Chastity

The words chaste and chastity stem from the Latin adjective castus ("cut off", "separated", "pure").

[4] Thomas Aquinas links castus (chastity) to the Latin verb castigo ("chastise, reprimand, correct"), with a reference to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: "Chastity takes its name from the fact that reason 'chastises' concupiscence, which, like a child, needs curbing, as the Philosopher states".

Sexual acts outside of or apart from marriage, such as adultery, fornication, masturbation, and prostitution, are considered immoral due to lust.

The cord is worn as a symbol of chastity in honour of a chaste saint whom the bearer asks for intercession.

For example, Anglican Bishop Jeremy Taylor defined five rules in Holy Living (1650), including abstaining from marrying "so long as she is with child by her former husband" and "within the year of mourning".

[8] In the Roman Catholic Church, members of the consecrated life vow or promise celibacy as one of the evangelical counsels.

Some Protestant religious communities, such as the Bruderhof, take vows of chastity as part of the church membership process.

Roman Catholic teaching regards chastity as essential in maintaining and cultivating the unity of body with spirit and thus the integrity of the human being.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chastity is very important: Physical intimacy between husband and wife is a beautiful and sacred part of God's plan for His children.

In addition to reserving sexual intimacy for marriage, we obey the law of chastity by controlling our thoughts, words, and actions.

"[13]Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also include that sexual expression within marriage is an important dimension of spousal bonding apart from, but not necessarily avoiding, its procreative result.

˹So leave me alone˺ if you are God-fearing.” He responded, “I am only a messenger from your Lord, ˹sent˺ to bless you with a pure son.” She wondered, “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me, nor am I unchaste?”Extramarital sex is forbidden.

Social patterns and practices calculated to inflame sexual desire are frowned upon by Islam, such incitements to immorality including permissive ideologies, titillating works of art, and the failure to inculcate sound moral principles in the young.

The concept of chastity is extended to include avoidance of alcohol and mind-altering drugs, profanity, and gaudy or immodest attire.

[citation needed] The teachings of Buddhism include the Noble Eightfold Path, comprising a division called right action.

Under the Five Precepts ethical code, upāsaka and upāsikā lay followers should abstain from sexual misconduct, while bhikkhu and bhikkhuni monastics should practice strict chastity.

In Iran, women are required to wear hijabs as part of that society's efforts to enforce chastity.