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There are some eighteen year olds who are not mature enough to know what is best for them sexually, just as there are some 14 year olds who are mature enough.
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I agree. Age is not too good a predictor of maturity. Possibly we should give each person a test to determine his/her level of maturity and give the person a license to participate in sexual activities only if one is sufficiently mature.
Of course, this might be a problem for some because I've met fifty year olds who couldn't pass such a test. :)
On the other side, a few years ago I was asked to give a lecture to a group of bright six to ten year olds. One little girl, eight years old, asked extremely intelligent questions, and also demonstrated that she had a broad range of understanding and a strong will. I'm sure that she would have been the one who decided if she had a sexual relationship.
Afterwards I was talking with her parents and commented on her maturity. Her mother said, "Her sister's just as bright and mature and that's a problem. She's fourteen and has a twenty-two year old graduate student as her boyfriend. She's on birth control, but still. . . ."
I believe we must protect children from negative influences - from sexual predators to evangelical churches, but we have give them as much freedom of choice as we can so they can grow up to be well adjusted, productive adults.
Occam