Editing Sexual abstinence (section)

==Abstinence in religions==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
Some religions regard [[chastity]] as a [[virtue]] expected of faithful adherents. This usually includes [[abstinence]] from sex for the unmarried, and fidelity to a [[marriage]] partner.

In some religions, some groups of people are expected to remain unmarried and to abstain from sex completely. These groups include [[monk]]s, [[nun]]s, and [[priest]]s in various sects of Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Chastity is required of the respective [[clergy|sacerdotal]] orders. The [[Shakers]], on the other hand, impose chastity in the form of celibacy for all members, even forgoing procreation such as the case with the [[castration cult]].

===Christianity===
{{further|Evangelical counsels}}
{{quote box
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| quote="But because of sexual sins, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband."
| source = — 1 Corinthians 7:2, [[Evangelical Heritage Version|EHV]]<ref>{{cite web |title=1 Corinthians 7:2 Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7%3A2&version=EHV}}</ref>
}}

{{quote box
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| quote="Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers."
| source = — Hebrews 13:4, [[New Revised Standard Version|NRSV]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Hebrews 13:4 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A4&version=NRSV}}</ref>
}}
Most Christians teach that sexual intercourse should occur exclusively within marriage, and that sexual [[abstinence]] is the norm outside of that. Sex between people not married to each other is either [[fornication]] or [[adultery]]. But for married couples, [[Paul of Tarsus]] wrote that they should not deprive each other, except for a short time for devotion to [[prayer]].<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%207.3-5;&version=31; 1 Corinthians 7.3-5]</ref>

The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es and the [[Oriental Orthodox Church]]es teach [[chastity]] until marriage. But even then, in accordance with the teaching of the Apostle Paul, periods of abstinence are encouraged among married couples. Traditionally, Orthodox spouses abstain from physical relations on Wednesdays (the day Jesus was betrayed), Fridays (the day Jesus was crucified), the eves of [[Great Feasts]] and throughout the four fasting periods ([[Great Lent]], [[Nativity Fast]], [[Apostles' Fast]] and [[Dormition Fast]]). This is to allow believers "to give themselves time for fasting and prayer ({{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|7:5|KJV}})."<ref name="Samaan2024">{{cite web |last1=Samaan |first1=Moses |title=The Meaning of the Great Lent |url=https://www.lacopts.org/story/the-meaning-of-the-great-lent/ |publisher=[[Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii]] |access-date=10 March 2024 |date=9 April 2009 |quote=The Church teaches us to fast until sunset. Fish is not allowed during this period. Also married couples should refrain from physical relations to give themselves time for fasting and prayer (1 Cor. 7: 5). We would like to emphasize the importance of the period of strict abstention during fasting. It is refraining from eating and drinking for a period of time, followed by eating vegetarian food. ... True fasting must be accompanied by abstention from food and drink until sunset as designated by the Church.}}</ref><ref name="Menzel2014">{{cite web |last1=Menzel |first1=Konstantinos |title=Abstaining From Sex Is Part of Fasting |url=https://greekreporter.com/2014/04/14/abstaining-from-sex-is-part-of-fasting/ |publisher=[[Greek Reporter]] |access-date=27 May 2021 |language=English |date=14 April 2014}}</ref>

[[Catholic Church|Catholicism]] defines [[chastity]] as the virtue that moderates the sexual appetite.<ref>Thomas Aquinas, ''Summa Theologia'' I-II q. 60 a. 5; ''Catholic Encyclopedia'', "Chastity"</ref> Unmarried Catholics express chastity through sexual [[abstinence]]. Sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it retains the twofold significance of union and procreation.<ref>''Humanae vitae'' 12</ref> This is why the Catholic Church does not condone the use of contraception, even within the confines of the marital union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birth Control |url=https://www.catholic.com/tract/birth-control |website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> Pope [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] spoke on contraception not only as its nature as sinful in the eyes of the church, but also in regards to its dangerous nature to harm married couples. Without the openness to life, John Paul said, the gift of oneself within the bond of marriage is incomplete. The Catholic Church does, however, condone the practice of periodical abstinence during a woman's natural cycle of fertility for married couples who, for just reasons, do not wish to have a child at that time. This is a key component of Natural Family Planning, which is set apart from contraceptive measures on the grounds that it does not interrupt the natural order of the marital union with artificial means.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natural Family Planning |url=https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning |website=United States Council of Catholic Bishops}}</ref> The entirety of the Catholic Church's stance on contraception is predicated by the way the Catholic Church views marriage, insofar as marriage is an intimate human union between man and a woman wherein the two mutually give of themselves in their entirety for the good of the other and live in such a way that is open to procreation.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church |publisher=Librenia Editrice Vaticana |pages=400 |language=English}}</ref>

The [[Methodist Church]] teaches that "Although all persons are sexual beings whether or not they are married, sexual relations are only clearly affirmed in the marriage bond."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1728|title=Human Sexuality|year=2014|work=[[The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church]]|publisher=The United Methodist Church}}</ref>

The [[United Church of Christ]] is "liberal in their approaches, believing that individuals must decide for themselves how to express their sexual nature."<ref name="Buehler2013">{{cite book|last=Buehler|first=Stephanie|title=What Every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know About Sex|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ccI7AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA55|access-date=19 June 2014|date=29 July 2013|publisher=Springer Publishing Company|isbn=9780826171214|page=55|quote=Religions notably vary in their view of sexuality and its expression, especially regarding premarital sex, sexual orientation, and masturbation. Some religions, such as the United Church of Christ, are liberal in their approaches, believing that individuals must decide for themselves how to express their sexual nature. Others, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism) and Catholicism, take an austere view of premarital experimentation and masturbation.}}</ref>

===Hinduism===
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
The [[India]]n tradition of [[Brahmacharya]] places great emphasis on [[abstinence]] as a way of harnessing the energy of body and mind towards the goal of [[spirituality|spiritual]] realization. In males, the semen ([[Vīrya]]) 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 [[spirituality|spiritual]] capacities.

The blending of sexual and spiritual is portrayed in Hindu iconography, as seen in ubiquitous phallic and vaginal iconography in Hindu temples and for instance in the Kharjuraho and Konarak medieval temples, where thousands of couples having sex in endless positions, and with the gods, are carved in deep [[bas-relief]]. However, these depictions of sex are not generally understood to be a license for free sexual practices, but are instead meant to celebrate procreation as an integral part of existence in the universe. In actual practice, it is highly encouraged that both males and females abstain from pre-marital sex and exercise [[chastity]], which still exists today in Hindu cultures.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What does Hinduism say about sexual relationships? - Sexual relationships - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - WJEC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zmct92p/revision/4|access-date=2021-03-17|website=BBC Bitesize|language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Islam===
{{Main|Menstruation in Islam}}
{{See also|Istihadha}}
Islam forbids [[zina|intercourse outside of marriage]] (''zina'').<ref>{{Cite web|title=What does Islam say about sexual relationships? - Human sexuality and relationships - GCSE Religious Studies Revision|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z8kjpv4/revision/4|access-date=2020-08-31|website=BBC Bitesize|language=en-GB}}</ref> Marriage for all who are able to is strongly encouraged, as it is said to help guard one's modesty. For those who cannot marry, [[Fasting in Islam|fasting]] (sawm) is recommended, as it is said to diminish sexual power.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sahih Bukhari 5066 |url=https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5066 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825200630/https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5066 |archive-date=25 August 2023 |access-date=25 August 2023 |website=sunnah.com |quote="We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) while we were young and had no wealth. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."}}</ref> [[Abstinence]] is practiced during the time of a woman's [[menstruation]] or [[istihadha]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surah Al-Baqarah verse 222 |url=https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=222 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=quran.com |quote="And they ask you about menstruation. Say, It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allāh has ordained for you. Indeed, Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."}}</ref> Abstinence from sexual intercourse is also practiced from dawn to dusk during days where fasting is observed, and sexual intercourse during fasting is prohibited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surah Al-Baqarah verse 187 |url=https://quran.com/2?startingVerse=187 |website=quran.com |quote="It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are a clothing for you and you are a clothing for them. Allāh knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allāh has decreed for you [i.e., offspring]. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night [i.e., sunset]. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allāh, so do not approach them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that they may become righteous."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Can You Have Intercourse During Ramadan? |url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/23339/can-you-have-intercourse-during-ramadan |website=islamqa.org |quote="Intercourse during the day in Ramadan is haram for men and women while intercourse during the night in Ramadan is allowed."}}</ref> [[Ihram#Sexual activity|Sexual intercourse during Hajj]] is also strictly forbidden, as it can invalidate [[Ihram]].

===Jainism===
{{Main|Brahmacharya#Brahmacharya in Jainism}}
[[File:In-jain.png|alt=Jain Flag Photo|thumb|Green colour in the [[Jain flag]] stands for ''brahmacharya''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jain|first1=Vijay K.|title=Acharya Amritchandra's Purushartha Siddhyupaya|year=2012|publisher=Vikalp Printers |isbn=978-81-903639-4-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8190363948|quote={{PD-notice}}|page=iv}}</ref>]]
''[[Brahmacharya]]'' is one of the five [[Ethics in Jainism|major vows]] prescribed for the ''[[Śrāvaka (Jainism)|śrāvakā]]'' (layman) and ascetics in [[Jainism]]. For those Jains who adopt the path of monks, celibacy in action, words and thoughts is expected. For lay Jains who are married, the virtue of ''brahmacharya'' requires remaining sexually faithful to one's chosen partner ([[fidelity]]). For lay Jains who are unmarried, chaste living requires Jains to avoid sex before marriage.<ref>{{citation |title=Brahmacarya |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/living/brahmacarya.shtml |publisher=[[BBC]] }}</ref>

In the Jain monastic tradition, ''brahmacharya'' implies, among other things, the mandatory renunciation of sex and marriage. For a lay Jain, it represents a virtuous lifestyle devoid of constant sexual urges, that also includes simple living, meditation and other behaviors.

===Judaism===
{{Further|Abstinence in Judaism}}
[[Judaism]] forbids intercourse outside marriage (which is termed {{Transliteration|he|znut}} or promiscuity), but has no ideal of chastity. Within marriage [[abstinence]] is also required during and following a woman's menstruation. The husband is not allowed to deprive sex from his wife, even if she is not fertile (known as ''[[onah|{{Transliteration|he|mitzvat onah}}]]'').