Thesis (M. Div.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis the focus will be on the challenges that our modern society presents to the church and her understanding of sexuality. Certain “traditional” values are questioned on a continual basis. Many people argue that a new era represents new challenges and therefore new answers are needed – “traditional” values has nothing more to say in this new world. A “traditional” sex-ethic that believes sex should be kept for marriage, is one of the casualties. This thesis attempts to show that such a “traditional” sex-ethic is still relevant in this world, today. This can only be done by taking serious notice of the current state of a modern society, & by respecting the Christian tradition, as well as the Word of God. By bringing the Word of God into a critical dialogue with the modern world and the challenges that it represents, it will be possible to show that a “traditional” sex-ethic is still relevant in this modern world. The Word of God gives us no systematic theory on human sexuality. It is therefore important that we take the central theme of the bible as our point of departure. Love and justice should guide every decision people make: if we want to obey God’s central command of loving our neighbors, we need to approach others with love and justice. By keeping sex for marriage we stay true to what God expects of us. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word daar gefokus op die uitdagings wat ons moderne samelewing aan die kerk en haar verstaan van seksualiteit stel. Sekere “tradisionele” waardes word bevraagteken, dikwels in die naam van ‘n nuwe konteks. ‘n Nuwe era bied nuwe uitdagings en daarom word baie van dit wat as “tradisioneel” beskou word verwerp as iets wat vandag geen waarde meer het nie. ‘n “Tradisionele” seks-etiek wat sê dat seks slegs in die huwelik hoort, is een van hierdie slagoffers. Hierdie tesis probeer dus aantoon dat só ‘n tradisionele seks-etiek vandag, in ‘n veranderende wêreld, steeds relevant is. Dit kan slegs aangetoon word deur deeglik kennis te neem van die stand van die moderne samelewing, ‘n waardering van die Christelike tradisie, en die Woord van God. Deur die Woord van God krities in gesprek te bring met ‘n moderne samelewing en die uitdagings wat dit bied, kan daar aangetoon word dat seks steeds in die huwelik hoort – nie voor die huwelik nie, ook nie buite die huwelik nie. Die Woord van God bied aan ons geen sistematiese teorie oor die mens se seksualiteit nie. Om hierdie rede is dit belangrik dat ons die sentrale tema van die Woord as ons vertrekpunt sal neem vir ons bestudering van die mens se seksualiteit. Die basis van dit alles is liefde en geregtigheid – God se opdrag om ons naaste lief te hê kan slegs deur hierdie twee riglyne ‘n realiteit word. Deur seks slegs in die huwelik te beoefen, is ons getrou aan hierdie opdrag van God.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

Project Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Seminary, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-227).

Project Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Seminary, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-227).

Thesis (M.A.)--Duquesne University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-80) and index.

A literature review revealed 15 variables as commonly studied as associated with adolescent pregnancy. The research showed conflicting results in many of these areas. Twenty-one pregnant and 20 non-pregnant adolescents were tested using the Arlin Test of Formal Reasoning (ATFR) and the Reiss's Premarital Sexual Permissiveness Scale. Pregnant participants were expected to score lower than non-pregnant participants on the ATFR; and, the low permissives (based on responses to the Reiss's Premarital Sexual Permissiveness Scale) were expected to score higher than high permissives on the ATFR. However, the results did not support the hypotheses. Several areas were examined for exploratory purposes. There was a significant difference between high permissives and low permissives for parent/peer orientation for sexual behavior attitudes. Additional exploratory demographic information was collected using a General Information Questionnaire.

This study investigates the relationship between several independent measures and premarital sexual activity among 1,393 LDS teenagers living along the east coast. Results indicate that among these LDS teens, exposure to pornography is strongly and significantly related to the probability of having engaged in premarital sex. This holds true even when controlling for peer influence, family structure, religiosity, gender, and age. Teens who were exposed to pornography (1 to 24 exposures) are 2.6 times more likely to have engaged in sex as compared to those who report no exposure to pornography. Furthermore, those teens exposed to a higher amount of pornography (25 or more exposures) were 5.7 times more likely to have engaged in sex as compared to those who report no exposure.Other interesting findings show that peer influence, private religiosity, and relationship with mother are also significantly related to the probability of having engaged in sex. Gender is also a significant predictor of sex among this group of teens, however, the females in this sample have a higher probability of having engaged in premarital sex. This finding is different than most other studies on teen sexuality which show a higher probability for males than females.Implications for future research suggest that studies done to determine the predictors of premarital sex among teens should not ignore the potential impact of exposure to pornographic material.

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Research has found absence of premarital sexual experience positively correlated with marital adjustment (Davis , 1929; Terman, 1938; Reevy, 1959; Shope and Broderick, 1967). Others raised doubt of this conclusion (Locke, 1951; Burgess and Wallin, 1953; Kinsey et. al, 1953; Ard, 1974).Bell and Balter (1973) found 81% of married women under 26 had premarital intercourse. Since a majority engage in this, it is appropriate to consider premarital intercourse relationship variables to identify marital correlates.In Love, Strong Affection, and Little Affection premarital intercourse relationships were examined. Questions were explored concerning premarital independent variables: number of relationships, length of relationships, number of live-in partners, relationship exclusivity, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and gender. Dependent variables were: relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and fidelity, in marriage.This questionnaire study consisted of the Marital Satisfaction Scale (Roach et. al, 1981) and other original items.Subjects were 286 volunteers from Long Island MacArthur airport, 209 of which reported premarital intercourse relationships and 77 who did not, all under age 41, in first marriages.Pearson correlation and t-test were used. The hypothesis was confirmed for only In Love premarital relationships with marital satisfaction and marital sexual satisfaction being positively related to premarital sexual satisfaction.Groups with and without premarital intercourse were not significantly different on marital satisfaction or marital sexual satisfaction. For subjects having premarital intercourse relationships higher marital satisfaction was related to higher number of live-in partners and higher relationship and sexual satisfaction for In Love type. Also for only this type, higher marital sexual satisfaction was related to higher premarital sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction.Having no or few premarital intercourse partners was associated with higher likelihood of fidelity. Other premarital factors associated with higher fidelity were longer In love relationships and higher number of In Love live-in relationships. Lower relationship satisfaction with premarital Strong Affection type also led to higher fidelity. Women were found to have higher likelihood of fidelity.Summarizing, In Love premarital intercourse relationships seem to relate positively to marriage. More independent variables were related to fidelity than the other dependent variables.