Abstract

ZUIDDAM, Benno A.. Sexual intercourse without marriage; reflections from natural revelation. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2023, vol.57, n.1, pp.1-9. ISSN 2305-0853.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ids.v57i1.2950.

The Western Church, following in the footsteps of Tertullian, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas, teaches that God's will can be derived from creation and the way God rules the world. In the Protestant tradition this is reflected in the Dutch Creed (Confessio Belgica, art. 2) and in the first part of Calvin's Institute. This article applies this paradigm to the field of traditional Christian ethics in the context of the 21st century, post sexual revolution and the technological developments that hastened it. It specifically addresses the appropriateness of sexual intercourse without marriage and explores whether the paradigm of natural revelation may still apply post sexual revolution. This article argues that social and psychological research confirms traditional Christian teachings and, from the notion of natural revelation, makes a meaningful contribution to the ethical reflection on this subject. CONTRIBUTION: This article contributes to the theological reflection on the appropriateness of sexual intercourse before marriage when ultimately a lifelong marriage commitment (with each other or a different partner) is regarded as a long-term goal in life. This contribution derives its conclusions not from the Bible, but uniquely restricts its arguments from the perspective of natural theology on the basis of the data that recent sociological research provides.

Keywords : premarital sex; virginity; natural revelation; sexual ethics; relationship.

        · text in Dutch     · Dutch ( pdf )