The current study explores how the religious beliefs and practices of Ukrainians affect their views on premarital sexual activities and intimate relations. In Ukrainian culture, religion plays a significant role in shaping individuals' attitudes towards sexuality and gender roles. While some religions prohibit all forms of sexual activity outside marriage, others allow for various degrees of sexual expression between unmarried people. This paper will analyze these differences and explore how they impact moral perspectives on premarital sexuality.
Ukraine is known for its diversity of religious beliefs, including Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Each of these faiths has unique teachings on sexual morality that may influence an individual's perspective on premarital sexual activity and intimacy.
Eastern Orthodox Christians often view sex as a sacred act reserved for married couples within a loving relationship, while Catholics tend to be more liberal regarding sexual expression before marriage.
Both denominations agree that sexual activity should occur exclusively within marriage.
According to the National Institute of Public Health, approximately 60% of Ukrainians identify themselves as members of an organized religion, with most adherents identifying with either Eastern Orthodoxy or Catholicism. This suggests that religious teachings have considerable power over Ukrainians' moral perspectives on sexual behavior. The study argues that religious beliefs are not always consistent across different religious traditions but can vary significantly within them.
Within Eastern Orthodoxy, there is disagreement among priests about whether it is permissible for unmarried men and women to engage in sexual activities. Some believe it is sinful, while others argue it is acceptable under certain circumstances, such as when one party is infertile or unable to conceive children.
The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 100 individuals aged 25-45 years old from three major cities in Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv. They asked respondents questions about their attitudes towards premarital sex and intimate relationships, including how they formed those views and whether their religious beliefs influenced them. The results suggest that many Ukrainians perceive premarital sex as taboo and shameful, even if they do not consider it morally wrong per se. Many participants expressed concern that premarital sex could lead to negative consequences like disease transmission or unwanted pregnancy. Others believed it was a natural part of human nature and did not feel ashamed by engaging in it.
The findings indicate that Ukrainian religious teachings play a significant role in shaping moral perspectives on premarital sexual activity and intimacy.
The specific impact depends on various factors, such as denomination, individual experiences, personal values, and societal norms. The study recommends further research to understand how these variables interact to shape Ukrainian attitudes towards sex and gender roles.
How do Ukrainian religious teachings influence moral perspectives on premarital sexual activity and intimacy?
Ukrainian religions, particularly Christianity, have shaped the attitudes toward premarital sex and intimacy. The church has taught that sex is sacred between married couples who are monogamous. Unmarried people should abstain from it until marriage to prevent sinning against God (Borza, 2017). This has influenced Ukraine's culture to be conservative about intimacy before marriage.