Thanks for those links Robert. Very interesting indeed.
I missed Q&A last night but have luckily recorded it.

I am not sure if the word 'slut' can be traced back to have any actual religious use, but when I looked it up, it was apparently first used in the 1400's to describe a 'dirty' or 'slovenly' person (including both sexes), and later to particularly describe female prostitutes or 'loose' women.

I am wondering what word we use for 'loose' men then?

I agree with Grim in that there is certainly no equality when we judge sexually promiscuous women as opposed to sexually promiscuous men.

I wonder whether people brought up in a religious household are more likely to negatively judge 'loose' women than they are 'loose' men?
And if so, why?

Is it because most religions are run by men?
Is it more of a cultural hangup, as opposed to a religious one?

I guess it would depend on the religion.

I reckon it might be pretty good with that Roman religion that had lots of Vestal Virgins. The goddess Vesta, goddess of the hearth, responsible for maintaining the sacred fire.

I can feel those virgins warming my blood all ready.

Great link RObert, and good on 'em I say.
I thought the evidence was already pretty well established. Those societies with fewer nudity taboos (eg Scandinavia) have generally recorded less sexual violence.
Suze, we call them, 'studs' or 'bulls' or perhaps in more literate (playboy) circles 'swordsmen'. There are a number of easily recognised terms, none of which have derogatory connotations.
The biological reasons I have already offered are still apt. Consider, for a church/temple wedding in most religions, it is still necessary for both partners to adopt the same religion.
To the religious, 'religious purity' is as important as racial purity is to racists.
AJ, it is interesting speculation. I think the simple answer may be that most people just don't give much thought to the issue. My children weren't raised in a religion, but obviously were still exposed to the concept. Both feel 'there may be something there' but have no idea what, and aren't interested in speculating.
Perhaps even the concept of someone/thing looking over your shoulder is enough.
Wouldn't have to be God. Dearly departed Grandma might be even more effective.

Just received an email that's vaguely topical:
http://thecomensality.com/avasay/sex-after-death/feed
Almost miraculous how they come at exactly the right time...

ROFL, Grim

And cute.

Enjoying many of the contributions. Makes sense to me that if something becomes taboo (as in keeping one's virginity) the ban adds a dimension of excitement if the taboo is broken, followed by remorse later on.

Perhaps the question should be do religious people feel guilty DURING sex. I can see advantages - males could maintain their erections for longer. But then thinking of one's father-in-law may achieve the same result, with less remorse afterwards.

Afterwards, a religious couple could ask, "Was it as guilty for you as it was for me?"

'I agree with Grim in that there is certainly no equality when we judge sexually promiscuous women as opposed to sexually promiscuous men.'

Then again, a woman never riskes being labelled a sleaze or a letch now does she. You could also say a man masturbating is normally depicted and characterised as a slightly pathetic, perverted, dirty little w&nker, but when a woman does she's a liberated sensual erotic beautiful sight. Mens sexuallity on the whole, aside form the promiscuity issue, is considered in a far more negative light than a womans. So there's the two sides of the coin; If women stay in their god given moral high ground and assumed pureness they don't get called sluts, but they are given that position, and men are given the dirty dog position from the get go. Sure men can stay in the dirty perverted letcherous old dog position with impunity, but why is that such a great thing?

I think people underestimate how much normal male desire for women is painted in such a negative fashion. Especially with feminism these days, any guy who dares to be excited by naked women is painted as some sort of abusive misogynist.

The whole slut thing to me is just a knocking down of a pedestal. People always forget the pedestal that is granted at the birth to everyones sugar and spice, pure and white as snow daughter. From their a woman can go through her whole life without having to accept any responsibility or 'guilt' for her desire, letting men chase and corrupt her with their filthy desire. She just gets called a slut if jumps off that pedestal.

Anyway, as I've said many times, I love sluts. My partner is one.

I really think women are more upset about the word slut and among women it is seen in a much more negative light. Maybe guys use it because women give it power. I've only ever heard guys use it in a dismissive way, but women use it in a much more seriously derogative way.