Sanctifying virginity, monogamy, the marriage bond — those concepts are only 10,000 years old. They are a mere drop in the bucket of human history that became enshrined with the advent of agriculture and the ensuing need to control women in order to establish paternity (so you could pass your farm land and animals on to your heirs). These are not inherently beneficial or useful constructs, except in that context. They might appeal to and work for some people, but are hardly necessary to be healthy and happy in the present.

“Drawing on archaeological evidence and Paleolithic and Neolithic art, Eisler argues that prehistoric societies were relatively free of the domination, exploitation and misogyny that have marked Western societies up to the present. She emphasizes that Christianity’s hostility toward sex and, particularly, women’s sexuality has conditioned men and women to accept coercion and repression.”