissing before marriage wasn't OK.

"The Bible says in Ephesians that there should be no hint of impurity. We need to be set apart. Kissing is a hint [of impurity]," Sammy Lang, 20, said.

Students ages 18 to 29 gave their opinions on this topic. They answered the poll question during a period of two days in the lunchroom, in Memorial Dorm, and in South Aldrich.

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