youassassin

my view on dating is
just being friends with the person that you happen to be interested in
in which case i've dated a lot
but i have never "dated" a girl

the world has put such a negative connotation on that word
e.g. when you date someone they're yours
no thats called marriage

i have more friends who are girls because ive dated my way

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LOTRgeek

I voted "wrong." But I would like to clarify my position. I meant that "Dating" in the modern understanding of the word is wrong. Too often it is just to fit in, or trying to get some kind of gratification out of it. That's not love. Love extends outward, not inward. Courting is a much better system.

Ausgirl

Thanks Jeff, that's a great post! Hope to put it to practice very soon!

Whirlwind

Hmmmm...

Back when I was in high school, dating meant going out, getting a bite to eat, maybe a movie or some arcade video games, dancing to Wham! and Bruce Springsteen...and then dropping her off at home around 10 that night.

It means more than that today with a lot of young people.

I didn't vote, because it all depends on one's idea of "date", and who they're dating.

A nice Christian guy might find himself dating a bad non-believer. There's actually movies out there with that same plot that try to make it look cute.

Ausgirl

I would suggest that you don't put yourselves in situations together where temptation can be easily acted on - ie don't be home alone together when you know you've got the safety of no one walking in one you.

christianangel140

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ping

I see nothing wrong with dating. I see it as "getting to know you" meetings in a public setting.

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ExCordeChristi

Ooh, boy, I have opinions on this matter.
I said it's wrong, but only in the modern connotation of the word. I had a boyfriend for 8 months, but his ideas on dating were "ok, we've been together for a while...want to have sex now?" and I already told him, "no, no, no, no, no, no, no... Did I mention NO?" As a result, I don't have a favorable idea of dating, especially if that is what it means. I'd rather spend my life as a single person than with someone who doesn't respect my purity (which he took a lot of, and I'm not happy to say it , but if I hadn't said no, I would've lost everything I don't doubt). I say group dating would be much better, or being around people, not just alone (I mean, you could go out and do things, but when there's no one there to stop you, temptation might give way). I agree with the standards set on the first post.
Also, to Biblethumper, I would say if a kiss is going to lead you into temptation, DO NOT DO IT. Whenever I kissed my then-boyfriend, he wouldn't restrain himself and he would just do whatever he wanted, even when I said no. While it sounds like you are more willing to exercise self-control, I would recommend to you that you do not put yourself in such a situation where you may sin.
A kiss is sinful when it is done for pleasure, rather than as a way of glorifying Christ. The early Christians used to exchange a holy kiss as a way of greeting, which is appropriate because they were in love with Christ and they loved their fellow brethren. This kiss is better than a merely sensual kiss, which can lead to a sexual arousal and possibly to more things. It is the time-old question of "how far is too far"? Probably the best thing to do is not go at all pretty much until you're married. I know a lot of people wouldn't be willing to agree with that, since they want something now. But, as it is in 1 Cor 13, love is patient.
If you are going to kiss your girlfriend, do it in a way that will protect her purity and glorify God--a holy kiss, not a sensual one. If you transform your relationship into one that is pleasing with God, then it will be a beautiful thing, indeed. It sounds like you are trying very hard, and I commend you for that. I wish there were more guys like you out there.

BCheezy

Well, you have to date someone before you can marry them. How can it be wrong? I found someone special in high school, and now we're in nearby colleges, obviously too young age wise and financially to get married. What other option is there than dating? Dating is the only way to not loose her. Maybe I'll decide to cut her loose at some point, but with everything going good, what's so bad with dating?

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ExCordeChristi

Dating in the sense of "I'm getting to know you" is fine. But dating in the sense of "let's see how far we can go sexually" is wrong. That's all I was trying to say.