Commentary Chastity, defined herein as refraining from intimate sexual relationships outside of the marriage covenant, has ebbed and flowed in acceptance over the centuries. It attracts respect from some, scorn from others. In a predominantly Christian culture, chastity is deeply respected as one of the greatest virtues. We in America, due to the heavy influence of Christianity in shaping our culture, may think of chastity as a “Christian virtue.” However, it’s only fair to note that chastity is not an exclusively Christian virtue. Aside from other faith traditions (especially the monotheistic ones), various nonreligious thinkers have extolled chastity. One of the most famous of these is the ancient Athenian statesman Solon (d. c. 560 BC—centuries before the dawn of Christianity). Solon wrote, “Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.” That having been said, we in the West today must indeed look …