Sexual abstinence

Sexual abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from sexual intercourse and (usually) other sexual activity. Persons abstaining from sex typically do so for reasons of chastity, to prevent conception, to prevent the transmission of pathogens, or due to a lack of desire to participate in sexual activity.

Religious views

Chastity is a virtue expected of the faithful of many religions, including Christians and Muslims. This usually includes abstinence from sex for the unmarried, and faithfulness to a marriage partner. In many religions some groups of people are expected to practice celibacy — to abstain from sex completely, and remain unmarried. These groups include most monks and nuns in Christianity, and priests in the Roman Catholic church. From the Roman Catholic perspective everyone is called to chastity be they married, single, or in a religious order. Chastity is a function of one's respect for the dignity of another especially in a sexual context. Sex with one's spouse is not against chastity so long as both remain open to the gift of children -- contraceptives violate true chastity.

Related Topics:
Virtue - Christian - Muslim - Marriage - Monk - Nun - Christianity - Priest - Roman Catholic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Christianity, sexual intercourse is described as "becoming one flesh" (Ephesians 5:31, Genesis 2:23-24) and is meant to take place within the context of marriage; abstinence is therefore expected of unmarried people. But for married couples, the apostle Paul wrote that they should not deprive each other except for a time for devotion to prayer.

Related Topics:
Christianity - Paul - Prayer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Judaism forbids intercourse outside marriage (which is termed zenuth or promiscuity), but has no ideal of abstinence for particular clerical groups. In fact, it is practically expected of men in religious functions (e.g. rabbis) to be married. Abstinence is practiced while a woman is menstruating (in Islam also) and the week after cessation of flow (the law of niddah), as well as a set period after childbirth.

Related Topics:
Judaism - Rabbi - Menstruating - Niddah - Childbirth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Hindu tradition of Brahmacharya places great emphasis on abstinence as a way of harnessing the energy of body and mind towards the goal of spiritual realisation. In males, the semen (Veerja) is considered sacred and its preservation (except when used for procreation) and conversion into higher life energy (Ojas) is considered essential for the development of enhanced intellectual and spiritual capacities.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~