Premarital+sex

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **The Chinese Philosophies: Confucianism and Taoism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.
 * 12/6/10**
 * Prompt #9:**

Taoism has the same 5 precepts as Buddhism which are no murdering, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no false speech, and no consumption of intoxicants. Monks and nuns should not participate in sexual misconduct or sexual intercourse at all. Sexual misconduct includes masturbation, premarital sex, adultery, prostitution, having sex with prostitutes, and same gender sex. Even being married, if you have sex too much that is also considered sexual misconduct. I could not find any sources that straight out talked about premarital sex for either Taoism or Confucianism but I'm sure they would be against it. At least Taoism would be because one of the five precepts is no sexual misconducts and premarital sex is a misconduct. Although they are against premarital sex there is no actual punishment for the participants. This makes it a more personal matter with private consequences. The consequences, though, are the exact same as all the others - the chance of an unwanted pregnancy, an STD, or a broken heart. As far as spiritual, it could affect how strong their faith is and if they fall away from it our not.
 * Response:**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Precepts_%28Taoism%29
 * Sources:**

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Buddhism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.
 * 11/22/10**
 * Prompt #8:**

The Buddhist view on premarital sex is viewed as a more personal matter with personal consequences. To start off there are different precepts that Buddhist can adhere to. A precept is a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct. They believe that it is very wrong for you to lie to another person about if you love them or not, if you want to marry them or not, of if you are or have had sex with other people if you have adhered to the precept of no wrong speech. Another precept is about sexual relationships and talks about the harm that can be done to the partners or to the child that is conceived. These harms could be physical or emotional, for example, rape and incest can be physical and emotional harms. The other precept is about the problems that arise when someone takes what is not freely given. This does not just mean rape but also when someone is trying to be persuaded to have sex but they are unsure or unwilling to give it. According to Buddhist, " it is always unwise to be totally unaware of what you are doing and of its full implications." Premarital sex to Buddhist is like premarital sex to conservative and liberal Jews. They do not forbid premarital sex as long as it is inside a committed relationship where the act would be sacred to the two partners. Just because they do not forbid premarital sex though, it was stated that people should not switch to Buddhism just to get pleasure without the spiritual consequences. They do not believe in promiscuous sex with many other partners and they condemn sex if it is between the same sex.
 * Response:**

Ethical Issues in Six Religious Traditions by Peggy Morgan and Clive A. Lawton http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm
 * Sources:**

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Hinduism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.
 * 11/15/10**
 * Prompt #7:**

There was not much to find on Hinduism's view on premarital sex but what I did find was they believe that sex is the most legitimate pleasure on earth, but they did not encourage sexual gestures or behavior. Premarital sex is frowned upon in Hinduism and extramarital sex or committing adultery is absolutely forbidden. Although premarital sex is frowned upon there is no actual punishment like there is with Islam. Hinduism's view on this is the same as the posts on other religions - even though there is no actual punishment you should not have sex before marriage! This means that premarital sex is a more personal matter that has the same personal consequences as all the other religions. Hindu's are people and all people (females) have the risk of getting pregnant, getting an STD, or getting their heartbroken. Also if they come from a very religious family and the family finds out about the act that was committed he/she could ruin the relationship with their family.
 * Response:**

http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/hinduism.htm
 * Sources:**

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Islam** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.
 * 11/8/10**
 * Prompt #6:**

Muslims believe that both adultery and premarital sex in prohibited because of Islamic laws. They say that no matter if the sex if between a girlfriend and boyfriend or a man and a prostitute - any kind of sex before marriage is a sin. " Premarital Sex is a fornication" ( www.al-islam.org). Fornication meaning: voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other. In this religion premarital sex is considered both public and personal matter. Personal being the same as all the other religions with the same risks and the girl can feel cheated or used. As far as public matter, premarital sex is a sin that is in fact punishable. If a man and woman are found committing this sin, the Islamic Court rules that both of them will be whipped 100 times and who ever is doing the whipping they are not allowed to be gentle on them. Also, the whippings are to be public so there are to be believers there witnessing the punishment. If that same couple was caught having premarital sex more than once afterward, they will be punished again except this time they'll be given 300 whips each. If the couple gets caught a fourth time, that will be the final time because they will be put to death. As you can see the Islamic views on premarital sex are extremely different from the views of Judaism and Christianity.
 * Response:**

http://living.oneindia.in/kamasutra/spheres-of-life/islam-sexual-beliefs.html http://www.al-islam.org/m_morals/chap3.htm#anchor440949
 * Sources:**

FINE PRINT: DIVERSITY AND NUANCE. Are there different rules for different people/sects within **Christianity** regarding your ethical issue? What about differences in the way consequences are applied? **This week, concentrate on the similarities and differences between Catholics and Protestants on your topic.**
 * 10/18/10**
 * Prompt #5:**

No there are not different rules within Christianity regarding premarital sex. The consequences are exactly the same for everyone no matter if they are Catholic, Protestant, or any denomination under Protestant. They have the chance of getting pregnant, getting an STD, or getting their heartbroken as well as doing serious damage to their spirituality. Regarding premarital sex, Catholics and Protestants have the same view - do not participate in sex before marriage. They believe that they should be honoring God with their body and keeping themselves pure; not using their bodies for sinning.A verse from the Bible would be from 1 Corinthians 6:13 " Food for the stomach and the stomach for food-God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." Another verse would be from Ephesians 5:3 " But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." Since both groups follow God's Word (the Bible), the verses show that both groups have the same exact views. Therefore there are no differences between Catholics and Protestants when it comes to premarital sex.
 * Response:**

Matt K. http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Ephesians%205.3 http://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Corinthians%206.13
 * Sources:**

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Christianity** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.
 * 10/4/10**
 * Prompt #4:**

The main teachings of premarital sex and sex in general in Christianity are similar to those in Judaism. According to the Bible sex is considered as a way to express love but was created only for a man and his wife. An example from the Bible would be from Genesis 2:24 " //For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.//" As for premarital sex, Christians believe they should protect their bodies and honor God with them. They also believe they should not fall into thinking lustful thoughts and saving their bodies for marriage. For them this means committing themselves to abstinence. An example from the Bible for this would be from Hebrews 13:4 " //Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.//" Another example from the Bible would be from 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 " //It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable//."
 * Response:**

As for the consequences, premarital sex is considered spiritual and personal matter that can affect relationships and their spirituality. As said in past posts, when a person has sex for the first time they are giving a part of themselves away that they can never get back. And in more cases than one the couple splits and whoever lost their virginity is overwhelmed with guilt and regret. Sex before marriage can also lead to more physical consequences such as pregnancy and STD's and sometimes sex leads to both a break up and a pregnancy and/or STD.

http://christianteens.about.com/od/whatthebiblesaysabout/f/Sex.htm
 * Sources:**

FINE PRINT: DIVERSITY AND NUANCE. Are there different rules for different people/sects within **Judaism** regarding your ethical issue? What about differences in the way consequences are applied?
 * 9/27/10**
 * Prompt #3:**

There are different VIEWS/OPINIONS within the different sects of Judaism regarding premarital sex, but no physical laws. Since this post and my last post is basically the same I'm just going to restate what was said. The three sects of Judaism, the Conservatives, Liberals, and Orthodox, have different views on premarital sex. In the beginning, though, all three sects had the same view which was absolutely no sex before marriage, but times are changing for the Conservatives and the Liberals. Now they don't look down on premarital sex as long as it is within a committed, meaningful relationship that is sacred to both partners. They do however look down on sex before marriage if it is promiscuous and between non-committed partners. The Orthodox Jews on the other hand still follow the Torah laws and prohibit themselves from having premarital sex, and commit themselves to abstinence. There is not any real consequences that are applied except physical and emotional ones.
 * Response:**

http://www.epigee.org/guide/judaism.html
 * Sources:**

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Judaism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.
 * 9/20/10**
 * Prompt #2:**

The main teachings of premarital sex in Judaism come from no other place than the Torah. The Torah states that sex before marriage is forbidden and since there are three different kinds of Jews based on how observant they are, there are three different views on premarital sex. The conservatives and the liberals at first believed that sex before marriage was forbidden, but they have started to change their minds. They separate the people that have premarital sex into two groups, the ones that are non-committed partners and are promiscuous and the ones that are meaningful, commited, and sacred to the individuals that are involved. The conservatives and liberals accept the meaningful and committed relationships more than the ones that are promiscuous. The Orthodox Jews on the other hand strictly follow the Torah and commit themselves to abstinence. They even choose to not touch at all before the night of their marriage. Premarital sex is considered as a personal and spiritual matter that has private consequences and affects personal relationships. Like in my first post, premarital sex can cause people emotional distraught if a break up happens or you could get an STD that you have to live with the rest of your life. As for affecting your spirituality, sex before marriage could cause you to feel ashamed of yourself or that you let yourself as well as God down. It can also cause other followers of your religion to look down on you. Both the personal and spiritual consequences affect relationships whether it be the person you had sex with, family members, or friends, no matter what your reason for having premarital sex is.
 * Response:**

http://www.epigee.org/guide/judaism.html
 * Sources:**

Define and describe your topic as an ethical issue and identify the controversies and dilemmas within the issue. Seek to do general background reading to understand the main issues inherent in your topic.Identify at least two opposing positions often taken on your ethical issue, and explain two to three main arguments for each side.
 * 9/13/10**
 * Premarital Sex: Prompt #1**

My ethical issue is premarital sex. This is an ethical issue because a lot of religions believe that premarital sex is a sin, and a vast majority of the population is having sex before marriage. According to an article on USA TODAY, almost all Americans are having premarital sex and that programs focusing on sexual abstinence may be unrealistic. It is also said that premarital sex fits with the other trends that are being seen.The controversies dealing with premarital sex is if you agree with not having sex before marriage, or if you disagree and have sex before marriage. From a religious and non-religious point of view, premarital sex will have its dilemmas. One dilemma would be your boyfriend/ girlfriend is pressuring you to have sex and you already vowed to abstinence..what do you do? You can say no and take a chance of losing him/her or you could have sex and take a chance of having your heart broken, getting pregnant, or getting an STD. According to Eleanor H. Ayer's book, It's Okay to Say No: Choosing Sexual Abstinence, teens that took the risk of having premarital sex say they wish they had never done it. Just deciding to participate in sex before marriage or not is a dilemma in itself. You're giving a piece of you away that you can never get back and when you're married, in the future, you will never forget what you did and with who. One of the opposing sides in this issue would be the ones that do not believe in sexual abstinence. Their arguments for this would be that the love the other person but how do they really know that and how do they know they're going to spend their life with them? They don't. They also say that its enjoyable and that it feels good but in the long run is that really enough? If you're never going to commit to someone then maybe it is enough. The other opposing side would be the people that vowed to sexual abstinence. Their arguments for this would be that they don't want to take the risks that sex has like STD's, pregnancy, and emotional distraught. They also want to wait to give themselves to that special someone when they're married because they're virginity means a lot to them. It's not just something you can give out then take back.
 * Response:**

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-12-19-premarital-sex_x.htm It's Okay to Say No: Choosing Sexual Abstinence By: Eleanor H. Ayer
 * Sources:**