Fornication Is Evil And Hurts People In Several Ways
Table of Contents
Fornication Is Ubiquitous
Fornication, aka premarital sex, unfortunately has become the norm.
The vast majority of Americans have fornicated. According to THE SCIENCE™:
By age 20, 77% of respondents had had sex, 75% had had premarital sex, and 12% had married; by age 44, 95% of respondents (94% of women, 96% of men, and 97% of those who had ever had sex) had had premarital sex.
Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954–2003
In other words, most Americans fornicate.
But just like your mom always said: “Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it right.”
Or maybe your mom just read the Bible, which says:
Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth.
Exodus 23:2
So let’s listen to your mom and the Bible, but before that, let’s see what THE SCIENCE™ says about fornication.
Fornication, According To THE SCIENCE™
Fornication hurts people, according to THE SCIENCE™.
Firstly, the more extramarital partners a woman has, the higher the chance of divorce:
For women marrying since the start of the new millennium:
Women with 10 or more partners were the most likely to divorce, but this only became true in recent years;
Women with 3-9 partners were less likely to divorce than women with 2 partners; and,
Women with 0-1 partners were the least likely to divorce.
Counterintuitive Trends in the Link Between Premarital Sex and Marital Stability
Thus, if you want to minimize your chances of divorcing Mr. Right, ladies, then don’t fornicate with Mr. Wrong.
Secondly, fornication leads to poorer relationship quality among married people:
Bivariate results suggested that delaying sexual involvement was associated with higher relationship quality across several dimensions. The multivariate results indicated that the speed of entry into sexual relationships was negatively associated with marital quality, but only among women.
The Tempo of Sexual Activity and Later Relationship Quality
Also, another study said:
We found that the longer a dating couple waits to have sex, the better their relationship is after marriage. In fact, couples who wait until marriage to have sex report higher relationship satisfaction (20% higher), better communication patterns (12% better), less consideration of divorce (22% lower), and better sexual quality (15% better) than those who started having sex early in their dating (see Figure 2). For couples in between—those that became sexually involved later in their dating, but prior to marriage—the benefits were about half as strong.
Slow But Sure: Does the Timing of Sex During Dating Matter?
Thus, if you want to have a quality relationship with your future spouse, you should refrain from fornication.
Thirdly, having more extramarital partners increases your chance of several kinds of cancer:
Having had 10 or more lifetime sexual partners was associated with higher odds of reporting a diagnosis of cancer than having had 0–1 sexual partners in men (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.83) and women (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.51), respectively. Women who had 10 or more lifetime sexual partners also had higher odds of reporting a limiting long-standing illness (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.35).
The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis
Thus, if you want to decrease your chances of getting cancer, stay away from fornication.
Fourthly, increasing the amount of partners will increase the chances of substance abuse, especially for women:
Increasing numbers of sex partners were associated with increasing risk of substance dependence disorder at all three ages. The association was stronger for women and remained after adjusting for prior disorder. For women reporting 2.5 or more partners per year, compared to 0–1 partners, the adjusted odd ratios (and 95 % CIs) were 9.6 (4.4–20.9), 7.3 (2.5–21.3), and 17.5 (3.5–88.1) at 21, 26, and 32 years, respectively. Analyses using new cases of these disorders showed similar patterns. This study established a strong association between number of sex partners and later substance disorder, especially for women, which persisted beyond prior substance use and mental health problems more generally.
The Relationship Between Multiple Sex Partners and Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Dependence Disorders: A Cohort Study
Thus, if you want to minimize your chances of becoming substance dependent, don’t fornicate.
Finally, we all know that fornication comes with risks of unwanted pregnancy and STDs:
Unwanted pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, abortion, STIs, HIV/AIDS, regrets, guilt, loss of self-respect, depression, loss of family support, substance abuse and even suicidal death are the health impact of premarital sexual behaviour among adolescents.
Premarital Sexual Behaviour and its Impact on Health among Adolescents
Thus, if you don’t want to have children (at least not yet) or STDs, then don’t fornicate.
In conclusion, THE SCIENCE™ is pretty clear in showing that fornication is not a good thing, particularly for women.
What Does The Bible Say Regarding Fornication?
The Bible has quote a few quotes about fornication.
The Sixth Commandment is:
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:14
The Catholic Church has always taught that this Commandment includes fornication, per what Christ said:
You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:27-28
This means that not only are adultery or fornication grave sins, but even lust is a grave sin.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, also says:
But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart, and those things defile a man. For from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.
Matthew 15:18-19
For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.
Mark 7:21-23
The Apostles commanded converts:
That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.
Acts of Apostles 15:29
St. Paul says:
Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God. And such some of you were; but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth, is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body. Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own? For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:2
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:
Ephesians 5:3
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
Colossians 3:5
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication; That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour:
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
Marriage honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4
St. Jude says:
As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
Jude 1:7
And finally, Christ says:
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Apocalypse (Revelation) 21:8
Thus, the Bible clearly condemns the sin of fornication as worthy of Hell, for those who don’t repent and confess.
What Does The Catholic Church Teach Regarding Fornication?
The Catholic Church condemns fornication, as part of the Sixth Commandment.
Firstly, according to the Catechism of the Council of Trent, written in AD 1566:
But that every species of immodesty and impurity are included in this prohibition of adultery, is proved by the testimonies of St. Augustine and St. Ambrose; and that such is the meaning of the Commandment is borne out by the Old, as well as the New Testament. In the writings of Moses, besides adultery, other sins against chastity are said to have been punished. Thus the book of Genesis records the judgment of Judah against his daughter-in-law. In Deuteronomy is found the excellent law of Moses, that there should be no harlot amongst the daughters of Israel. Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, is the exhortation of Tobias to his son; and in Ecclesiasticus we read: Be ashamed of looking upon a harlot.
In the Gospel, too, Christ the Lord says: From the heart come forth adulteries and fornications, which defile a man. The Apostle Paul expresses his detestation of this crime frequently, and in the strongest terms: This is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication; Fly fornication; Keep not company with fornicators; Fornication, and an uncleanness and covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you; ” Neither fornicators nor adulterers, nor the effeminate nor sodomites shall possess the kingdom of God.
…
But what is peculiar to this sin is that fornicators are said to sin against their own bodies, according to the words of the Apostle: Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body. The reason is that such a one does an injury to his own body violating its sanctity. Hence St. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, says: This is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God.
Furthermore, what is still more criminal, the Christian who shamefully sins with a harlot makes the members of Christ the members of an harlot, according to these words of St. Paul: Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. Or know you not, that he who is joined to a harlot is made one body? Moreover, a Christian, as St. Paul testifies is the temple of the Holy Ghost ; and to violate this temple is nothing else than to expel the Holy Ghost.
Catechism of the Council of Trent, Sixth Commandment
Secondly, The Douay Catechism of 1649 says:
Q. WHAT is the sixth commandment?
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q. What is prohibited by this precept?
A. All carnal sin with another man’s wife, or another woman’s husband, and chiefly adultery; as also fornication and pollution.
Q. How prove you fornication and pollution to be mortal sins?
A. Out of Col. iii. 5, 6. “Mortify, therefore, (saith St. Paul,) your members, which are upon earth: fornication, uncleaness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols: for which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief.”…
Q. What is the heir of unlawful lust?
The Douay Catechism of 1649 by Henry Tuberville, D.D.
A. Death and damnation; for, “neither fornicators nor adulterers, nor effeminate,” (that is such as defile themselves with voluntary pollution,) “shall possess the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor. vi. 9.
Thirdly, the Baltimore Catechism, written in the late 19th century, states:
Q. 1285. Why are sins of impurity the most dangerous?
A. Sins of impurity are the most dangerous:
Baltimore Catechism
1. Because they have the most numerous temptations;
2. Because, if deliberate, they are always mortal, and
3. Because, more than other sins, they lead to the loss of faith.
Fourthly, in the Catechism of St. Pius X written in 1908, Pope St. Pius X writes:
3 Q. Is impurity a great sin?
A. It is a most grave and abominable sin in the sight of God and man; it lowers man to the condition of the brute; it drags him into many other sins and vices; and it provokes the most terrible chastisements both in this world and in the next.
Catechism of Saint Pius X
Finally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.
…
2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
In conclusion, the Catholic Church has always clearly condemned fornication as a grave sin, consistent with the Bible.
Fornication Is Evil
In conclusion, fornication is evil. THE SCIENCE™ and religion both agree.
Fornication affects both men and women, but disproportionally affects women.
It’s kind of the inverse of pornography and self-abuse, which affects both, but men more.
While pornography and self-abuse makes men effeminate, weak and depressed, fornication makes women substance addicted and prone to divorce.
Moreover, fornication causes marital unhappiness, and increases risks of cancer, STDs and unwanted pregnancies.
Deep down we know that fornication is wrong. Remember when you got the “birds and the bees” talk?
It probably started with: “When a man and woman love each other…”
And then it probably went: “They marry each other and decide they want to have a baby…”
Or something like that.
That’s because it’s normal for humans to see the institution of marriage as the foundation for the marital act.
People see the marital act as an act of love between a man and a woman that leads to children.
Fornication is nothing more than a perversion of the marital act that comes from assenting to lust.
And deep down we all know this. Nobody actually sees fornication as an act of purity.
Unfortunately, we just turn off our conscience and tell ourselves that it’s okay.
Just like we turn off our consciences for pornography, self-abuse, sodomy and other acts that we know are wrong.
We just focus on the short term pleasure and toss the long term consequences aside.
So let’s focus on our eternity, control our passions and turn to God when it gets hard to do.
He will help us conquer ourselves!
Pray to Him, do penance, and may He reward you for your perseverance!