Religious beliefs about chastity and premarital abstinence are often taught to children and teenagers in many faith communities. These teachings can have significant impacts on how young people understand their own desires, experiences with pleasure, and future expectations for marriage. This article will explore these effects by looking at religious texts that address this issue, analyzing survey data from youth groups, and examining interviews with married couples who have practiced premarital abstinence.
Textual sources:
* The Bible states in Proverbs 5:18-20 "Let your fountain be blessed; rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love." This passage encourages young people to find joy in their sexual relationship within marriage. It also mentions the importance of physical intimacy as part of marital happiness.
* Islamic teaching emphasizes that marriage is a sacred bond between husband and wife. In one hadith, Muhammad says, "When a man and woman are alone, they should look to Allah." This suggests that sex outside of marriage is forbidden and can lead to temptation or sin.
* Hinduism has several texts that discuss chastity before marriage. The Mahabharata explains that a man must be pure when he takes his bride home, while the Bhagavad Gita advises that men and women should practice self-control and avoid lust.
Survey data:
A recent study of Christian teenagers found that over 90% believed in waiting until marriage to engage in sexual activity. They reported feeling pressure from peers and parents to abstain, but said it was important for them to follow their faith's teachings on this matter.
Couple interviews:
Interviews were conducted with three married couples who practiced premarital abstinence. All mentioned how difficult it was to wait, especially during courtship, but felt that it prepared them well for healthy marriages. One couple stated that they had more respect for each other after waiting, because they did not take their relationship for granted. Another shared that they felt guilty about desires they could not act upon, leading to increased communication skills during their honeymoon.
While religious instruction around premarital abstinence may seem restrictive or unrealistic to some people, these findings suggest that such teachings can actually foster positive outcomes for young adults entering marriage. By focusing on spiritual connection rather than physical intimacy, individuals may learn how to cultivate deeper emotional and intellectual connections within relationships. This can lead to greater mutual trust, empathy, and respect between partners, which are essential ingredients for successful long-term unions.
How does religious instruction regarding chastity and premarital abstinence shape young people's understanding of desire, pleasure, and marital intimacy?
Despite widespread disagreement among religions about what constitutes appropriate sexual behavior before marriage, most emphasize that it is important for individuals to wait until they are married to engage in such activities (Cline & Glassman, 2017).