Sexual Norms and Practices

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Sexual Norms and Practices
Judaism Islam
Christianity

• Michael Cassolato
• J.P. Goethals
• Connor Kinzer
• Peter Vaughan

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Preface

• Fundamental Views on Sex according to the HB, NT
  and Quran
• Appropriate Sexual Practices
• Sexual Sin
• Scriptural References
• Worksheet Questions
• Overall Summaries
• Class Game

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Definitions

• Fornication - voluntary sexual intercourse
  between persons not married to each other 
• Adultery - voluntary sexual intercourse between a
  married person and someone other than his or her
  lawful spouse.
• Prostitution - the act or practice of engaging in
  sexual intercourse for money or some type of
  value
• Pre-Marital Sex Engaging in sexual activity
  with a partner who one is unmarried to.
• Extra-Marital Sex - Extramarital sex occurs when
  a married person engages in sexual activity with
  someone other than their marriage partner. It is
  similar to adultery. This does not include
  fornication, which is sexual intercourse between
  non-married people, or a married man and a
  non-married woman.

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Definitions cont.

• Homosexuality - sexual interaction and / or
  romantic attraction between individuals of the
  same gender.
• Procreation - The process by which an organism
  produces others of its kind reproduction.
• Incest - Sexual relations between persons who are
  so closely related that their marriage is illegal
  or forbidden by custom or by law.
• Lust - To have an intense or obsessive desire,
  especially one that is sexual.
• Polygamy Form of marriage in which a person has
  more than one spouse.
• Mitzvah- Fulfilling one of the commandments.
• Gender- Referring to either a male or a female.
• Sex- The physical act of consummation (completion
  of a marriage by an act of sexual intercourse
  between the spouses).
• Contraception- The act of sex without the
  intention of not impregnating the woman.

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Fundamental View on SexJudaism

• God created man in his image in the divine image
  he created him male and female he created them.
  God blessed them, saying to them Be fertile and
  multiply fill the earth and subdue it
  (Genesis 127-28)
• Use sex to reproduce God wants spouses to have
  sex with one another and have children.

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Fundamental View on SexChristianity

• every man should have his own wife, and every
  woman her own husband. The husband should
  fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise
  the wife toward her husband. A wife does not
  have authority over her own body, but rather her
  husband, and similarly a husband does not have
  authority over his own body, but rather his wife.
  Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by
  mutual consent for a time (1 Corinthians
  72-5)
• Similar belief to Judaism sex should be between
  a husband and his wife for procreation. Also,
  spouses should not deter from their physical
  relationship.

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Fundamental View on SexIslam

• The believers must win through- those who humble
  themselves in their prayers who avoid vain talk
  who are active in deeds of charity who abstain
  from sex, except with those joined to them in the
  marriage bond (Surah 23 1-6)
• Similar belief to Judaism and Christianity sex
  should only occur between a married couple.

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Appropriate Sexual PracticesJudaism

• Spouses are encouraged to express their physical
  love for each other. (Proverbs 515-21)
• Kosher Sex- Judaism does not view sex as dirty or
  evil, it is a mitzvah if it is done with love
  within a marriage, and at the proper time.
  (www.jewfaq.org/sex.htm)
• Orthodox churches have the strictest definition
  of appropriate sex (Religion and Sexuality).

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Appropriate Sexual PracticesChristianity

• A husband and wife should share the same bed and
  not keep themselves from one another (1
  Corinthians 71-5).
• Sex was created by God for both procreation and
  intimacy it is used to bond a man and woman in
  marriage (Religion and Sexuality) .
• Orthodox churches still believe contraception is
  a sin (Religion and Sexuality).

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Appropriate Sexual PracticesIslam

• Sex is considered a pleasurable and spiritual
  activity that is actually thought of as a duty
  (Religion and Sexuality).
• Sex between a married couple is considered a good
  deed that is rewarded by God (Religion and
  Sexuality).
• Story of Zakariya (Surah 191-15).

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Sexual SinsJudaism

• Can not have sex with a woman while she is
  unclean from menstruation
• No adultery
• No incest
• No pre-marital sex
• No interspecies sexual intercourse
• No homosexuality
• Leviticus 1819-23

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Sexual SinsChristianity

• One should not prostitute themselves nor should
  one join in a prostitute (1 Corinthians 6)
• Avoid all sexual temptations it is better to
  marry than to be filled with temptation (1
  Corinthians 78-9)
• Lusting after a person is the same as committing
  adultery (Matthew 527-8)

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Sexual SinsIslam

• All pre-marital sex is punishable sin, but not as
  bad as committing adultery (Religion and
  Sexuality).
• Incest is prohibited by the Quran (Surah 423).
• Sexual contact is strictly forbidden while a
  woman is menstruating or unclean (Surah 2222)

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Scripture ReferencesJudaism

• Story of King David and his relations with
  Bathsheba (1 Samuel 11-12)
• King Davids sin and repentance
• Davids punishment- his illegitimate child dies
  after 7 days

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Scripture ReferencesChristianity

• Woman caught in adultery (John 8)
• Jesus word vs. Moses word
• Forgiveness of the woman for her adultery

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Scripture ReferencesIslam

• Surah 43 it states that up to four wives is
  acceptable if one can support such a family.
  Therefore, it is implied that sex with multiple
  partners could in some cases be okay.
• This does not change the fact that adultery is
  still considered a capital sin.

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Worksheet Questions

• 1. Based on the readings from the HB, what are
  some of the punishments for sexual sin described?
• 2. Based on the readings from the NT, in what
  ways and circumstances is sex encouraged? In
  what situations and for what reasons is it
  discouraged? Explain your answers, with specific
  biblical references.
• 3. In the reading selections from the Quran,
  sex is described as a gift from Allah to be used
  in a special way. How is sex used so as to not
  violate these words of the Quran?

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Overall ViewJudaism

• Procreation is the primary purpose of sex between
  a husband and wife.
• Kosher sex is encouraged sex at the proper time
  as a bonding experience between spouses.
• Sexual sin (adultery, incest, pre-marital, etc.)
  has extreme punishment but God is still forgiving
  of those who confess before him.
• Orthodox churches have the strictest views
  Reform churches have the loosest views.

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Overall ViewChristianity

• Sex is used for intimacy and procreation between
  a husband and wife.
• A husband and wife should not keep themselves
  from one another.
• Do not have pre-marital sex or commit any other
  form of sexual sin (incest, extra-marital,
  prostitution, etc.).
• Orthodox churches have the strictest views
  Reform churches have the loosest views.

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Overall ViewIslam

• Sex is a gift from God and should only be used in
  the manner he described.
• The gift of sex is for a man and woman to enjoy
  after they have committed to each other through
  marriage.
• Be patient and remain pure God is aware of the
  sexual needs we have.
• Avoid sexual sin (incest, pre-marital sex,
  adultery, etc.)

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Its Game Time!