"Relationship not religion" always came across to me as something of a snub and anyway it strikes a discordant note when the rest of the essay is about obeying.

Good article. I have a problem with “Well, I wouldn’t still be practicing chastity if it were only because of [expletive] religion" though. The term "relationship" seems to puts an emphasis on emotional feelings of personal connection. Of which many Christians have little or none. Or to put it another way, I wouldn't be practicing chastity if it were not for religion.