Re: Merci, merci monsieur, grand merci!

As far as relationships including a sexual element, the Greeks considered pederasty so important and beneficial for the younger partner that it became the norm in their society.

Looking back, we might justify anything based on what has occurred in history.

Perhaps. But just because we have supposedly "moved beyond" something that occurred in history doesn't necessarily make us better for it. The Greeks reached a height of art, democracy, and culture that wasn't seen again for several hundreds of years. And intergenerational relationships were a part of that culture, as they were during the Renaissance and several other periods.

I agree that the fact that such practices were widespread in the past might not justify the practices in and of itself (certainly the fact that slavery was widespread throughout history doesn't justify slavery). But these historical examples do provide us with case studies to examine. The modern concensus is that sexuality between youths and adults is always exploitive and damaging, but was this the case when these relationships were allowed to thrive in an open, accepting environment? Is our society's aversion to these kinds of relationships more a result of religion, social mores, and a modern focus on equality in relationships than it is a concern over discouraging a practice that is inherently harmful and wrong? Did these relationships serve a useful purpose for previous societies, and might they serve a useful purpose for our society?

Just as you can't necessarily justify something "based on what has occurred in history," you can't justify a belief simply because "that's the way things are now."