I cannot forget the centuries of conflict and war that religion has caused. It sounds to me as if sharing the earth with other humans is nothing short of a burden to Aly, and if so, it is no wonder she needs guidelines and rules. The attempt to argue that it is religion that teaches murder is wrong is simply ridiculous. I was raised in a home where I was to choose my beliefs carefully, and after much consideration and thought I have chosen not to embrace any form of organized religion. Religion is not what teaches morals and values - it is your parents, your schools, your friends, your teachers, your upbringing.
Religion teaches prejudice, discrimination and even hate.
As a lesbian, I can speak with firsthand knowledge of how religion teaches its followers to discriminate , to hate and persecute for what are natural and healthy ways of life. I agree that unsafe sex is a major problem in stemming the tide of sexually transmitted diseases, but it is unrealistic in today's world to expect people to wait until marriage. Premarital sex can be practiced, if practiced safely. I see no mention in Aly's article about the use of birth control and condoms, nor about how to stay informed. With the proper information and tools, sex can actually be a wonderful, fulfilling experience that can be shared by two people.