Immoral sex and religion - Essay Example

Immoral Sex and Religion Introduction The bounds of morally had not been tested more than the present times. And among the compelling issues, practiced by most, are premarital sex, prostitution, homosexuality, and other forms of immoral sex. When people don't really understand the real meaning and purpose of something they do it indiscriminately without prejudice. Human's limited understanding on the purpose of sex resulted to the above immoral acts. Even worst, despite knowing the purpose, they do it beyond the limit. Premarital sex and prostitution are not new to the society. By nature, since the record of Biblical history, humans are always tempted by these sinful acts. But by the gift of God man was given a moral way to satisfy his sexual needs. The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, addressed these words to the converts from Corinth, who, being used to Roman customs, were fond of using prostitutes as sex partners and engaging sex without marriage "Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2-3). These passages of the New Testament reinforced the fact that prostitution and premarital sex is immoral and that there is a better way to fighting this immoral acts - that is through marriage. Being converts into Christianity, the old sinful people were given the chance to straighten their acts by entering into Christian marriage before engaging sex and to have a single spouse as sex partner. By sanctifying the bond of relationship the couple accepted by the society can exercise their physical needs within them. By subjecting themselves to marriage allows them to enjoy married life and sex in a moral way according to the plan of God. Premarital sex as accepted norm But because of human's ignorance or deliberate neglect of the real plan of God for mankind, and the importance of sex in this plan, they look at it as a simple biological desire that can be enjoyed to the fullest. Most people do not consider sex as a gift that can only be used within the bounds of marriage. They look at it as a civil right that everyone can freely use. Several articles and studies published have shown that premarital sex had been accepted in societies throughout the world. Report from Finer (73) showed that the 2002 survey indicate that by age 20, 77% of respondents already had sex and 75% of which are premarital sex. The study further revealed that among those who abstained until at least age 20, 81% had had premarital sex by age 44. In general, the study showed 80-90% of women in sexually active age had premarital sex in their lifetimes. In a separate study reported by BBC News in the article published in January 23, 2008, "The British Social Attitudes Survey suggests 70% of the 3,000 people polled had no objections to pre-marital sex." These show how societies, so socially advanced yet neglected the fundamental Christian teaching against premarital sex. America and Britain are composed by majority of Christian believers. The abovementioned reports show that sex outside marriage has been an accepted norm, and since majority is doing it, it then becomes moral in the sense. This is a kind of "majority role" which is a sort of mob role. In this case, as always has been, the mob role is not acceptable in well-organized societies. Knowing however that abstinence is a moral solution but difficult to practice, Finer suggested that "education and interventions that provide young people with the skills and information they need to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases once they become sexually active"(78). The recommendations of Finer is tantamount to saying, "if we can't beat them; join them" even if the practice is immoral. In Christian values, what is immoral is immoral. The Christian teachings in the New Testament and even the Old Testament clearly denounce sexual affairs outside the sanctity of marriage or blessing from God. The Apostle Paul's recommendation is better then Finer when he says, "Now I say to those who aren't married and to widows it's better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust" (1 Corinthians 7:8-9) The purpose of sex Speaking of Christian morals, the root of these immoral acts can be traced to lack of proper understanding on the purpose of sex. But what is it that God intends, having creatures of different sex, to do in order to foster his plan for mankind. . Sex as an important part of the plan of God for humanity yet only few realized it by using sex not as a sacred thing but just like a toy. This article does not intend to evangelize but to present the stand, the logical reasons for giving sex as a gift for married life. Joe Beam in his Internet article "Sex and the Bible" clearly explained the reasons why sex is a sacred gift for married couple yet few grasp these ideals. We agree that humans have different sexual urge than other animal creatures. Other animals use sex mainly for procreation where the female accepts male sex partners only at ovulation periods. But humans inhibit sexual desires beyond the biological need for reproduction. Humans have emotions, desires, moral, and social responsibility. Based on Joe Beam's article the gift of sexual satisfaction can be fully realized by understanding that married life as a venue for procreation and sex as an instrument; and that sex must be practiced as an instrument not only of physical but also of spiritual union between married couple. Sex as instrument of pro-creation Sex as a tool for procreation is a gift from God. The satisfaction associated with it is another gift given to people authorized to practice the acts. Just as eating the right food is healthy and eating indiscriminately is dangerous to health, sex in like manner with an approved partner in marriage is healthy and having sex other unapproved partners is dangerous. Societies today have accepted single parenthood, but it is not the normal way. Even in the animal world, higher forms of animals consider the roles of parents in rearing the offspring. That is more required of human beings as stewards of God's creation. The consequences of premarital sex may lead to unwanted pregnancies, abortion, and children born out of wedlock. These sce3narios would lead further to other social problems such as drug addiction, alcoholism, and other juvenile delinquency associated crimes. These situations are unusual and could have been prevented if sex is practiced within responsible married couples' lives. The ideal venue for the practice of sex is between couple bound by matrimony. Although it has been a source of a lot of skepticism, it had been said that sex with affection is better than just pure sex without the intimacy. Sex beyond the call for reproduction requires intimate feelings much more if the acts are done in a moral venue that is within marriage. The couple can practice sex without fear of social scrutiny, without fear of pregnancy, and without questions of morality, and without fear of sexually transmissible diseases. Paul wrote to the Hebrews saying, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4) Immoral Sex Our point goes beyond just premarital sex and prostitution. We include in the list those identified by Beam as prohibitions in sex or the moral boundaries of sexual acts. These are: incest, homosexuality, rape, adultery, lust, and consensual sex with one other than your mate. No only that these sex acts immoral they bear repercussions into the lives of the persons involved. Genetics show, as we are taught in biology, that incest could result to manifestation of defective genes causing abnormalities to the offspring. Intercourse within same sex was believed to be one cause of the spread of sexually transmissible diseases. Rape and adultery are both crimes punishable by law. Lust would lead to further complications such as rape and adultery. Sex with multiple mates also was one of the reasons in the spread of diseases. In deed there are corresponding negative results for every immoral acts. Conclusion Sex is a gift from God but such gift is given as a privilege to those who follow the moral boundaries. The maximization of the benefits of sexual life can only be realized within a married life based on the teachings of Apostle Paul. The use of sex beyond ethical and moral boundaries have been rampant in our society, this is the reasons why negative results are observable in the form of HIV and AIDS, mutation, broken marriage, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction, abortion, and a lot of other social ills arising from our societies. The solution is not the education that based on the Finer perspective but based on St. Paul's principles. . BIBLIOGRAPHY BBC NEWS. "Pre-marital sex more accepted." January 23, 2008. BBC News. April 29, 2008 Beam, Joe. "Sex and the Bible." Family Dynamics Institute. 2001. April 29, 2008 Finer, Lawrence B., "Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954-2003." Public Health Reports 122(January-February 2007) 73-78 Read More