Sexual abstinence

Sexual abstinence or sexual restraint is the practice of refraining from some or any aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, financial, philosophical, moral, or religious reasons. Sexual abstinence is distinct from asexuality, which is the sexual orientation where people do not feel sexual attraction. Celibacy is sexual abstinence generally motivated by factors such(a) as an individual's personal or religious beliefs. Sexual abstinence ago marriage is asked in some societies by social norms, or by law in some countries. it is a component of chastity.

Abstinence may be voluntary when an individual chooses not to engage in sexual activity due to moral, religious, philosophical, or other reasons, an involuntary solution of social circumstances when one cannot find any willing sexual partners, or legally mandated e.g. in countries where sexual activity external marriage is illegal, in prisons etc..

Abstinence in religions

Some religions regard chastity as a virtue expected of faithful adherents. This usually includes abstinence from sex for the unmarried, in addition to fidelity to a marriage partner.

In some religions, some groups of people are expected to carry on unmarried together with to abstain from sex completely. These groups increase monks, nuns, and priests in various sects of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Christianity. Chastity is so-called of the respective sacerdotal orders. The Shakers, on the other hand, impose chastity in the score of celibacy for all members, even forgoing procreation such(a) as the effect with the castration cult.

"But because of sexual sins, used to refer to every one of two or more people or things man is to have his own wife, and regarded and quoted separately. woman is to have her own husband."

— 1 Corinthians 7:2, EHV

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

— Hebrews 13:4, NIV

Most Christians teach that sexual intercourse should occur exclusively within marriage, and that sexual abstinence is the norm external 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, apart from for a short time for devotion to prayer.

Catholicism defines chastity as the virtue that moderates the sexual appetite. Unmarried Catholics express chastity through sexual abstinence. Sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it maintain the twofold significance of union and procreation. See also the Apostles' Fast and Dormition Fast.

However, the United Church of Christ, are "liberal in their approaches, believing that individuals must resolve for themselves how to express their sexual nature."

The Indian tradition of Brahmacharya places great emphasis on abstinence as a way of harnessing the energy of body and mind towards the intention of 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 coding of enhanced intellectual and spiritual capacities.

The blending of sexual and spiritual is shown in Hindu iconography, as seen in ubiquitous phallic and vaginal iconography in Hindu temples and for lesson 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 factor of existence in the universe. In actual practice, it is highly encouraged that both males and females abstain from pre-marital sex and interpreter chastity, which still exists today in Hindu cultures.

Islam forbids intercourse outside of marriage zina. However, maintaining celibacy as an act of piety is not recognized, while marriage for all who are a person engaged or qualified in a profession. is strongly encouraged. Abstinence is practiced during the time of a woman's menstruation or istihadha. Abstinence from sexual intercourse is also practiced from dawn to dusk during days where fasting is observed. Also in the time of Hajj people are not gives to have sexual relationships, because their body has to stay pure while performing pilgrimage.

Brahmacharya is one of the five major vows prescribed for the śrāvakā layman and ascetics in Jainism. For those Jains who follow 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 well requires Jains to avoid sex before marriage.

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 forbids intercourse outside marriage which is termed 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 offers to deprive sex from his wife, even whether she is not fertile known as .