The "virginity = purity/ non-virgins are soiled" attitude goes further through society than just among the devout, alas. Or, to rephrase, I've met men who do prize virginity, and their reasoning is always creepy to me (even when not aimed at me).

People just carry on about this stupid concept so much. I can't imagine rejecting someone for being a virgin and I despise the practice of considering non-virgins to be lesser or soiled.