For many
Orthodox Jews,
Christians,
Muslims, and
Bahá’í people should restrict their acts of a sexual nature to the context of
marriage. For unmarried people, chastity is equivalent to
sexual abstinence. Sexual acts outside of or apart from marriage, such as
adultery,
fornication,
masturbation, and
prostitution, are considered immoral due to
lust.
Christianity Traditions In many
Christian traditions, chastity is synonymous with
purity. The
Catholic Church teaches that chastity involves, in the words of cardinal bishop
Alfonso López Trujillo, "the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being", which according to one's marital status requires either having no sexual relationship, or only having sexual relations with one's spouse. In
Western Christian morality, chastity is placed opposite the
deadly sin of lust, and is classified as one of
seven virtues. The moderation of sexual desires is also required to be virtuous. Reason, will, and desire can harmoniously work together to do what is good. As an emblem of inward chastity, some Christians choose to wear a cord, girdle or a cincture of one of the several
Confraternities of the Cord or a
purity ring. The cord is worn as a symbol of chastity in honour of a chaste saint whom the bearer asks for intercession. The purity ring is worn before
holy matrimony by those who marry or for the rest of their lives by those who stay single.
Marital chastity In marriage, the spouses commit to a lifelong relationship that excludes sexual intimacy with other persons. A third form of chastity, often called "vidual chastity", is expected by the society for a period after the woman's husband dies. For example, Anglican Bishop
Jeremy Taylor defined five rules in
Holy Living (1650), including abstaining from marrying "so long as she is with child by her former husband" and "within the year of mourning".
Celibacy In the Roman Catholic Church, members of the
consecrated life vow or promise celibacy as one of the
evangelical counsels. In 306, the
Synod of Elvira proscribed
clergy from marrying. This was unevenly enforced until the
Second Lateran Council in 1139 when it found its way into
canon law. Unmarried
deacons promise celibacy to their local bishop when ordained. Eastern Catholic priests are permitted to marry, provided they do so before ordination and outside monastic life.
Vows of chastity Vows of chastity can be taken either as part of an organised religious life (such as Roman Catholic
Beguines and Beghards in the past) or on an individual basis: as a voluntary act of devotion, or as part of an ascetic lifestyle (often devoted to
contemplation), or both. Some Protestant religious communities, such as the
Bruderhof, take vows of chastity as part of the church membership process.
Teaching by denomination Catholicism Chastity is a central and pivotal concept in Roman Catholic
praxis. Roman Catholic teaching regards chastity as essential in maintaining and cultivating the unity of body with spirit and thus the integrity of the human being. It is also fundamental to the practise of the Catholic life because it involves an
apprenticeship in self-mastery. By attaining mastery over one's passions, reason, will, and desire can harmoniously work together to do what is good.
Lutheranism The
theology of the body of the
Lutheran Churches emphasizes the role of the
Holy Spirit, who sanctified the bodies of Christians to be God's temple. Many
Lutheran monks (e.g.
Östanbäck Monastery) and
Lutheran nuns (e.g.
Daughters of Mary) practice celibacy, though in some Lutheran
religious orders it is not compulsory.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints In
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) chastity is very important: Physical intimacy between husband and wife is a beautiful and sacred part of God's plan for His children. It is an expression of love within marriage and allows husband and wife to participate in the creation of life. God has commanded that this sacred power be expressed only between a man and a woman who are legally married. The law of chastity applies to both men and women. It includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one's spouse after marriage. The law of chastity requires that sexual relations be reserved for marriage between a man and a woman. In addition to reserving sexual intimacy for marriage, we obey the law of chastity by controlling our thoughts, words, and actions. Jesus Christ taught, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" ()." Teachings of the LDS Church also include that sexual expression within marriage is an important dimension of spousal bonding apart from, but not necessarily avoiding, its procreative result.
Islam Quran The most famous personal example of chastity in the Quran is the
Virgin Mary (Mariam): Extramarital sex is forbidden. The Quran says: In a list of commendable deeds the Quran says: Because the sex desire is usually attained before a man is financially capable of marriage, the love to God and mindfulness of Him should be sufficient motive for chastity:
Sharia (Law) Chastity is mandatory in Islam. Sex outside legitimacy is prohibited, for both men and women, whether married or unmarried. The injunctions and forbiddings in Islam apply equally to men and women. The legal punishment for adultery is equal for men and women. The prophet's prescription to the youth was: Chastity is an attitude and a way of life. In Islam it is both a personal and a social value. A Muslim society should not condone relations entailing or conducive to sexual license. Social patterns and practices calculated to inflame sexual desire are frowned upon by Islam, such incitements to immorality including permissive ideologies, titillating works of art, and the failure to inculcate sound moral principles in the young. At the heart of such a view of human sexuality lies the conviction that the notion of personal freedom should never be misconstrued as the freedom to flout God's laws by overstepping the bounds which, in his infinite wisdom, he has set upon the relations of the sexes.
Baháʼí Faith Chastity is highly prized in the
Baháʼí Faith. Similar to other Abrahamic religions,
Baháʼí teachings call for the restriction of sexual activity to that between a wife and husband in
Baháʼí marriage, and discourage members from using pornography or engaging in sexually explicit recreational activities. The concept of chastity is extended to include avoidance of alcohol and mind-altering drugs, profanity, and gaudy or immodest attire. == In Eastern religions ==