Chastity is a moral virtue, a state of mind and body of an individual in which he chooses for himself bodily and spiritual purity. Currently, the meaning of chastity is partly forgotten and for many it is even ridiculous and unnecessary. The state of affairs is such that every year the technological progress of society provides more and more opportunities for younger generations to avoid censorship from adults, parents and teaching mentors. But at the same time, little is given of the foundations and concepts of moral values, such as nobility, honor, chastity, modesty. To be such in today's reality, especially in megacities, is almost equal to the inability to survive. However, each of us has the opportunity to choose what we should be. A conscious choice in favor of virtues may not bring wealth and fame, but it will give you the opportunity to remain yourself.
What is chastity?
Chastity is internal unity in one’s physical and spiritual being, purity of thought and desire, perception of oneself and other people.
What does it mean to be chaste? Numerous traditions maintain a generally similar view on this issue: this means not having sex before marriage, not watching pornographic films, wearing modest, i.e. clothing that is covered in intimate places and to remain faithful in marriage. This value is promoted by all world religions. However, today even the idea of what it means to be chaste is completely distorted.
By changing the meaning of the word “chastity,” modern society has lost its bearings. Some believe that maintaining chastity means maintaining virginity until the age of 18, many are of the opinion that this means having sex with only one partner for the rest of your life, that marriage is not necessary at all, etc.
But still, according to the results of a survey, for example, on the “[email protected]” forum on the topic “Are there still men who value a girl’s virginity,” it turned out that many guys still approve of this quality. And the question often sounds like this: “Unapproachable or accessible?”
Many female representatives are aware of this. And they preserve virginity only physiologically. This, on the one hand, helps them solve some problems, but, on the other hand, is this way of life chaste? Certainly not. There are many ways to deprive yourself of such a quality as “chastity”. Considering themselves virgins, many people enter into intimacy not in the “classical” way, but avoiding defloration, i.e. physiological loss of virginity through rupture of the hymen, thus violating the chastity of the soul. However, among men, as a result of this attitude of many women, the opinion has developed that such a lady is not at all innocent or chaste and that this, in fact, is tantamount to defloration. And because of this, doubt arises about the true purity of many virgins. And besides, now it is physiologically not a problem at all, since the presence of a hymen can be restored surgically, i.e. hymenoplasty. However, we should not forget that the connection between virginity and chastity is inextricable.
Many people, regardless of their age, but most often young people are afraid of seeming old-fashioned, being “worse” than their girlfriends, friends, losing a loved one, not trying everything, etc. But they forget that, for example, a man who really loves a girl will receive a lot of unpleasant emotions upon realizing that she belonged, even if only physiologically, to other men.
Of course, the path of chastity is not easy. It takes effort. Modern young people who adhere to the principle of “maintaining chastity” often have to endure mocking glances, prodding, etc. But there is one caveat: it is unlikely that a wise person will appreciate the absence of innocence as a kind of virtue.
Psychologists, like teachers, argue that without chastity, the correct formation of personality is impossible. Indeed, thanks to this, a person not only does not disturb the health of his psyche, but also feels freedom from many fears and complexes.
In general, there are two types of chastity - chastity before marriage, which consists in the absence of any types of sex, both spiritually and physiologically, and chastity in marital relations, when a person has already entered into a marriage union and remains faithful to his wife. There is also monastic chastity, which consists in the complete absence of sexual relations. This is a special vow that can only be made by strong individuals.
The hymen in nature is endowed exclusively by women. This emphasizes the special status of a person. And do not forget that with virginity, chastity strengthens its position.
The Holy Bible gives us a clear understanding of sin and righteousness
Every Christian can repent of his sin of fornication and cleave to the virgin life of a true Christian.
Many people believe that the word “chastity” is perceived as a concept of innocence. But this word describes not just the physiological state of a person, it is much broader. It is simply impossible to understand the meaning of the word chastity without knowledge of religious principles. It is the Bible that gives us a clear understanding of sin and righteousness.
The famous nun Nina defined the word chastity as a kind of holistic attitude to life, which is seasoned with wisdom.
The famous nun Nina defined the word chastity as a kind of holistic attitude to life, which is seasoned with wisdom
"Sexual Revolution"
The reason that now a virgin is a very rare phenomenon is a turning point in public consciousness in the middle of the 21st century. The “sexual revolution” - the lot of the 1960s - caused a lot of trouble. This happened due to a change in ideas about morality. As a result, many took advantage of the opportunity provided by contraception. After all, it was then that they began to spread, which made it safer to have frequent sex, and moreover, with different sexual partners. The idea of morality at that time among most people was that sex before marriage is normal, and if you protect yourself, you can protect both yourself and your partners from trouble. But contraceptives to this day do not have the ability to protect both from sexually transmitted diseases and from pregnancy 100%.
Until the 20th century, a significant part of society identified morality with Christianity. Afterwards, with the harsh socialist regime, a completely different worldview came to many things, although chastity was a component of this philosophy. However, society itself began to rank values differently by level of significance, gradually placing virginity at one of the lowest levels. But it paid very dearly for this: today, debauchery, the collapse of family values, divorces, perversions, which include pedophilia, bestiality, abortion, homosexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, infertility, pornography, etc., are replete with events for one person. Modern man has already partially realized where the reason for his constant troubles regarding family and marital relations lies, and today, relative to 1960, chastity is something that, at least, one can already be proud of.
Etymology[edit]
The words chastity
and
chastity
come from the Latin adjective castus (“cut off,” “separated,” “pure”).
These words entered the English language around the mid-13th century. Chastity
meant "virtuous", "pure from illicit sexual intercourse") or (from the early 14th century) as a noun, virgin, [3] [4] while
chastity
meant "(sexual) purity". [4] [5]
Thomas Aquinas binds Caste (chastity)
on the Latin verb castigo ("Chastise, reprimand, rightly"), with reference to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics:
Chastity takes its name from the fact that the reason "punishes" lust, which, like a child, needs curbing, as the Philosopher states
. [6]
Brief historical sketch
As for the period BC, then, for example, in the first millennium BC. In Rome morality was very strict. However, in the middle of the 2nd century BC. Significant changes occurred in this regard, which were caused by Rome's acquaintance with the morality of the Hellenistic states. As a result, free morals spread, which differed significantly from past public opinion regarding chastity: the Roman government was forced to issue decrees in order to somehow prohibit patrician women from corrupting prostitution.
Then came the Middle Ages - from the beginning of the 7th to the 16th - and now society rushed to the other extreme: chastity was seen as a necessary virtue that every person should possess. This was part of the basis on which all morality was built. Asceticism lay at the basis of all morality. Sex was seen only as a way to procreate.
But it should be noted that the Gospel itself emphasizes the importance of sex, but only in married life, saying that “the wife must satisfy all the needs of her husband” when it comes to relationships. Therefore, it cannot be said that in the Middle Ages they had a completely correct view of this.
But, as it turns out, even then there was no “era of chastity,” as evidenced by the behavior of some of the knights.
Before marriage, sex was considered a reprehensible act and was called “adultery.” After the wedding, chastity before marriage turned into marital chastity, which means, as mentioned above, to remain faithful in marital relationships.
In Muslim countries, virginity is also one of the first moral requirements for a girl. There, the ideology of chastity, it should be noted, is much more developed than in Western countries, both during the Middle Ages and in other historical periods. Even using cosmetics when going out is considered a violation of chastity. A wife should dress up for her husband, and not for other men.
During the Renaissance, attitudes towards chastity changed again. A cult of beauty and physicality appears. Religiosity is losing ground. So-called “courtesans” appear, as well as official favorites.
In the 19th century, Puritan morality emerged (a Protestant movement promoting asceticism regarding sexual relationships, the elimination of Catholicism, hard work, extreme strictness of morals and excessive limitation of needs). Protestantism occupies one of the leading positions. All sexual perversions are reprehensible and immoral. In general, a harsh view of extramarital sexual relations was characteristic of that time.
The transition from this worldview to the modern view of chastity is called the “sexual revolution.” By the way, it is largely connected with the feminist movement.
As a result of this event, society has recognized as permissible: divorce, oral sex, abortion, various types of contraception. This phenomenon has its consequences.
Back in the 1940s, it was shameful to lose your virginity before entering into a formal marriage. In the 1960s this became the norm. The guy didn’t even have to “persuad” the girl, not to mention the fact that chastity before marriage was considered stupid. After all, otherwise a man could find a more accommodating girlfriend, and vice versa.
It is worth noting that this conflict arose as a result of excessive pedantry and absurdities in relation to sex. After all, if in the old days a girl lost her virginity before marriage, then society was ready to simply tear her to pieces, despite the fact that sex before marriage, compared to some other vices, does not look so terrifying. In addition, the discussion of such an intimate issue turned into public domain, and sex was promoted exclusively as procreation. Sexual satisfaction seemed to be of no importance. Since the 1960s, this long-simmering conflict began to emerge. In the end, he gradually began to slip into advertising: in the form of practically naked ladies, clothes, etc.
In the 1970s, pornography began to actively spread.
A little about pornography...
The consequence of this phenomenon is a spoiled idea of sex, women, and proper relationships. Meanwhile, it is still rare for anyone to think that this is also support for the slavery of women, since many porn heroines are unfortunate women who were forced against their will to do this on camera. This list also includes pedophilia, since very often it is innocent children who become victims in these very films, and many women in the plot are dressed in children's clothes and with soft toys. Violence in the family and in life, rudeness, and vulgarity should also be added here. By paying to view these disgusting videos, the encouragement of evil with one’s own hands occurred and continues to occur.
A study by Dr. Jennings Bryant found that prolonged viewing of porn (more than 6 weeks) can change people's attitudes and feelings toward less negative judgments of sexual deviance and misconduct. They found that the actions began to seem less bad, and the victims of sexual crimes, they emphasized, suffered less, that the acts against them were not so wrong.
Magazines with naked women began to spread, where they are just a tool to satisfy needs, “bunnies” or doll models with a beautiful body, but in no way equal to themselves, like “subhumans,” and so, a tool for sex. And the reason for this is that it is bought, it is prestigious, it is used.
Who is a chaste girl
A girl who has taken the baton of spiritual and physical purity from her parents and intends to pass it on to her children in the future is called chaste. She is waiting for her chosen one, and if there is already one, she shows him the need for reasonable abstinence, which will certainly have a positive impact on their future offspring.
Appearance
Chastity is manifested in the fact that a girl does not try to be flashy and noticeable, does not always strive to look impressive, and does not require others to recognize her importance in any way. She always knows the limits in everything and understands that she has true value in this world, but she never flaunts her knowledge.
A girl does not necessarily have to be shy and closed; on the contrary, she is interested in live communication, and not empty chatter. Her main wealth is always inside, and she is not going to give it away to the unworthy and just anyone.
Walking easily through life, she is always on the alert so as not to overlook her one and only, for whom she is going to open all her spiritual values, the emeralds of a tender, tremulous heart.
Qualities and character traits
Among her main qualities, she has the following: mental and physical purity, modesty, pride, a sense of duty, and moderate modesty.
The girl is characterized by the following character traits:
- seriousness and responsibility;
- meekness;
- humility;
- penchant for charity;
- absence of vicious attachments and bad habits.
The cult of the body provoked his collapse
The condom has been considered an excellent and affordable means of protection since the 1960s. However, according to official statistics, 40% of Americans infected with HIV became infected through a condom. Back then, they somehow didn’t think about the fact that infection occurs not only through sperm, but also through secretions from the genitals.
In general, when a virus enters the body, it not only settles in it, but also changes, i.e. modified and can cause trouble throughout life.
Women are much more at risk of infection than men. And they also cause more damage to them. For example, the probability of contracting gonorrhea in women compared to men is 60-90%, while in the former it is 20-30%. Chlamydia has no symptoms, but, in turn, is the cause of infertility and dangerous pregnancy. Syphilis, in addition to the genital organs, affects the blood vessels of the brain, and also has a negative effect on the heart, causing ulcers and psychosis.
Gonorrhea causes pelvic inflammation and also infertility. Genital herpes threatens the death of the fetus; it is a difficult to treat disease. If in the early 1960s there were only two sexually transmitted diseases, now there are about forty. As a result, millions of people around the world are infected with them every year. Of 100% of sexually active young people, 40% become infected with the human papillomavirus, as well as chlamydia, and of all 40 diseases, young people under 25 years of age are among those who suffer from them.
What is the danger of premarital affairs11
- With a change of sexual partner, the usual composition of the vaginal microflora is disrupted, thereby causing an imbalance in the body and a decrease in immunity. Numerous sexually transmitted infections are difficult to treat and cause infertility. Monsters such as syphilis and gonorrhea are always looking for a new victim.
- There is a high risk of unwanted pregnancy. Despite the wide variety of contraceptives, none of them provides a 100% guarantee.
In the modern world, chastity has ceased to be a virtue and has become unfashionable. But fashion tends to change, right?
Rich sexual experience will help maintain relationships
In modern society, there is an opinion that rich sexual experience gives a special status, that a guy, like a girl, prefers an experienced partner for a serious relationship. However, in reality this is not the case at all. Virgins are now much more valued again. But, of course, it is not entirely correct to believe that you should be liked solely on this basis. Relationships built on this kind of principles will not last long, because sexually active people will want new sensations, and those who value only virginity will not be able to continue the relationship due to the lack of spiritual intimacy, thanks to which they should exist.
Being first is more valuable. And not everyone is pleased that a man/woman sees talent in sexual activity. It's much more than that. In addition, it is very unpleasant when you are compared with someone in such intimate matters.
Men, fed up with so many options to satisfy their sexual experience, are now asking: “Available or unapproachable??”
Chastity is considered by many of them to be much more valuable than depravity. Of course, there are those who do not value virginity. But is the opinion of depraved men who see you as a toy, a tool, just a body valuable?..
You need to be sexually active before marriage to determine “compatibility”
Sexual compatibility is truly a myth. A woman's vagina is indifferent to the size of her penis. It can adjust to the size of the baby during childbirth and the small male genital organ and experience pleasure during intercourse. Pleasure in this context is not at all correlated with the concept of the size of something. Some people are only turned on by small breasts, others only by fat women. Although this is typical for falling in love, it is not for love.
Sexual arousal does not depend on the size of the breasts, penis, etc. For each person, this occurs purely according to individual criteria, not in relation to any generally accepted norm. When they talk about compatibility, they can emphasize the aspect that there is compatibility of temperaments. But with the small amendment that if a person craves some special poses, considering it impossible to fully satisfy the desire through ordinary caresses, while in sexual contact with his beloved, then, apparently, he is a bit of a pervert and, perhaps, quite addicted to porn.
It is also quite absurd to enter into or break off a relationship simply because of “sexual compatibility,” even if it existed in nature.
What can observance of the principles of chastity achieve?
Let's imagine the sea. How much beauty there is in it! How nice it is to plunge into it when the sun is so hot! But what happens if you try to drink sea water? What will happen as a result of this action? Thirst will appear. Over time, a person will simply die without ordinary drinking water. When he puts sex first, overstepping the principles of chastity, the body begins to demand more and more of these actions, but 100% satisfaction never comes. The closeness between a man and a woman extends to the soul. When love reigns between them, a desire arises to create intimacy in the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and moral spheres of life. Love cannot blossom from intimacy. It can only become its consequence.
Abstinence before marriage will save a person from feelings of guilt, shame, the influence of “bad” relationships, premature pregnancy, the risk of abortion, contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted marriage. Chastity, like nothing else, will help you achieve your goals, create a happy marriage, maintain the purity of your soul and self-respect.
And, most importantly, a person will be able to give himself to just one other person, and not a “stub.” This will also save the future husband/wife from the unpleasant feeling that you are not the first, that your spouse does not like his/her body as much as the body of the previous sexual partner.
Of course, for some, this list of advantages will seem completely insufficient to “risk” maintaining the purity of soul and body. But it is worth remembering that any virtue should not be performed so that there is a reward for it.
Links[edit]
- "Chastity | Define chastity at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
- "Chastity | Define chastity in Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford University Press.
- "chastity - Origin and meaning of chastity according to online etymology dictionary". www.etymonline.com
. Retrieved March 15, 2022. - ^ ab "podictionary - for word lovers - daily stories, trivia and dictionary etymology". podictionary.com
. Retrieved March 15, 2022. - "chastity - search in the online etymological dictionary". www.etymonline.com
. Retrieved March 15, 2022. - Summa Theologiae, II-II, Q.151. Thomas Aquinas refers to book 3, chapter 12 of the Nicomachean Ethics: [1]
- https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm
- Jeremy Taylor (1650). "Chapter II, Section III, On Chastity." Holy Living.
- Diarmaid MacCulloch 'The Reformation', Penguin Books, 2003, page 28
- "Everything you need to know about the Bruderhof community". innews.co.uk
. Retrieved October 26, 2022. - "Life Among the Bruderhof". American Conservative
. Retrieved December 14, 2022. - "I. 'Male and Female He created them...'", Catechism of the Catholic Church
, Libreria Editrice Vaticana - "II. Vocation to Chastity", Catechism of the Catholic Church
, Libreria Editrice Vaticana - “What is the law of chastity?” . ChurchofJesusChrist.org
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Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (1991).
"A chaste and holy life." Collected Collections (Volume 1)
. Australia: Baha'i Publications Australia.
How to maintain chastity?
First, you need to take a few correct guidelines for yourself: keep your virginity until marriage, don’t watch porn, have pure thoughts, have the courage to say “NO!” regardless of the attitude towards the person offering to enter into intimate intimacy. Also set a rule for yourself: communicate with those who value, respect, and inspire you.
If you decide on this difficult path, then know that your kiss means a lot, don’t give it away to just anyone, so that it has a special value. Be inspired by good literature, films about pure and true love, and also be able to separate infatuation from true love. After all, love is always mutual, unlike falling in love. Many people give their virginity as proof of their feelings, but this once again emphasizes the falsity of the relationship.
Don’t waste your time with people who are trying to destroy your foundations and ideas. Always carry yourself with self-esteem. You should not engage in masturbation: it is harmful and has a detrimental effect on both physiological and mental health. Wear clothing that adequately covers your private parts. Many complain that they are not taken seriously, while dressing in order to create the effect of a “sex bomb”, which is a problem for both guys and girls. But what would happen if police officers wore nurses' uniforms? There would be a lot of disasters in society. Clothes that are too revealing and inappropriately bright are the lot of prostitutes. This is their uniform. Respect the way society has established the uniform of prostitutes. After all, it is much more difficult for a man to overcome the desire for sex. A woman's chastity affects a man's chastity.
And finally, remember the words from the Bible, if you are a believer: “Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Also, by the way, it is said there that it is better for a man through whom temptation comes to hang a millstone and die, and whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Chastity by women is sometimes maintained by coincidence. But this is not entirely chastity. Chastity is making a special decision and steadfastness in one's views regarding sexual abstinence. This is not only the lot of believers of different religions. After all, this is how many identify adherence to the rules of innocence. This also applies to the ethical aspects of family and marriage relationships, regardless of the presence or absence of faith in God.
If a guy or girl loses their virginity, but later regrets it and does not take the same actions in this regard, then they regain the chastity of the soul. Maintaining chastity of soul is much more difficult than maintaining virginity, although one follows from the other. Chastity before marriage allows you to be faithful to one person. After all, everyone ultimately wants to find only one soulmate. But when entering into sexual relations before marriage, a person belittles the status of his/her future chosen one(s).
Everyone is given the right to choose. But with the small amendment that promiscuity cripples the lives of those who did not engage in it. A husband, cheating on his wife and violating the chastity of marriage, brings her a lot of suffering, often also transmitting to her sexually a whole “bouquet” of sexually transmitted diseases instead of a bouquet of roses.
