chastity

Allegory of chastity by Hans Memling.

Assuming the observance of chastity (i.e., no premarital sex), chastity is of particular relevance to the transition from unmarried to married status (here marriage is meant in the common sense, not in the sense of spiritual marriage). After all, for marriage it is necessary to find a partner for the express purpose of sexual intimacy. Broadly, there are two approaches: courtship and arranged marriage. Since courtship may involve acts which are in conflict with chastity, an arranged marriage is preferred by some people. Contrary to popular belief, arranged marriage is not very common in the Middle East but is common in parts of Africa and Asia.

Acts which transgress chastity are usually intended to be a private matter. The main exception to this norm is the style of clothing worn because clothing can be used to broadcast a person's receptiveness to sexual advances. For this reason, cultures which attempt to foster chastity employ a modest style of dress. For women, perhaps the most conservative dress is the Muslim burqa. However, the Indian saree is also considered modest clothing even though it often leaves the navel exposed.

Due to the prohibitions of sexual intimacy outside of marriage in Abrahamic religions deriving from the Ten Commandments and Mosaic law, the term has become closely associated with premarital sexual abstinence in Western culture; however, in the context of religion, the term remains applicable to persons in all states, single or married, clerical or lay, and has implications beyond sexual temperance.

Chastity is one of the Seven holy virtues of Catholic teaching, opposing the deadly sin of lust.

Classical origin

The word derives, via the French chasteté, from the Latin castitas, which is the abstract of castus (the root of chaste), which originally meant a 'pure' state of conformity with the Greco-Roman religion, rather the practical counterpart of a pious (Latin pius) state of mind, in no way limited to the sexual sphere. As the etymological link suggests, castigation or chastisement is originally the use of (harsh) means to preserve or restore this state as a form of catharsis. This meaning is preserved fully in the parallel term chastening.

In ancient times the value of chastity was highly debated in both the homosexual and heterosexual spheres. In particular, Socrates was an advocate of chaste pederastic relations between men and boys, in opposition to the sexually expressed pedagogic relationships prevalent in his time. Plato, having transmitted many of these teachings, has become the eponym for this type of chastity, known today as Platonic love (as opposed to romantic love, parental love, sibling love, etc.)

Chastity in Islam

One of Islam’s goals is to establish the abstention from what is forbidden, create virtuousness, purity and to implant good-doing and charity in the community, and the distancing from vice and indecency. And from here Islam has been careful to distance people from their animalistic desires and Satanic manners.

Allah says, “And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them of His Bounty.” (Quran: An-Noor 24:33)

In Islam Allah also says, “But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Quran: An-Noor 24:60)

There has also been narrations from the Prophet Muhammad about chastity. It is taught that the Prophet said, “The first three to enter paradise were shown to me: A martyr, a chaste person, and a slave who perfected his worship of Allah and remained faithful to his master.”

The chastity of Islam is what restrains the human behaviour from deteriorating into the following of despicable desires. It looks after one’s interests, curbs one’s desires and prevents one from slipping into error and lack of discipline. This chastity finds expression in human decency and there appears in it purity, and human virtue.

Islam teaches that the greatest thing that destroys this guard of chastity is fornication, so it is one of the biggest sins and greatest transgressions. Fornication is incompatible with the characteristics of the faithful muslim believer and repulsive to the pious and the God-fearing. In Islam Allah says, “And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse, and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide there in disgrace. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic monotheism), and do righteous deeds.” (Quran: Al-Furqan 25: 68)

Abrahamic religions

Main article: Abrahamic religions

Traditionally, acts of sexual nature are prohibited outside of marriage in Islamic and Judeo-Christian ethical contexts and are considered sinful. Since offenses against the virtue of chastity are most often perceived as fornication or adultery, the term has become closely associated with sexual abstinence in common usage throughout most of the English-speaking world.

Not all ethical systems proscribe all of the following, but among those acts considered as offenses against chastity are:

• Adultery
• Anal sex
• Birth control
• Fornication
• Lust
• Masturbation
• Oral sex
• Pornography
• Prostitution
• Rape
• Sexual intimacy during or shortly after menstruation
• Sexual intimacy for a period of time after the birth of a child

The state of chastity may include not only sexual abstinence but also:

• Coitus within the context of marital fidelity
• Natural family planning

Yet, as above, the particular ethical system may not prescribe each of these.

For example, within the scope of Christian ethic, Roman Catholics view sex within marriage as chaste, but prohibit the use of artificial contraception as an offense against chastity, seeing contraception as contrary to God's will and design of human sexuality. Many Anglican churches allow for artificial contraception, seeing the restriction of family size as possibly not contrary to God's will. A stricter view is held by the Shakers, who prohibit marriage (and indeed sexual intercourse under any circumstances) as a violation of chastity.

Vocational expressions of chastity

Marriage

Main article: Marriage

In the context of traditional marriage, the spouses commit to a lifelong relationship which excludes the possibility of sexual intimacy with other persons. The Roman Catholic Church also forbids masturbation, and non-procreative sexuality within the confines of marriage whilst most Protestant Christian denominations disagree. Some see prohibition of unitive, non-procreative marriage as a heretical position, similar to that of the Apostoloci. ^[1] Many in the Catholic church seek to reform this position on Chastity, for example, see the Winnipeg Statement.

Sexual abstinence

Main articles: Sexual abstinence, Virginity, Celibacy, Clerical celibacy, and Clerical celibacy (Catholic Church)

Virginity, the physical state of innocent sexual purity, has often been a requirement for certain religious functions, especially as priests and priestesses. For example, Vestal Virgins in Ancient Rome were required to be virgins, and remain so until they left office at about age 40.

Celibacy or consecrated virginity usually refers to ordained clergy or persons in religious orders, and is an avowed way of living in which the person forsakes all sexual gratification. Vows of chastity can also be taken by laypersons, either as part of an organised religious life (such as Roman Catholic Beguines and Beghardss) or on an individual basis, as a voluntary act of devotion and/or as part of an ascetic lifestyle, often devoted to contemplation. The voluntary aspect has led it to being included among the counsels of perfection.

In some religions, celibate monastic life is commonly practiced as a temporary phase, as by many men in Buddhism.

The Roman Catholic Church requires a promise of celibacy prior to ordination to the diaconate by both secular clerics and religious in perpetual vows^[2] Married men can be ordained only by dispensation of the Holy See.^[3] Currently, this dispensation is given only to married men, ordained in another denomination, who convert.^[4] Widowers with children can be ordained. By contrast, marriage is accepted or even encouraged for priests in the Anglican and many Protestant churches.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church traditions, celibacy is not required of secular priests but is required in monastic orders, from which bishops are selected. In all three traditions, celibacy is almost always required of monastics — monks, nuns and friars — even in a rare system of double cloisters, in which husbands could enter the (men's) monastery while their wives entered a (women's) sister monastery.

Anglicanism does not require celibacy of its heterosexual clergy, and rather favors married clergy- the vicar's wife is considered part of a typical parish. Most Protestant traditions allow clergy to marry. Over one hundred years ago, the Mormons used to encourage polygamy, as taught in the bible, and now adhere to The Law of Chastity. Certain non-Mormon rifts still practice polygamy.

Societal Implications of Style of Dress

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Style of dress may be chosen for other reasons than chastity such as the desire to express one's individual identity, to conform to societal norms, for advertising a product, or for other reasons. A woman wearing a burqa may respond positively to sexual advances while a woman wearing lewd clothing may eschew them. Chastity cannot be judged by clothing alone. While lewd clothing may contribute to successful courtship, such clothing has far reaching implications on society as a whole.^{[citation needed]}

In some cultures, it is accepted that women (and men) who dress immodestly encourage interest in sexuality and sexual curiosity among others.^{[citation needed]} This is especially significant for virgins who may be influenced toward conceiving of sex separately from marriage instead of as an integrated part of marriage. These cultures also believe that premarital sexual abstinence becomes more difficult when even a minority of society openly takes to immodest clothing.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (III.2.I)
• Early Shaker Writings Relating to Sexual Abstinence

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