CHRISTIAN TEACHING ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY - C.R.E KCSE NOTES

RELATED >> Christian Approaches to Human Sexuality, Marriage and Family

CHRISTIAN TEACHING ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY - C.R.E KCSE NOTES

• Sexual behaviour is part of human behaviour.
• The Bible gives principles of sexual behaviour in the Ten Commandments.

​​a. Christian teaching on responsible human sexuality.

• Christianity teaches us about responsible sexual behaviour. Being responsible means that one is exercising self— control or self-discipline in matters of sexual behaviour. Self-discipline is necessary when we have a relationship with the opposite sex (Read, 1 Cor.7: 9 1 Peter 5:8). It is called responsible sexual behaviour, which is obedience to God’s commands.
• Christians promote healthy social relationship between boys and girls, men and women, and husbands and wives.
• Responsible sex is between male and female. Sexual intercourse is allowed only between married couples (1 Cor.7: 3— 5). Married couples are obliged to be sexually faithful to one another (Heb.13: 4) adultery is condemned (exodus 25:14).
• Relationship between a husband / wife should be one of respect faithfulness, love, care, mercy, submission, tolerance, and forgiveness

b. Christian teaching on irresponsible sexual behaviour.

There are many irresponsible sexual behaviours. They include among others all acts and forms of: perversion, misuse, and abuse of sex, incest, rape, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism or gay, prostitution, concubine, masturbation, bestiality and child marriages among others. These irresponsible sexual behaviours are against God’s will for humanity. Christians are to shun irresponsible sexual behaviour. This is because their bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Thus whatever Christians do with their bodies, it should be for the glory of God. Let us now discuss in brief some of the irresponsible sexual behaviour

(i) Incest

• This is a sexual relationship between people who are closely related by blood.
• For example, sex between a brother / sister, father / daughter. Incest is condemned in the Bible. It was punishable by death in the Old Testament. Read Leviticus 18:6—8.

ii) Rape

• Rape cannot be justified and it is condemned in The Bible.
• Rape is an act of forcing another person to have sexual intercourse without his or her consent. It is sexual violence and a crime against humanity. It is also a denial, and a violation of human rights of the victims who are sexually assaulted. 
  
• Victims of rape include boys, men, girls, women, and babies especially girls. 
  
• Rape is an expression of hatred toward the opposite sex.
  
• In traditional African society rape was abhorred and culprits were punished by death. In Kenya rape is punishable by 20 years imprisonment.
• Indecent assaults or sexual abuses such as touching a person of the opposite sex without their permission or use of vulgar language are both punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment.

iii. Fornication

• This is consensual sexual intercourse between unmarried people.
• It is condemned by both African and Christian teachings and punishment in African traditional society was by either payment of fines, stoning, and ritual cleansing.
• In the Old Testament, men were forced to marry the girl.
• Jesus said that fornication was due to people’s evil thoughts. Abstinence for the youth is encouraged and preached.

Why do the youth engage in premarital sex? ​​

There are several reasons. Some of them are: sexual curiosity, proving manhood, human weakness, lack of self control, testing fertility, fear of being jilted / rejected; commercial sex for money; copying acts in the print and electronic media. Others reasons are frustrations, drug abuse, bribe to get a job, and permissiveness in the society.

iv. Adultery

• Adultery is committed by adults who have extramarital affairs; between “married partner and another party”.
• Adultery is having sex outside marriage with a person with whom one is not married to. 

Causes of adultery

• Adultery is caused by lack of self — control, sexual dissatisfaction, long periods of wife and husband separation, sexual dysfunction and vengeance by an initially faithful spouse who wants to be even with the unfaithful spouse.

v. Prostitution

• This is the practice of giving sexual pleasure for money or other material benefits.
• A prostitute can either be male or female. Prostitutes are also referred to as commercial — sex workers or whores, harlot, strumpet.

Reasons why people engage in prostitution

• There are factors leading to prostitution. These are economic reasons such as
  unemployment, poverty, rejection of a girl at home, drug abuse, stress, anger, anxiety, frustrations in the family and pornography.
  
• The church condemns prostitution because it defiles the body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit. It’s sexual immorality. Read Gal 5: 19— 21.

vi. Homosexuality

• Homosexuality! Gay! Lesbianism, This is sex between people of the same sex for example; man and man (homosexuality), woman and woman (lesbianism).
• Homosexuality is a common practice in modern world. It is also a church problem.
• The Anglican Church in USA, and Canada have accepted homosexuality. The Anglican Church has gay bishops. African Anglican churches are opposing this practice.

What makes people prefer sex with the same sex?

• The Christian view is that homosexuality is a sign of a lack of Christian moral values. It may also be due to confinement in a prison and permissiveness in society.
• If it is allowed to continue, it shall disintegrate traditional African values. Because of its threat to God’s people, the Church condemns homosexuality. Other reasons for condemning it is because
  • God created a male and a female. Read, Genesis 1:28.
  • Sex is sacred. Homosexuality is an unnatural relationship, which lowers human dignity. It does not provide sexual fulfillment
• Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya.

vii. Sexually transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• There are many diseases passed from one person to the other through sex. These are gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes genitalis is, hepatitis B, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, HIV/AIDS. 
  Let us discuss these diseases in details

HIV / AIDS

• HIV[immunodeficiency Virus] causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) condition.
• Syndrome refers to many symptoms. HIV is transmitted largely through sex with an infected partner; through blood transfusion; sharing sharp objects with infected persons; and from an infected mother to the unborn child.
  
• The HIV virus destroys the white blood cells, and weakens the body's immune system.
  
• When the body is weak, it is not able to fight, and defend itself against infections.
  
• Persons with the virus are vulnerable and susceptible to opportunistic infections.
• The signs / symptoms of AIDS are manifestations of symptoms of the opportunistic infections. Some symptoms include persistent coughs, loss of weight, oral thrush, loss of appetite, and diarrhoea.
  
• Churches encourage Christians to be compassionate to HIV/AIDS affected people, and to support the infected and the affected individuals like the orphans, widows, and widowers.
  
• It also teaches against sexual immorality and against all forms of discrimination.

Gonorrhea

• Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium called “Neisseria gonorrhoeae”. Its symptoms appear after 4-7 days after infection.
• Its symptoms are
  • Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the vagina.
  • Lower abdominal or pelvic pain.
  • Burning when urinating.
  • Conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes)
  • Bleeding between periods.
  • Spotting after intercourse.
  • Swelling of the vulva (vulvitis)
  • Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
• The good news is that Gonorrhea is curable if treated early.

Syphilis

• Primary syphilis may show up in the form of a sore or a wound in the genitals a few days after infection. The wound heals by itself without treatment after some time.
• Syphilis infection may take several years about 7 years before its symptoms reappear. The symptoms of syphilis are a painless sore or pimple on the man’s penis or woman’s vulva; and swelling of the glands in the groin.
• Other symptoms, which may appear later, are skin rashes, and sores either in the face armpits, under breasts, mouth or throat.

Herpes genital

• Herpes genital is a sexual disease caused by a virus. It creates wounds in the genitals.
  
• A pregnant woman can transmit the infection to her newborn baby during delivery.
  
• This disease can be controlled although there is not an effective treatment.

Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis B virus causes Hepatitis B. It is transmitted through sex, injections by unsterilized needles and contact with contaminated blood. The infection does not show on the genitals.
• The signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B include yellowness of the eyes (jaundice) due to liver damage and pain around the upper abdomen.

The effects of irresponsible sexual behaviour

There are many effects of irresponsible sexual behaviour. They include among others HIV / AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STI), abortion; family separations and divorces, deaths, unplanned pregnancies; children living in the streets; school drop outs and psychological problems.

​i. Effects of incest.

1. Incest undermines the healthy relationships between members of a family as it brings shame and guilt among the parties involved.
2. Incest destroys relationships within the family and can lead to breaking up of a marriage.
3. Incest destroys self-esteem, self —respect, and dignity of the victim. We find that abused boys and girls end up having problems when trying to establish healthy relationship with members of the opposite sex.
4. Incest can lead to pregnancy, and abortion. And as you have read in the newspapers, it can lead to infections with sexually transmitted diseases (S.T.I.’s) and HIV / AIDS.

ii. Effects of Rape

• This crime has very serious consequences and harmful effects on the victim.
• Rape may result in pregnancy and can lead to physical, psychological, social, and spiritual side effects. The victim may suffer
  • Serious physical injuries and
  • May contract both the STI’s, and HIV / AIDs.
• The victim is traumatized, and ashamed of self. The victim suffers from guilt, loneliness, humiliation, post traumatic stress disorders, and depression among others psychological manifestations.
• Young rape victims in particular may lose trust in the opposite sex. All these sufferings can lead to suicide and death.

iii. Effects of Fornication

Some of these are having children out of wedlock; feelings of distrust, guilt, and hurt; contracting STI’s and HIV/AIDS; loss of self-respect; early and forced marriage and abortion.

Iv. Effects of Adultery

Christians teach against adultery because it is against God’s commandments and can lead to divorce, abortion, STI, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, murder (death) and psychological problems.

v. Effects of Prostitution

 It can lead to breakup of marriage, and family. It lowers a person’s dignity and can lead to unplanned pregnancies, school dropouts; infections such as STDs and HIV/AIDS and improper use of family resources.

vi. Effects of homosexuality

• ​​It is a threat to procreation. It promotes loose short-term informal relationships and therefore promotes HIV / AIDS.
• Homosexual couples are prone to HlV/AIDS infections because of having many partners; although this is changing in USA where homosexual couples are being married in churches.

vii. Effects of Sexually transmitted diseases HIV / AIDS

​They include recurrent illness due to opportunistic infections. There is also stigmatization. Some individuals have feelings of guilt, anger, denial and depression.

• The sick persons have to look for extra finances to care for their health. They have the burden for medications, and special diet. HIV/AIDs has no cure and leads to death like many other diseases. Parents die and leave their children as orphans. Gonorrhea effects are many.
• The disease damages a woman’s fallopian tubes leading to infertility; and a man’s epididymis leading to sterility.
• An infected expectant mother can infect her newborn baby with gonorrhea. The disease may affect the eyes of the unborn child causing blindness. Gonorrhea can also cause inflammation of joints, the heart and liver.

Effects of Syphilis 

• Effects of Syphilis are damage to the heart, brain and the nervous system.
• This disease can lead to madness and death of the victim. If a child is infected while in the womb, or during birth, the brain may be damaged.
• The child may have either physical deformities or the infected mother may give stillbirths.
• Effects of Herpes genitals are infection causes severe brain damage, cancer of the neck of the womb.
• If a woman is pregnant, the disease can cause death of the baby. The wounds and sores exposes the sick person to HIV /AIDS infections.
• Effects of Hepatitis B. This disease damages the liver and may lead to death of the infected person. It has a vaccine, but not treatment.

viii. Other consequences of irresponsible sexual behaviours

• ​They are death, unplanned pregnancies, children living in the streets, school dropouts arid psychological problems related to irresponsible sexual behaviour.
• These include among others: stress, depression, self — pity, withdrawal, aggressiveness, and violence.
• Stress is the response of the body and mind to any situation that exerts pressure or makes demands on a person. The intensity or pressure experienced determines the level of stress.
• Some of the signs of stress are: anxiety, worry, drop in performance, chest pains, mood swings, rebellion, ulcers, heart palpitations, fatigue and guilt feelings.

Solutions

• ​To avoid stress, it is suggested that individuals should accept that one is stressed; identify sources of stress, rest, exercise, listening to therapeutic music and talk to a counselor. Depression. This is an acute mental disorder. It is also a state of hopelessness and low spirits.
• Depression can be mild or severe. It has physical, emotional and behavioural signs and symptoms. Let me caution you that it is only a medical doctor who can know if one has a depression or not. We are told by doctors that signs of a depression are: persistent headaches and chest pains; loss of appetite; too much appetite; loss of memory; insomnia i.e. lack of sleep; weight loss or gain; nervousness and mood swings; low self-confidence; suicidal tendencies and self-pity.
• Other signs and symptoms are loss of libido (sexual desire); poor performance in school and in work places; hopelessness; loss of interest in one's activities; hypertension and high blood pressure

d. Irresponsible social and human behaviour

• There are social and human behaviours that are contrary to Christian life.
• These unacceptable behaviours are abortion, and divorce.
• Abortion is termination of pregnancy before the foetus is capable of independent life.
• There are two types of abortions. One is spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.
• The other is induced abortion, which is deliberate and illegal in Kenya. Induced abortion has been debated in Kenya. The main question is, should abortion be legalized or not?. This is because abortion is legal in some European countries.

Why do mothers seek abortion? ​

There are many reasons, which are known only to mothers. These are: 

1. Pregnancy due to rape and incest.
2. If the mother believes that the unborn child will be a burden. This may be because the baby is conceived outside wedlock and the mother lacks economic resources to take care of the baby. Another reason maybe that the mother is in school, and she cannot look after the baby and continue with her education.
3. Medical personnel may abort a deformed foetus or in order to save the life of the mother if it is in danger. Christian’s view of abortion as murder (Exodus 20: 13). This is because abortion interferes with the mother’s body, and destroys the baby. Christian view is that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is the giver of life and He alone has the right to take it away. Abortion carries with it stigma and the effects mentioned above make Christians condemn abortion.

e. Effects of irresponsible social and human behaviour.

Effects of abortion are infertility, ectopic pregnancy, destruction of a woman’s body parts; fetal malformation, risk of the mother bleeding to death and destruction of uterus. Other effects are that the mother may experience in future stillbirths, miscarriages, risk of barrenness; failed abortions leading to deformed babies and psychological problems that we have discussed. These are stress and depression.

Revision questions

1. ​Explain the T.A. understanding of human sexuality
2. Explain Christian attitudes towards human sexuality
3. In what ways is sex abused in Kenya?
4. Why do you think minors are defiled or sexually abused in Kenya?
5. Explain the Christian teaching on male/female relationships
6. What is the Christian teaching on responsible sexual behaviour?
7. List the different types of irresponsible sexual behaviour
8. Explain the Christian teaching on irresponsible sexual behaviour
9. State the effects of irresponsible sexual behaviour

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