Editing Virginity (section)

== Ethics ==

=== Social norms and legal implications ===
{{Main|Sexual morality|Norm (sociology)}}
Human sexual activity, like many other kinds of activity engaged in by humans, is generally influenced by social rules that are culturally specific and vary widely. These social rules are referred to as sexual morality (what can and can not be done by society's rules) and sexual norms (what is and is not expected). There are a number of groups within societies promoting their views of sexual morality in a variety of ways, including through sex education, religious teachings, seeking commitments or virginity pledges, and other means.

Most countries have laws which set a [[Marriageable age|minimum marriage age]], with the most common age being 18 years, reduced to 16 in "special circumstances", typically when the female partner is pregnant, but the actual [[age at first marriage]] can be considerably higher. Laws also prescribe the minimum age at which a person is permitted to engage in sex, commonly called the [[age of consent]]. Social (and legal) attitudes toward the appropriate age of consent have drifted upwards in modern times. For example, while ages from 10 to 13 were typically acceptable in [[western world|Western countries]] during the mid-19th century,<ref name="waites">{{cite book|last=Waites|first=Matthew|title=The Age of Consent: Young People, Sexuality and Citizenship|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2005|isbn=978-1-4039-2173-4|oclc=238887395}}</ref> the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century were marked by changing attitudes resulting in raising the ages of consent to ages generally ranging from 16 to&nbsp;18.<ref name="Stephen Robertson, University of Sydney, Australia">{{cite web|last=Robertson|first=Stephen|url=http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/230|title=Children and Youth in History &#124; Age of Consent Laws|website=Chnm.gmu.edu|publisher=University of Sydney, Australia|access-date=2010-06-30|df=mdy-all|archive-date=2020-09-27|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200927182216/http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/230|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, the age of consent varies from 12 years (or onset of puberty) to 21, but 16 is the most common age of consent, though some jurisdictions also having a "close-in-age" exception, allowing two adolescents (as young as 12 years of age) to have sex with each other provided their ages are not more than a specified number of years apart (typical no more than a 2 to 3 years age difference, depending on the jurisdiction). <!--For the average age at which adolescents have their first sexual experience, see "Prevalence of virginity" above. -->Some countries outlaw any sex outside marriage entirely.

Historically, and still in many countries and jurisdictions today, a female's sexual experience is sometimes considered a relevant factor in the prosecution of a perpetrator of rape.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} Also, historically, a man who "took" a female's virginity could be forced to marry her. In addition, children born as a result of premarital sex were subject to various legal and social disabilities such as being considered [[Legitimacy (family law)|illegitimate]] and thus barred from [[inheritance|inheriting]] from the [[putative father]]'s [[estate (law)|estate]], from bearing the father's surname or title, and support from the putative father. Many of these legal disabilities on children born from extramarital relationships have been abolished by law in most Western countries, though social ostracism may still apply.

===Religious views===

{{Main|Religion and sexuality}} {{see also|Virgin goddess}}
All major religions have [[moral code]]s covering issues of sexuality, morality, and ethics. Though these moral codes do not address issues of sexuality directly, they seek to regulate the situations which can give rise to sexual interest and to influence people's [[human sexual activities|sexual activities]] and practices.{{citation needed|reason=entire sentence appears to be OR.|date=September 2013}} However, the impact of religious teaching has at times been limited. For example, though most religions disapprove of [[premarital sex|premarital sexual relations]], it has always been widely practiced{{Citation needed|reason=reliable source needed for the whole sentence e.g. historical data|date=May 2013}}. Nevertheless, these religious codes have always had a strong influence on peoples' attitudes to sexual issues.

====Ancient Greece and Rome====
Virginity was often considered a virtue denoting purity and physical self-restraint and is an important characteristic in [[Greek mythology]].

In ancient Greek literature such as the ''[[Homeric Hymns]]'', there are references to the Parthenon goddesses [[Artemis]], [[Athena]], and [[Hestia]] proclaiming pledges to eternal virginity (Greek: παρθενία).<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Ciocani|first=Vichi Eugenia|date=2013|title=Virginity and representation in the Greek novel and early Greek poetry|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1631081850/|via=ProQuest Dissertations Publishing|journal=Ciocani|access-date=2016-11-08}}</ref> However, it has been argued a maiden's state of ''parthenia'' (Greek: παρθένος), as invoked by these deities, carries a slightly different meaning from what is normally understood as virginity in modern western religions.<sup>[[Talk:Virginity#cite note-:0-15|[15]]]</sup> Rather, ''parthenia'' focused more on marriageability and abstract concepts without strict physical requirements which would be adversely affected, but not entirely relinquished, by pre-marital sexual intercourse. For these reasons, other goddesses not eternally committed to ''parthenia'' within the Homeric Hymns are able to renew theirs through ritual (such as [[Hera]]) or choose an appearance which implies the possession of it (such as [[Aphrodite]]).<ref name=":3" /> Although accounts vary, the goddess of [[witchcraft]] known as [[Hecate]] has been portrayed as a virgin as well.<ref>Joseph Eddy Fontenrose, ''Python: A Study of Delphic Myth and Its Origins'', Biblo & Tannen Publishers, 1974, p. 96.</ref>

In Roman times, the [[Vestal Virgin]]s were the highly respected, strictly [[Celibacy|celibate]] (although not necessarily [[Vestal Virgin#Selection|virginal]]) [[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#sacerdos|priestesses]] of [[Vesta (mythology)|Vesta]], and keepers of the [[sacred fire of Vesta]]. The Vestals were committed to the priesthood before puberty (when 6–10 years old) and sworn to [[celibacy]] for a period of 30 years.<ref name="Lutwyche">{{cite news|last=Lutwyche|first=Jayne|title=Ancient Rome's maidens – who were the Vestal Virgins?|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/18490233|access-date=2012-11-23|newspaper=BBC|date=2012-09-07|archive-date=2019-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408055141/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/18490233|url-status=dead}}</ref> The chastity of the Vestals was considered to have a direct bearing on the health of the Roman state. Allowing the sacred fire of Vesta to die out, suggesting that the goddess had withdrawn her protection from the city, was a serious offence and was punishable by scourging.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Vesta |volume=27 |page=1055}}</ref> Because a Vestal's chastity was thought to be directly correlated to the sacred burning of the fire, if the fire were extinguished it might be assumed that a Vestal had been unchaste. The penalty for a Vestal Virgin found to have had sexual relations while in office was being [[Premature burial|buried alive]].<ref name="Lutwyche"/>

====Buddhism====
{{main|Buddhism and sexuality}}

The most common formulation of Buddhist ethics for [[Laity|lay followers]] are the [[The Five Precepts|Five Precepts]] and the [[Noble Eightfold Path|Eightfold Path]]. These precepts take the form of voluntary, personal undertakings, not divine mandate or instruction. The third of the Five Precepts is "To refrain from committing sensual misconduct".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Five Precepts: pañca-sila|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/pancasila.html|publisher=Access to Insight|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-date=7 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507081639/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/pancasila.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sensual misconduct is defined in the [[Pali Canon]] as follows:

{{Quote|Abandoning sensual misconduct, [a man] abstains from sensual misconduct. He does not get sexually involved with those who are protected by their mothers, their fathers, their brothers, their sisters, their relatives, or their Dhamma; those with husbands, those who entail punishments, or even those crowned with flowers by another man.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cunda Kammaraputta: To Cunda the Silversmith|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an10/an10.176.than.html|work=Anguttara Nikaya|publisher=Access to Insight|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911215322/https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an10/an10.176.than.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Virginity, specifically, is not mentioned in the Canon. On the other hand, [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Buddhist monks and nuns]] of most traditions are expected to refrain from all sexual activity and the [[Sakyamuni Buddha|Buddha]] is said to have admonished his followers to avoid unchastity "as if it were a pit of burning cinders."<ref>{{cite book|last=Saddhatissa|first=Hammalawa|title=Buddhist Ethics: The Path to Nirvana|publisher=Wisdom Pubns; New Ed edition|date=December 1987|page=[https://archive.org/details/buddhistethics0000sadd/page/88 88]|url=https://archive.org/details/buddhistethics0000sadd/page/88|isbn=978-0-86171-053-9}}</ref>

The 3rd of the 5 precepts in Buddhism warns against any sensual misconduct, though the exact definition of it is unclear. Buddhists have been more open compared to other religions about the subject of sex and that has expanded over time. As with Christianity, although a traditionalist would assume that one should not have sex before marriage, many Buddhists do. There are different branches of Buddhism, like tantric and puritan, and they have very different views on the subject of sex, yet managed to get along. Tantric is a Sanskrit word; it is typically translated as two things or person being bound together. In the time of Gotama, the man who came to be known as Buddha, sex was not taboo. The world the prince lived in was filled with earthly pleasures. Women naked from the waist above were in the court solely to serve the prince. Gotama's father even constructed a chamber of love. Prince Gotama and founded the beginnings of Buddhism, which included the denial of earthly pleasures in order to follow the Middle Way. The stark contrast between the way Buddha lived his life before and after rejecting the material world may arguably be one of the reasons Buddhism evolved the way it did. In the present, the mother of a Buddha does not have to be a virgin; she must have never had a child, however.

====Hinduism====
In Hinduism, premarital virginity on the part of the bride is considered ideal.<ref name=hindu>{{cite book|last=Lipner|first=Julius|author-link=Julius J. Lipner|title=Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|year=1998|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-05182-8 |pages=375 pages, see:268}}</ref> The prevailing Hindu marriage ceremony, or the [[Vedic wedding]], centers around the ''[[Kanyadan]]'' ritual, which literally means ''gift of a virgin,'' by father of the maiden through which the Hindus believe they gain greatest spiritual merit, and marriages of the daughters are considered a spiritual obligation.<ref name=marriage>{{cite book|last1=Ramusack|first1=Sharon|first2=Barbara N.L.|last2=Sievers.|title=Women in Asia: restoring women to history Restoring women to history|year=1999|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-21267-2|pages=266 pages(see page 30)}}</ref> The purity of women is especially valued in South Asia, where Hinduism is most commonly practiced.<!--Because of this, women are often denied access to higher education because it requires being in the presence of men more often than not. However, with time there have been changes in the ideology of Hinduism. The idea of a pure virgin is very valued, but it is also important that women are fertile and able to bear sons. It's seen as destructive for women to menstruate unless they have a husband, who may turn it into something more productive. An aspect of Hinduism is men exerting control over women and furthermore, their offspring and possessions. Hinduism has the distinction of being one of the oldest religions. However, adultery is only condemned if it effects family matters. This may possibly be a reflection of the reasons male control over females is so important.--> Sex had never been a taboo in ancient India and intactness of the hymen had nothing to do with virginity.<ref name="ero">{{cite book|last=Walker|first=Benjamin|title=The Hindu world: an encyclopedic survey of Hinduism, Volume 2 The Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism, Benjamin Walke|year=1968|publisher=Praeger|pages=571–572}}</ref>

====Judaism====
{{main|Judaism and sexuality}}
Premarital sex is forbidden in Judaism. In fact, the precedent for the ''[[mitzvot]]'' which are related in Deuteronomy 22:25-29, which regard what happens when a man rapes a virgin, may well have been set at [[Shechem]] after the [[rape of Dinah]] (cf. Genesis 34).

There are other references in the [[Torah]] to virginity. In the first reference, in {{bibleverse||Genesis|19:8|HE}}, Lot offers his virgin daughters to the people of Sodom for sexual purposes in an attempt to protect his guests (cf. Genesis 19:4-11), with the implication that the people of Sodom would be more likely to accept the offer in view of the girls' virginity than they would otherwise. This also sets the precedent for [[Israelites]] to avoid homosexual activity (cf. Leviticus 18:22, 20:13.<ref>Also see [http://www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse/judaism/docs/essays/same-sex-marriage.pdf Gail Labovitz's essay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927071346/http://www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse/judaism/docs/essays/same-sex-marriage.pdf |date=2016-09-27 }} on the [[Talmudic]] view of [[same-sex marriage]]</ref>).

The next reference is at {{bibleverse||Genesis|24:16|HE}}, where [[Eliezer]] is seeking a wife for his master, Abraham's son. He meets [[Rebecca]], and the narrative tells us, "the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her" (in biblical terms, "to know" is a euphemism for sexual relations).

Children born to a single woman are not regarded as illegitimate (a ''[[mamzer]]'') or subject to social or religious disabilities—Perez and Zerach, for example (and although their mother was a widow who was willingly impregnated by her father-in-law), were not counted as ''mamzerim'' (cf. Genesis 38:24-30).

[[Halakhah]] also contains rules related to protecting female virgins, and rules regarding pre-marital sex, rape, and the effects of each.

In [[Torah]], a damsel who has not the sign of virginity in the early marriage shall be punished by death penalty, since the unvirgin woman among Israel is equal with a defiled whore in her father's house.<ref>{{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|22:20-21|KJV}}</ref>

====Christianity====
[[File:Giorgione 045.jpg|thumb|Detail of ''The Reading Madonna'' by [[Giorgione]] (c. 1500)]]
{{main|Christianity and sexuality|Catholic Church and women#Virginity}}
{{original research|section|date=October 2023}}
[[Paul the Apostle]] expressed the view that a person's body belongs to God and is God's temple ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|6:13|NIV}}, {{bibleverse-nb|1|Corinthians|3:16|NIV}}), and that premarital sex is immoral ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|6:18|NIV}}) on an equal level as adultery. ({{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|6:9|NIV}}) Paul also expressed the view in {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|7:1–7|NIV}} that sexual abstinence is the preferred state for both men and women. However, he stated that sexual relations are expected between a married couple.

According to classicist [[Evelyn Stagg]] and New Testament scholar [[Frank Stagg (theologian)|Frank Stagg]], the New Testament holds that sex is reserved for marriage.<ref name="Staggs">Stagg, Evelyn and Frank. ''Woman in the World of Jesus.'' Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978. {{ISBN|0-664-24195-6}}</ref> Harold Gentry wrote that "It is intended by God for the husband to be the one to break his wife's hymen", which when perforated during the consummation of marriage creates a [[Covenant (religion)#Christianity|blood covenant]] that seals the bond of [[Christian views on marriage|holy matrimony]] between husband and wife.<ref name="Gentry2021">{{cite book |last1=Gentry |first1=Harold |title=Intimacy |date=21 January 2021 |publisher=[[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|WestBow Press]] |isbn=978-1-6642-1232-9 |language=en}}</ref> Stagg maintains that the New Testament teaches that sex outside of marriage is a sin of [[adultery]] if either of the participants is married, otherwise the sin of [[fornication]] if neither of the participants are married. An imperative given in 1&nbsp;Corinthians says, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins people commit are outside their bodies, but those who sin sexually sin against their own bodies."<ref>{{bibleverse|1Cor|6:18|TNIV|1 Cor 6:18}}</ref> Those who are sexually immoral or adulterers are listed in {{Bibleref2|1Cor|6:9|NIV|1&nbsp;Corinthians 6:9}} in a list of "wrongdoers who ... will not inherit the kingdom of God." {{Bibleref2|Galatians|5:19}} and {{Bibleref2|1Cor|7:2|NIV|1&nbsp;Corinthians 7:2}} also address fornication. The ''Apostolic Decree'' of the [[Council of Jerusalem]] also includes a prohibition on fornication.

[[Aquinas]] went further, emphasizing that acts other than copulation destroy virginity, and clarifying that involuntary sexual pleasure does not destroy virginity. From his ''[[Summa Theologica]]'', "Pleasure resulting from resolution of semen may arise in two ways. If this be the result of the mind's purpose, it destroys virginity, ''whether copulation takes place or not''. Augustine, however, mentions copulation, because such like resolution is the ordinary and natural result thereof. On another way this may happen beside the purpose of the mind, either during sleep, or through violence and without the mind's consent, although the flesh derives pleasure from it, or again through weakness of nature, as in the case of those who are subject to a flow of semen. On such cases virginity is not forfeit, because such like pollution is not the result of impurity which excludes virginity."<ref>Aquinas. [http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3152.htm Summa Theologica] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506043937/http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3152.htm |date=2008-05-06 }}, Second Part of the Second Part, Question 152.</ref><ref>Hannah Blank, ''Virgin: The Untouched History'' (2007), {{ISBN|978-1-59691-010-2}}.</ref>
[[File:Virgo inter Virgines IMG 1383.JPG|thumb|''Virgo inter Virgines'' (The Blessed Virgin Mary with other holy virgins), from [[Bruges]], [[Belgium]] during the last quarter of the 15th century.]]

Some have theorized that the New Testament was not against sex before marriage.<ref>[[John Shelby Spong]], ''The Living Commandments''.</ref> The discussion turns on two Greek words — ''moicheia'' (''μοιχεία'', adultery) and ''porneia'' (''πορνεία'', [[fornication]], see also [[pornography]]). The first word is restricted to contexts involving sexual betrayal of a spouse; however, the second word is used as a generic term for illegitimate sexual activity. Elsewhere in {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|}}, incest, homosexual intercourse (according to some interpretations)<ref>''arsenokoitēs'' (masc. noun of fem. 1st declension), literally a man who shares a bed with other men (see [[LSJ]] and [[BDAG]]).</ref> and prostitution are all explicitly forbidden by name (however, the Septuagint uses "porneia" to refer to male temple prostitution). Paul is preaching about activities based on sexual prohibitions in [[Leviticus]], in the context of achieving holiness. The theory suggests it is these, and only these behaviors that are intended by Paul's prohibition in chapter seven.<ref>[http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/symposiums/11th/papers/FrommHoliness.doc Syriac- Christian and Rabbinic Notions of Holy Community and Sexuality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525215607/http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il/symposiums/11th/papers/FrommHoliness.doc |date=2013-05-25 }} Naomi Koltun-Fromm April 2006 pdf</ref> The strongest argument against this theory is that the modern interpretation of the New Testament, outside Corinthians, speaks against premarital sex.<ref>Modern interpretation of the significance of "wrong his brother" in {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|4:6|NIV}}, includes sleeping with the brother's future wife. However, {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|4:3|NIV}} only specifically prohibits ''fornication''.</ref>

Christian orthodoxy accepts that [[Mary, the mother of Jesus]], was a virgin at the time Jesus was conceived, based on the accounts in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] and the [[Gospel of Luke]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|1:18|NIV}} and {{bibleverse||Luke|1:26–35|NIV}}</ref> [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]s,<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1K.HTM ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' §499] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301083300/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1K.HTM |date=2020-03-01 }}</ref> [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]],<ref name=MWebster >''Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions'' by Merriam-Webster, Inc. 1999 {{ISBN|0-87779-044-2}} page 1134</ref> and [[Oriental Orthodox]],<ref>[http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/liturgy/liturgy.html Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831232525/http://ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/liturgy/liturgy.html |date=2019-08-31 }}, [http://www.coptic.net/prayers/StBasilLiturgy.html Coptic Liturgy of St Basil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015002820/http://www.coptic.net/prayers/StBasilLiturgy.html |date=2013-10-15 }}, [http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/liturgy/liturgy_of_st_cyril.pdf Liturgy of St Cyril] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205072509/http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/liturgy/liturgy_of_st_cyril.pdf |date=2012-02-05 }}, [http://www.anastasis.org.uk/lit-james.htm Liturgy of St James] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410212030/http://www.anastasis.org.uk/lit-james.htm |date=2014-04-10 }}, [http://www.frmichel.najim.net/liturgyvid.pdf Understanding the Orthodox Liturgy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211072605/http://www.frmichel.najim.net/liturgyvid.pdf |date=2012-12-11 }} etc.</ref> as well as many [[Lutheran]]s and [[Anglican]]s, hold to the [[dogma]] of the [[perpetual virginity of Mary]].<ref name="Hillerbrand2004">{{cite book |last1=Hillerbrand |first1=Hans J. |title=Encyclopedia of Protestantism: 4-volume Set |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-96028-5 |language=en |quote=This view of the proper place of Mary and the saints in the lives of the faithful is codified for Lutherans in the BOOK OF CONCORD (1580); these confessions also include the reaffirmation of Mary's perpetual virginity (in Luther's SCHMALKALDIC ARTICLES of 1537) and her title of ''Theotokos'', and praise her as "the most blessed virgin" (Formula of Concord, 1577).}}</ref><ref name="Kilcrease2013">{{cite book |last1=Kilcrease |first1=Jack D. |title=The Self-Donation of God: A Contemporary Lutheran approach to Christ and His Benefits |date=2013 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1-62032-605-3 |language=en |quote=As it is well known, the perpetual virginity of Mary was taught widely in the early Church, some claim as early as St. Ireneaus in the late second century. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and the later Lutheran scholastics also supported the doctrine.}}</ref><ref name="ALPB1966">{{cite book |title=The American Lutheran, Volume 49 |date=1966 |publisher=American Lutheran Publicity Bureau |page=16 |language=English |quote=While the perpetual virginity of Mary is held as a pious opinion by many Lutheran confessors, it is not regarded as a binding teaching of the Scriptures.}}</ref><ref name="TNEB1983">{{cite book |title=The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 11 |date=1983 |publisher=[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |isbn=978-0-85229-400-0 |page=562 |language=English |quote=Partly because of these biblical problems, the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary has not been supported as unanimously as has the doctrine of the virginal conception or title mother of God. It achieved dogmatic status, however, at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and is therefore binding upon Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic believers; in addition, it is maintained by many Anglican, some Lutheran, and a few other Protestant theologians.}}</ref> However, other Christians reject the dogma, citing sources such as {{bibleverse||Mark|6:3|NIV}}: "Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren't His sisters here with us?". The Catholic Church holds<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PW8.HTM#$3DY |title=New American Bible |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=2014-04-30 |archive-date=2014-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427101039/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PW8.HTM#$3DY |url-status=live }}</ref> that in Semitic usage the terms "brother", "sister" are applied not only to children of the same parents, but to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters. Catholics, Orthodox Christians Lutherans, and other groups, such as High Church Anglicans, may refer to Mary as ''the Virgin Mary'' or ''the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary |url=https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2019/8/15/the-feast-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary |publisher=Gottesdienst |access-date=24 March 2021 |language=English |date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109020223/https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2019/8/15/the-feast-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' says: "There are two elements in virginity: the material element, that is to say, the absence, in the past and in the present, of all complete and voluntary delectation, whether from [[lust]] or from the lawful use of marriage; and the formal element, that is the firm resolution to abstain forever from sexual pleasure" and that "Virginity is irreparably lost by sexual pleasure, voluntarily and completely experienced."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15458a.htm |title=The Catholic Encyclopedia, 'Virginity' |publisher=Newadvent.org |date=1912-10-01 |access-date=2014-04-30 |archive-date=2014-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629012322/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15458a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, for the purposes of [[consecrated virgins]] it is canonically enough that they have never been married or lived in open violation of chastity.

====Islam====
{{See also|Zina}}
[[Islam]] considers extramarital sex to be sinful and forbidden.<ref name="Bennett"/> [[Shari'a|Islamic law]] prescribes punishments for Muslim men and women for the act of zinā. Though in Western cultures premarital sex and loss of virginity may be considered shameful to the individual, in some Muslim societies an act of premarital sex, even if not falling within the legal standards of proof, may result in personal shame and loss of [[family honor]].<ref name="Bennett"/>

In some modern-day largely Muslim societies such as [[Turkey]], vaginal examinations for verifying a woman's virginity are a clinical practice which are at times state-enforced. These types of examinations are typically ordered for women who go against traditional societal notions of "public morality and rules of modesty", though in 1999 the Turkish penal code was altered to require a woman's consent prior to performing such an examination.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Parla|first=Ayse|date=Spring 2001|title=The "Honor" of the State: Virginity Examinations in Turkey|journal=Feminist Studies|volume=27|issue=1|page=66|doi=10.2307/3178449|jstor=3178449|pmid=17663094|hdl=2027/spo.0499697.0027.106|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

====Sikhism====
In Sikhism, sexual activity is supposed to occur only between married individuals. Sikhism advises against premarital sex, as it has a high potential of being an indulgence of [[lust]] (''[[kaam]]'', or extreme sexual desire). Sikhism teaches that young women must have decent modesty (''sharam)'' because the honor (''[[Izzat (honour)|izzat]])'' of her family could be jeopardized. Sexual activity and even living together prior to marriage is not allowed in Sikhism. Virginity is an important aspect of spirituality and it has to be preserved before marriage, or when one is ready to move into another sacred state of being with their significant other.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xW33ZuBnNC0C&q=sources+on+sikhism+sex+before+marriage&pg=PA118|title=God and Morality|last=Wright|first=Christopher J. H.|date=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199148394|language=en|access-date=2020-11-22|archive-date=2021-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823222307/https://books.google.com/books?id=xW33ZuBnNC0C&q=sources+on+sikhism+sex+before+marriage&pg=PA118|url-status=live}}</ref>