Transcript Sexual Practices and Norms

Sexual Practices and
Norms
By Jacob Lambers, Michelle
Tezak, Brittani Conley, Marcela
Castanon
Purpose of Sexual Activity
Judaism
• Sexual relations outside marriage are forbidden
• Condemns homosexual practices
– however reform branch allows such activity
• Restriction= relations with menstruating woman
• Full purpose is to reproduce and be abundant
• Used to have concubines but do not anymore
due to the sanctity of marriage
• Restrictions aimed at decency
Christianity
• Not allowed to have sex until marriage
• Must repent for sexual desires/temptations
• Sin was transmitted by way of sexual
reproduction
• God found within deepest desires (sex)
only when married
• Enjoy company of women; marriage
Islam
• It is a man’s right to sexual satisfaction (woman
can’t refuse husbands sexual demand)
• Enjoy company of women and sex
• The pleasure of sex leads to union with God
• “She should not refuse to share his bed
[meaning that she should not deny him sexual
access when he desires it-Trans.]” (Ruthven
100)
Fornication
Voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons, or
two persons not married to each other
Judaism
• Sexual relations outside of heterosexual
marriage is prohibited
• Male homosexuality is a grave sin
• Female homosexuality also forbidden, but
less serious (because no penetration)
• Biblical and rabbinic law condemn
homosexual practices (but that has not
prevented the formation of Jewish gay
clubs and synagogues)
Christianity
• Unjust fornicators won’t inherit the
Kingdom of God
• If one can’t exercise self control then one
should marry
• Women betrothed to one husband are to
be presented to Christ as a chaste virgin
Islam
• Women guilty of lewdness will go to prison until they die or if Allah
orders another way (same punishment for adultery); if two men are
guilty both must be punished but if they repent they can be left alone
• Both men and women who are guilty of fornication must be severely
beaten with a whip or rod 100 times; they should not be showed
compassion
• Those guilty of fornication can only marry one who’s also guilty of it
or an unbeliever; forbidden to believers
• Those who wrongfully accuse and can’t produce 4 witnesses to
support allegations will be whipped 80 times
– if accuse spouse w/ only own evidence, must bear witness 4 times with
an oath by Allah that it’s truth, and if it’s a lie then they invoke the curse
of Allah on themselves
• If a woman bears witness 4 times w/ oath by Allah that her husband
is lying then no punishment for her; but the woman invokes the
wrath of Allah upon herself if her accuser is telling
Celibacy
Abstention from sexual intercourse
Judaism
• Sex is for reproductive purposes
• Practice celibacy before marriage
• The purpose of creation is for Jews to
enter the world, get married, have children
and be spiritual
• Celibacy can lead one closer to God for
one removes oneself from the physical
aspects of life and becomes closer to God
Christianity
• Because sex is viewed only as a means of
reproduction, celibacy is required before
marriage
• Catholic priests are celibate for their entire
lives
• Do not marry, therefore no reason to have
sex
Islam
• Celibate during the month of Ramadan
• Holy month, deprive themselves of
pleasure during the day
• Because sex is viewed as pleasure very
few Muslims exorcise celibacy
• Sex during marriage is encouraged
Adultery
Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than
his or her lawful spouse.
Judaism
• Known as Halakah
• God can overlook most sins, except for lewdness
• Neither a man nor a woman should have any
promiscuous relations outside of marriage
• If the woman is married, it is considered a more severe
transgression.
• According to the Torah, a man may have more than one
wife, while a woman has one husband. (a woman builds
a home; a woman cannot build 2 homes)
• Double standard
• Jewish law does not forgive
• Children (innocent victims) pay for their parent’s
wrongdoings
Christianity
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God will judge the immoral and the adulterous
No fornicator has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God
One of the Ten Commandments
Adultery can be an act, a thought, or a divorce & remarriage
In Paul’s words:
-(the act) A married woman is bound by the law to her husband as
long as he lives; but if he dies, then she is free from that law. If she lives
with another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an
adulteress
-(the thought) One is told not to commit adultery but anyone who looks
at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of it within his own heart
-(divorce and remarriage) If a man divorces his wife, for any cause
other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit
adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits
adultery also
Islam
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Known as Zina
It is a shameful deed and an evil, opening the road to other evils
One of most heinous and deadly sins
One should not fornicate, anyone who does shall meet the price of
sin--doubled shall be the chastisement for him on the Resurrection
Day
Strictly enforced under Sharia law
the penalty of it does not depend on the caste, race, religion or
social status of the person with whom it is committed
It corrodes the purity of one’s soul and hence destroys one’s faith
It exposes the person to the wrath of Allah, thus resulting in eternal
damnation