Christian Teachings on Sex

[searching04]

OK, I have never spotted this forum and have posted questions in other ones to no avail, so …

As you may have read in the Family Life section and others, there are always the debates about what the Catholic church says about sex and NFP, and the disagreements and struggles of many couples concerning it.

What do other faiths say about sex? Specifically, do they prohibit couples from engaging in non-intercourse sex to climax? Do they encourage NFP? Both? Neither?

For Catholics, the combination of having to use NFP (to space children) and church teachings on sex may force couples to have sex very infrequently, damaging the relationship for a lack of intimacy, not a lack of sex. I am there and have been. Pretty much everything is allowed for couples to do, except it is dictated that at all times the man must climax during intercourse. So if using NFP and intercourse is not an option so as to avoid pregnancy, the Catholic church does not allow any other sexual activities to climax, no matter how long it has been and no matter the impact on a marriage of almost a sexless marriage.

Where do other Christian faiths sit on this?

 

[Publisher]

Typically, we seek to 'stay out of other people’s bedrooms" and mind our own.

From the “Faith & Practice”…"In our personal lives, Friends seek to acknowledge and nurture sexuality as a gift from God for celebrating human love with joy and intimacy. In defining healthy sexuality, Friends are led in part by our testimonies: that sexual relations be equal, not exploitative’ that sexual behavior be marked by integrity’ and that sex be and act of love, not of aggression. Sexuality is at once an integral and an intricate part of personality. Our understanding of our own sexuality is an essential aspect of our journey toward wholeness. Learning to incorporate sexuality in out lives responsibily, joyfully, and with integrity should be a lifelong process beginning in childhood.

Friends are wary of a preset moral code to govern sexual activity.** The unity of the sacred and the secular implies that the sacramental quality of a sexual relationship depends upon the Spirit as well as the intentions of the persons concerned.** Our faith can help us to examine relationships honestly, with the strength to reconcile the often conflicting demands of the body, heart, and spirit. Even with its respect for individual leadings, Quakerism does not sanction license in sexual behavior.** Preciseley because our sexuality is so powerful, seeking the divine will becomes all important.** The obedience thus called for is more personal, perhaps more difficult than adherence to an external code. For many Friends, “Celibate in singleness, faithful in marriage” has proven consonat with the devine will. Sexual activity, wheher or not it includes intercourse, is never without consequence."

 

[Izdaari]

Urf. I belong to an Assemblies of God church. but I agree with the Friends position as stated by Publisher (or Rob Bell!), and not so much with the American evangelical or Catholic positions.

 

[jerry_joseph]

OK, I have never spotted this forum and have posted questions in other ones to no avail, so …

As you may have read in the Family Life section and others, there are always the debates about what the Catholic church says about sex and NFP, and the disagreements and struggles of many couples concerning it.

What do other faiths say about sex? Specifically, do they prohibit couples from engaging in non-intercourse sex to climax? Do they encourage NFP? Both? Neither?

For Catholics, the combination of having to use NFP (to space children) and church teachings on sex may force couples to have sex very infrequently, damaging the relationship for a lack of intimacy, not a lack of sex. I am there and have been. Pretty much everything is allowed for couples to do, except it is dictated that at all times the man must climax during intercourse. So if using NFP and intercourse is not an option so as to avoid pregnancy, the Catholic church does not allow any other sexual activities to climax, no matter how long it has been and no matter the impact on a marriage of almost a sexless marriage.

Where do other Christian faiths sit on this?

Actually a small gap between sex will make it more sweeter than daily continous sex…Also sex is not the only goal of marriage life…Sex have its own importance in married life. A couples have their own responsibilities to each other, responsibility towards parents, responsibility towards their chilren, responsibility towards society etc…

Relationship of couples is not based on frequency of sex… To those couples who thinks that frequent sex is the main goal of marriage life, They are not fit for a christian married life…For them life partner is only an instrument for sex

 

[GaryTaylor]

Actually a small gap between sex will make it more sweeter than daily continous sex…Also sex is not the only goal of marriage life…Sex have its own importance in married life. A couples have their own responsibilities to each other, responsibility towards parents, responsibility towards their chilren, responsibility towards society etc…

Relationship of couples is not based on frequency of sex… To those couples who thinks that frequent sex is the main goal of marriage life, They are not fit for a christian married life…For them life partner is only an instrument for sex

Ah… so the truth is narrowed here. Isn’t is something how reality always ends up in the drivers seat.

So then it also might a great idea to pick up a dictionary and read the definition of SEX. The word LOVE wouldn’t be in there. Also Love, btw does not depend on sex. Repoduction is all that depends on sex.

It would also be great to understand what the Bible has to say about this. Since in fact Christians is the topic concern here. Another passing thought is “The Kindom of God is within you” could easy be shortened to “The Kingdom of God is you” So the simple question then becomes , what would God do? I’m absolutely postive he wouldn’t act off selfish, destructive, ecocentric thinking. And then rationalize it with “Well I have needs” which is incorrectly confused with “wants”. And those wants you created in your mind one thought at a time. However far this illusion has escalated one can only assume, but it is ego. The fact you find this fustrating is simply because you allowed this illusion to grow.

How your ego is reconciled with “The Kingdom of God is within us” I would just love to hear explained by any Christian. I’ll be waiting.

Peace

 

[ltwin]

Pentecostals don’t have doctrinal positions on sexual relations between a man and a wife. Abortion (unless the mother’s life is in danger) is clearly a sin. Homosexual behavior is clearly a sin. Adultery -clearly a sin. All these are principles that scripture is clear on. Anything else - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

 

[jediliz]

What could be more obvious than “Be Fertile and Multiply”?

There’s a difference between delaying pregnancy/spacing children using NFP and deliberately blocking the transmission of new life by using condoms/other barrier methods and/or the pill.

Two purposes to sex: Unitive and Procreative. using pills and barrier methods block the 2nd purpose.

 

[jerry_joseph]

Ah… so the truth is narrowed here. Isn’t is something how reality always ends up in the drivers seat.

So then it also might a great idea to pick up a dictionary and read the definition of SEX. The word LOVE wouldn’t be in there. Also Love, btw does not depend on sex. Repoduction is all that depends on sex.

It would also be great to understand what the Bible has to say about this. Since in fact Christians is the topic concern here. Another passing thought is “The Kindom of God is within you” could easy be shortened to “The Kingdom of God is you” So the simple question then becomes , what would God do? I’m absolutely postive he wouldn’t act off selfish, destructive, ecocentric thinking. And then rationalize it with “Well I have needs” which is incorrectly confused with “wants”. And those wants you created in your mind one thought at a time. However far this illusion has escalated one can only assume, but it is ego. The fact you find this fustrating is simply because you allowed this illusion to grow.

How your ego is reconciled with “The Kingdom of God is within us” I would just love to hear explained by any Christian. I’ll be waiting.

Peace

All sex outside marriage is sin. Using of artificial birth control metholds like condoms, pills or any other artificial metholds are sin.Abortion is a sin and murder. Main aim of sex is reproduction. Love between partners should be Agape (Divine love) and not Eros ( Sexual Love). A love between parents and their kids is an example of Agape (Un conditional and pure love). If a couple can grow upto that level it is Good and divine.

Sex inside the married life is not sin. Sex based on eros is not ideal that’s only. We can use NFP for birth controls and spacing between births.

 

[Izdaari]

What could be more obvious than “Be Fertile and Multiply”?

There’s a difference between delaying pregnancy/spacing children using NFP and deliberately blocking the transmission of new life by using condoms/other barrier methods and/or the pill.

Two purposes to sex: Unitive and Procreative. using pills and barrier methods block the 2nd purpose.

Yeah, but… sometimes you want to be unitive, and other times you want to be procreative. If all attempts at being unitive can unintentionally be procreative, that’s not necessarily a good thing, and it can be very limiting.

 

[rick43235]

What do other faiths say about sex? Specifically, do they prohibit couples from engaging in non-intercourse sex to climax?

I grew up in the Lutheran Church. While premarital and extramarital sex were clearly considered sins, sexual practices within marriage were never addressed. “Stay out of other’s bedrooms and mind your own” seemed to be the prevailing attitude. While I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on the moral teachings of every religion out there, my limited exposure to such teachings leads me to believe that the prohibition of “non-intercourse sex to climax” is unique to Catholicism.

 

[searching04]

Actually a small gap between sex will make it more sweeter than daily continous sex…Also sex is not the only goal of marriage life…Sex have its own importance in married life. A couples have their own responsibilities to each other, responsibility towards parents, responsibility towards their chilren, responsibility towards society etc…

Relationship of couples is not based on frequency of sex… To those couples who thinks that frequent sex is the main goal of marriage life, They are not fit for a christian married life…For them life partner is only an instrument for sex

Assumptive and judgmental, if you think that is where the questions came from. Yes, relationships should not only be based on the frequency of sex.

Who the heck are you to judge who is fit for married Christian life?

 

[searching04]

Ah… so the truth is narrowed here. Isn’t is something how reality always ends up in the drivers seat.

So then it also might a great idea to pick up a dictionary and read the definition of SEX. The word LOVE wouldn’t be in there. Also Love, btw does not depend on sex. Repoduction is all that depends on sex.

It would also be great to understand what the Bible has to say about this. Since in fact Christians is the topic concern here. Another passing thought is “The Kindom of God is within you” could easy be shortened to “The Kingdom of God is you” So the simple question then becomes , what would God do? I’m absolutely postive he wouldn’t act off selfish, destructive, ecocentric thinking. And then rationalize it with “Well I have needs” which is incorrectly confused with “wants”. And those wants you created in your mind one thought at a time. However far this illusion has escalated one can only assume, but it is ego. The fact you find this fustrating is simply because you allowed this illusion to grow.

How your ego is reconciled with “The Kingdom of God is within us” I would just love to hear explained by any Christian. I’ll be waiting.

Peace

???

 

[jerry_joseph]

Assumptive and judgmental, if you think that is where the questions came from. Yes, relationships should not only be based on the frequency of sex.

Who the heck are you to judge who is fit for married Christian life?

I am not judging anybody. But I am telling my views only. I am only a catholic lay man.I hope it is as per my catholic beliefs.

 

[searching04]

I am not judging anybody. But I am telling my views only. I am only a catholic lay man.I hope it is as per my catholic beliefs.

Maybe just the way I read it (or into it). That’s the problem with these things!

 

[SteveVH]

OK, I have never spotted this forum and have posted questions in other ones to no avail, so …

As you may have read in the Family Life section and others, there are always the debates about what the Catholic church says about sex and NFP, and the disagreements and struggles of many couples concerning it.

What do other faiths say about sex? Specifically, do they prohibit couples from engaging in non-intercourse sex to climax? Do they encourage NFP? Both? Neither?

For Catholics, the combination of having to use NFP (to space children) and church teachings on sex may force couples to have sex very infrequently, damaging the relationship for a lack of intimacy, not a lack of sex. I am there and have been. Pretty much everything is allowed for couples to do, except it is dictated that at all times the man must climax during intercourse. So if using NFP and intercourse is not an option so as to avoid pregnancy, the Catholic church does not allow any other sexual activities to climax, no matter how long it has been and no matter the impact on a marriage of almost a sexless marriage.

Where do other Christian faiths sit on this?

Well, I would completely disagree with your take on NFP, for one thing. Unless biology has changed, a woman can become pregnant approximately one week out of the month. If one does not have the self control to deal with this in a loving relationship then I would say their problem is with themselves, not the Church. It all comes down to how you view your spouse. Is he/she an object of your pleasure or the subject of your love? There are different forms of intimacy and not all are related to the sexual act.

 

[jerry_joseph]

Please click the link below (of vatican’s official website) to know about the teachings of catholic church in this matter.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_08121995_human-sexuality_en.html

 

[Warrior1979]

“Stay out of other’s bedrooms and mind your own” seemed to be the prevailing attitude.

Once in a while I’ll listen to Christian (Protestant) radio while out on the road. The quoted statement does indeed seem to be the prevailing attitude. The Protestant priests/reverends typically avoid specific answers to questions regarding bedroom activities been husband and wife.

 

[manualman]

Where do other Christian faiths sit on this?

Prior to 1930, no single christian denomination had EVER endorsed nor even accepted any form of contraception. But the various strands of christianity (catholic, orthodox, Lutheran and Calvinists) all had a consistent track record of stating the purposeful defeating of the procreative nature of sex was sinful. Luther and Calvin were both (characteristically) vociferous about it.

It wasn’t until about a generation before the “sexual revolution” that contraception became socially acceptable. No coincidence, that!

You can even SEE it in some early films of the period. Netflix the original “Cheaper By the Dozen” movie someday and be AMAZED at the difference in how Hollywood saw Planned Parenthood in those days versus today.

 

[searching04]

Well, I would completely disagree with your take on NFP, for one thing. Unless biology has changed, a woman can become pregnant approximately one week out of the month. If one does not have the self control to deal with this in a loving relationship then I would say their problem is with themselves, not the Church. It all comes down to how you view your spouse. Is he/she an object of your pleasure or the subject of your love? There are different forms of intimacy and not all are related to the sexual act.

Well, guess what? Some woman are a heck of a lot more fertile than that. And you, as others, automatcially assume it a lack of sex that is an issue, or that people who struggle with a lack of sexual intimacy don’t know there are all sorts of things that help with intimacy.

 

[Calliso]

Well, guess what? Some woman are a heck of a lot more fertile than that. And you, as others, automatcially assume it a lack of sex that is an issue, or that people who struggle with a lack of sexual intimacy don’t know there are all sorts of things that help with intimacy.

Yeah not to mention when you add in that some couples have a very hard figuring out exactly when those fertile days are that is another problem. They may only have less then a week of actual fertility but it might as well be near 100% of time if you have nearly no idea when it is!