Chastity is…. Chastity and its forms in modern life, the attitude towards it in different religions Celibacy in modern life

WHAT IS CHASTITY? THIS IS THE INTEGRITY AND PURITY OF A HUMAN Many modern inhabitants have no idea what human chastity is, therefore they reduce it only to the fate of the beautiful half of humanity, and even then, limiting it to a time period, to the loss of virginity ... Chastity etymology “In its etymological composition, the Greek word “chastity” (moral virtue) indicates health, integrity, unity and, in general, the normal state of the inner spiritual life ...., the integrity and strength of the personality, the freshness of spiritual forces, the spiritual order of the inner person ”- P. Florensky. Chastity and nobility are two axiological categories that make up the concept of honor. And our ancestors advised us to preserve honor from a young age ... Chastity is “full wisdom, as much as mental, as much moral” (Fedorov N.F.). “Chastity is that which preserves the spirit of man from being immersed in the flesh; it is the self-preservation of the human spirit, without which a person becomes carnal, animal, loses everything human” - St. Efrem Sirin. The veracity of this statement in modern times does not require proof, the entire modern culture confirms this. Chastity is a state of the soul and body of a person, characterized by integrity, unity of will and action, freedom from internal mental discord, which is not determined by external factors; maintaining mental and physical purity in communication with other people. “Just save, I pray, All the purity of the beautiful soul And the view of life is simple and clear, ...” Apollon Grigoriev 1850 Yu.M. Masyutin “Assol” Identification of chastity with virginity is a narrowing of the concept. So Ambrose of Milan speaks of at least three forms of chastity: "There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the chastity of virginity, the chastity of spouses and the chastity of widowhood ...". Thus, chastity means not only that side of a person's life that relates to the body. It refers to the integral composition of a person, his personality as a whole. Hence the very word "chastity", i.e. wisdom of the whole and united - being in the consciousness of the universal world order and its laws. The loss of chastity is corruption Corruption is an activity that narrows the vision of the real world order to its insignificant material component, which is proclaimed as the most important and valuable in the life of a living being. “It should be noted that the soul is corrupted not only by carnal sins, but also: love of money, love of glory (vanity), envy and hatred, anger, insolence and hardness of heart, lies, covetousness and forgetfulness of God, and all other evil. .. "- Rev. Ephraim the Syrian. Thus, chastity in the broad sense of the word consists in “observing all the virtues whole, observing oneself in all actions, words, deeds, thoughts” - St. Ambrose Optinsky. “Chastity consists not only in abstaining from adultery, but also in being free from other passions.” John Chrysostom Therefore, it is said that if, in his internal state, a person is full of all sorts of evil inclinations, lusts and lives with these passionate thoughts, feelings, then he cannot be called chaste in any way, although outwardly this is still little manifested, but for a wise and experienced eye it is will be immediately visible. “... the purity of the outer man, i.e. the purity of the body, without the purity of the inner man, i.e. spirit, there is no purity ... "In the appearance of a person, in all his bodily movements, the soul is reflected, as in a mirror, and all this serves for us as if an echo or a signboard of the soul, so that from the external actions of our bodily nature, through the close connection of the soul with the body, we also conclude about the internal properties of our spiritual nature. The external signs of chastity include modesty of behavior and modesty. A modest posture of the body, and in general external behavior, is a living reflection of a pious spirit, good manners and modesty. Chaste modesty is manifested not only in words and deeds, but also in the very gestures, in gait, in the ability to behave modestly in society. “Shame is a constant companion of chastity and moral purity, which in their mutual combination protect our morality (especially at a young age) ... Shame is an excellent mentor and guide in maintaining bodily purity” - St. Ambrose of Milan. An impudent gait, with various antics, immodest postures and body movements, serves as an expression of frivolity and indiscretion (St. Ambrose of Milan). Chastity is also in the word - in the purity of our language. The sight and hearing of a chaste person turns away from any immodesty (seductive spectacles, paintings, books, stories, immodest dances and fun, etc.). As they say, what is in the head, then in the tongue: “The tongue of (people) lustful (and depraved) vomits a lot of shameful things, it vomits a lot of secret and seductive things into the ears of those who listen” - St. Gregory the Theologian. “Just as an undamaged eye sees everything purely, really determining how it is ... so a pure soul sees everything immaculately and purely, and an indignant soul (defiled by sins), having an eye covered with the dust of sin, and cannot see good things” - Rev. Ephraim the Syrian - and suspects a pure, chaste person of hypocrisy and hidden vices. The beauty of the human body does not evoke passionate feelings in the chaste, but it prompts the glorification and admiration of God. Thus, it is known from the lives of the saints that the ascetics, famous for their chastity and holiness, when they met a woman or a young man with a beautiful face, were not seduced by bodily beauty, but with their thoughts ascended to the Supreme Most Holy Beauty, the culprit of all beauty on earth and in heaven, i.e. to God, glorifying Him for making such beauty out of the earth, marveling at the beauty of the image of God, shining even in human nature damaged by sin, they mentally contemplated the indescribable kindness of the face of God, the beauty of the saints of God, the holy angels and the Mother of God, and even more warmed up in pure love to the one God, “who created all beauty for His own sake” - St. John of Kronstadt. THE FRUITS OF CHASTITY “Cleanliness, a consequence of chastity, is a sign of the health of the soul, a source of spiritual joy. Whoever wishes to acquire love for God must take care of the purity of his soul. True purity makes the soul gain boldness in the hour of prayer. Boldness is the fruit of purity and labor to acquire it.” - Rev. Isaac the Syrian. In purity, the heart is pure, the larynx is sweet and the face is bright. Purity is a gift of God, full of kindness, edification and knowledge. Purity pleases the heart that has acquired it, and inspires the soul to the heavenly. Purity generates spiritual joy and mortifies sadness, Purity mortifies passions and produces dispassion. “The pleasantness of the purity of chastity cannot be explained in words to one who has not been honored to reach the height of this virtue. Wonderful work of God! A carnal man, being in the flesh, rejects carnal passions and, under a great variety of life circumstances, enemy attacks and temptations, remains unshakable in purity by the power of God. Whoever reaches this state of virtue, by special grace, himself amazed, with a sincere disposition of the heart, will cry out: Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows very well ”- Ps. 138:14. “Perfectly ripened chastity always preserves an imperturbable and unshakable purity of body and soul and is nothing but holiness.” The foundation of chastity “Chastity is the state of one who has achieved such spiritual wholeness, such inner wisdom that does not allow him to deviate from God, deviate from purity, deviate from his human greatness, that is, from serving the Image of God in himself.” Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh In such a state, there is no need for abstinence, as St. John Cassian says: “It is one thing,” he says, “to be temperate, and another to be pure and, so to speak, come to the location of purity and uncorruption, which is called innocence ...”. “Holiness,” writes Bishop Theophan the Recluse, “is the fulfillment of the heart with all the virtues, but mainly it is evidenced by purity from carnal desires and sympathies.” To live righteously means not only not to violate the truth in relation to others, but also to do them all good. To live piously means to do everything dedicating to God and glorifying His name in every possible way. Piety comprehensively embraces the relationship of our mind and heart to God, most of all - prayer and the creation of everything for His glory. “Chastity is based on humility. “You cannot acquire this virtue unless the foundations of humility are first laid.” Humility is followed by self-restraint in everything, self-restraint, inner spiritual well-being and beautification of the soul with chastity” - St. John Cassian the Roman. The virtue of chastity is inconceivable without mercy, without love, which animates every virtue. According to the same saint, without mercy the virtue of chastity is lost. Chastity and love are closely related. Through sincere love, purity and chastity elevate a person to holiness and communion with God - “combine with God” - St. Nikita Stefat. CHASTITY, A FINAL WORD Chastity actually covers all aspects of human life, so it is wrong to reduce the meaning of this virtue only to sexual abstinence. However, sexual promiscuity is undoubtedly the opposite of a chaste state. Fornication does not remain without consequences, it inevitably destroys the harmony and integrity of the soul. Few sins do so much damage to the spiritual health of the individual. The Apostle Paul explained his thought in this way: “Every sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body,” that is, destroys himself. Therefore, the consequences of fornication come not only in the future, they overtake a person in his earthly life. Chastity is a wise striving to gain and preserve integrity, the inner unity of a person who is in harmony of mental and bodily forces. Debauchery separates the bodily manifestations of sex from the life of the soul, from love, fidelity, responsibility. That's what makes it scary. A destructive cleavage is introduced into a person's life. Spiritual vision is dulled, the heart hardens and becomes incapable of real, all-encompassing, sacrificial love. The happiness of inner harmony, the joy of holistic unity experienced in family life, become inaccessible to the fornicator. He robs himself. Kris.h.Nive based on the ABC of Vera

It can be interpreted in different ways. But it will always remain relevant for girls. Having ruined your reputation once with frivolous behavior, you can reap the consequences for the rest of your life. Virginity and chastity - is there a difference between these concepts, and if so, what is it?

The term "chastity"

This concept implies, first of all, moral purity. Our contemporaries rarely think about their lifestyle. Girls starting from the very early age, want to become more mature and for this purpose do not disdain by any means. Meeting with older men, drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, the desire to have the most modern gadgets and a passion for travel - can a girl with such life values ​​be called chaste?

Modern society has become so liberated and has lost the framework of morality and morality that the term "chastity" has become somewhat humorous, cheeky. Nobody thinks about its true meaning. Many people substitute the concept, considering the term "chastity" as a synonym for the word "virginity". Allegedly, a chaste girl must be virgin. Actually this is a myth.

What are the characteristics of a chaste girl?

In our time, this characteristic will not be liked by many. But people who are thinking about their future will appreciate a chaste girl.

Her portrait is characterized by the following features:

• meekness. She will not praise herself in front of teachers or friends. It is better to prove your knowledge of the subject and the ability to learn directly in practice.
• Seriousness to own promises and words. She does not throw phrases into the wind - she understands that "the word is not a sparrow, it will fly out - you will not catch it."
• No bad habits. A chaste woman understands that a cigarette in her mouth and a glass of even the most expensive cocktail in a woman's hand looks caricatured and vulgar. Such a lady causes contempt and may interest a man in her person only for a short-term relationship.
• Chastity is moral purity. Such people do not need to chase money and recognition. They do not live by ghostly short-term goals, but by fundamental ones - the family, the interests of the family, science, altruism.
• A chaste girl is characterized by charitable deeds. She helps animals, old people and children, not for the sake of a beautiful gesture or the word "thank you". She does it at the behest of her soul.

The relation of religion to chastity

Many of our contemporaries, with the phrase "chastity - thoughts" or the like, immediately recall sects or various kinds of religions. This is a mistake, not always this concept has a similar connotation.

Any religion (be it Orthodoxy or Islam) does not welcome a cheeky and dissolute way of life. But is the desire to lead a decent life necessarily only under the fear of violating the dogmas of one's faith? Hundreds of thousands of women lead a chaste lifestyle, cherish their honor not under the yoke of mythical commandments, but thanks to their attitude.

What does "chaste girl" mean in terms of Orthodoxy? She not only takes care of herself in relation to men, but also observes fasts, regularly takes communion, knows and studies the Word of God, confesses to Batushka.

A chaste girl - is it good or bad? The answer to this question is clear. The family and the school should instill in the girl self-esteem, respect for elders, altruism and a true understanding of the concept of "chastity".

Which girl is considered virgin

The concept of virginity is slightly different from the above. This is a medical term. The hymen is an obstacle that arises before the very first sexual intercourse in the life of every girl. After its violation, we can say that virginity is lost.

This can only happen once in a lifetime. After this moment, the girl becomes a woman. In secular society, it is generally accepted that the status of "woman" is acquired by a female creature only after she becomes a mother. Viewpoints on this issue may differ.

Is virginity a disadvantage or an advantage?

The decisive moment in this matter is the age of the female. Of course, if the age is more than twenty-five years old, the hymen becomes a problem and a source of complexes. Everything must happen in its own time. If there is a permanent partner, mutual love between a guy and a girl, then there is nothing scary in the act of love. On the contrary, it will become a source of joy and happiness for both partners.

Both parents must take care of the upbringing of the girl. It is impossible to instill proper self-esteem, value yourself and keep your honor in the face of constant family scandals. Very rarely, a chaste girl can come out of a troubled family, where drunken scandals and assault are the norm.

If there is a girl in the family...

Then both parents should make every effort to teach her chaste behavior and instill a healthy self-esteem. Nowadays, due to the difficult economic situation in the country and the loss of the value of family status, children grow up like a "weed". They are left to themselves, walking the streets without adult supervision and scooping information from the Internet about the darkest aspects of adult life. How can a girl grow up in such a chaste environment?

The main value was money and financial well-being. Young girls look at the behavior of peers, start smoking and drinking, dating boys not for the sake of feelings, but for the sake of false prestige. For the sake of the new "iPhone" they are ready for literally anything. And we, adults, make their world so. How can they grow in such an environment? And then on TV people are surprised at the next program "Let them talk" about a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl who gave birth to twins.

Virginity and chastity: the difference

"Virginity" is a physical concept. And "chastity" is spiritual. This is the main difference.

The spiritual world of each person can be beautiful, or it can be ugly. Greed, envy, acquisitiveness, betrayal - these qualities arrange a personal hell in the soul of every person during their lifetime. Without talking in a religious way, even from the point of view of the narrow-minded kitchen psychology, each of us recognizes that these qualities are destructive.

What does "chaste girl" mean in terms of secular society? Honest, kind, without evil thoughts, always ready to lend a helping hand to her neighbor. Only a narrow-minded person, having heard this word, begins to giggle and imagine indecent scenes from all famous films. A good education, a decent family and social circle, high-quality cinematography have a beneficial effect on the upbringing of girls and help them grow up as chaste and whole individuals.

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Chastity is a moral virtue, a state of mind and body of an individual, in which he chooses for himself bodily and spiritual purity. At present, the meaning of chastity is partly forgotten and for many it is even ridiculous and unnecessary. The state of affairs is such that every year the technological progress of the development of society gives more and more opportunities for the younger generations to avoid censorship from adults, parents and teaching mentors. But at the same time, little is given to the foundations and concepts of moral values, such as nobility, honor, chastity, modesty. To be such in today's reality, especially in megacities, is almost equal to the inability to survive. However, each of us has the possibility of choosing what we should be. A conscious choice in favor of virtues may not bring wealth and fame, but it will make it possible to remain oneself.

What is chastity

Let's try to rely on the word "chastity" itself. If we break it into two words, it turns out that the person who shows wisdom, remaining whole and whole, will be chaste. Me and my world are one balanced whole. Heraclitus (Heraclitus of Ephesus, ancient Greek philosopher, 544-483 BC) has a very beautiful definition of wisdom, and it sounds like this: “to be wise is the highest virtue and wisdom consists in speaking the truth and agreeing with her actions, questioning nature in order to know the truth.

The synonyms of chastity are such concepts as purity, morality, honor, purity, sanity, innocence, virginity.

Does the concept of chastity always refer to innocence and virginity? Until the 20th century, the chastity of a woman was of great importance, especially in the life of a girl, and was associated not only with her position in society, but also with the attitude of those around her, both men and women. If a girl of any class, be it Europe or Russia, protected her innocence before marriage, then in society she was guaranteed respect. For example, in Russia, since pagan times, a very serious and responsible ritual has been associated with the loss of virginity. When, in accordance with Christmas time and holidays, the wedding day was appointed, the guests gathered and the young people sat down between their parents and matchmakers, wishes, toasts and ritual songs began. When the time came for the newlyweds, a bed was prepared, and they were escorted by friends, matchmakers, parents and everyone who wished to songs and sayings to the room. This was considered the most crucial moment, since it was the signs of virginity - blood stains on the bride's underwear that determined her honesty before her future family and husband. If the girl was not innocent, she could be returned to her parents in disgrace, and in the future a very disappointing future awaited the whole family.

Lily parable. A beautiful white lily grew by the bank of a river. And she was so beautiful that the whirlpool began to seduce her. He whispered to what distance he would take the lily, what pleasures he would give her. And the tender lily, enchanted by promises and in anticipation of the new and unknown, was already ready to agree and jump into the pool. But then the nightingale intervened, who had long and passionately loved the lily. They argued for a long time, the nightingale begged her not to do this, for there was danger and darkness, and nothing more. But Lily disagreed. And in order to prove his love and save the tender and trusting lily, the nightingale soared up and fell like a stone into the pool. And the whirlpool swallowed up his noble and ardent heart forever. Only then did the beautiful lily realize from what danger she had been saved...

Just a few decades ago, Western and European societies relaxed their rigidity about the innocence of spouses before marriage. It must be said that Christian and Orthodox church schools to this day teach their pupils clear concepts of chastity, purity and purity.

High schools and universities in one of the provinces of China will teach the subject "the doctrine of life", which will deal with intersexual relations, love, the concepts of marriage, as well as the concept of chastity. Students are invited to write a letter to their son or daughter, which will tell what difficulties and temptations a person meets at the beginning of his journey, and most importantly, why they should begin to have sex only after marriage. What are the benefits of saving cleanliness, what is the significance of chastity in general for creating a happy future. Teaching manuals for this subject suggest chastity before marriage as the only way to stay healthy, avoid contracting venereal diseases, and avoid becoming addicted to unwanted pregnancies, which in general changes many destinies forever on a daily basis.

An interesting experience in matters of the importance of chastity and sexual education of one of the Anglican church schools in Great Britain. Here, Christian values ​​are presented to pupils as topics for reflection, and not unshakable dogmas. Pupils are taught to think and express an opinion about what is happening in the world and at the same time rely on Christian commandments. They teach tolerance for others and for themselves.

The very concept of chastity can be divided into two paradigms - religious (church) and social and everyday.

Consider first the social and domestic. At what age can a decision be made about whether a woman should remain chaste? Age psychology believes that just in puberty, i.e. puberty, when the issues of becoming and finding one's place as a teenager in one's community become the leading activity against the backdrop of an ever-increasing interest in sex, exploration of one's changing body, and discovery of the associated pleasures.

With different characters and social statuses, the decision whether to maintain chastity can be different. Here it is necessary to show and in order not to succumb to false behavior - if all my girlfriends are engaged in sex at fourteen (although this may not be the case), then I do not want to be different from them. On the part of parents, maximum tact and patience with regard to behavior should be shown, which are important not only for girls, future women, but no less for growing men.

Religious concept. This is a virtue aimed at defeating lust, especially intimate, since a person can lust for material values, and not just carnal pleasures.

In religion, the concept of chastity is closely connected with the concept of sin. A vow or vow helps a virtuous and religious person protect himself from sin. The vow exists as a stimulus for the fulfillment of the plan, whether it is victory on the battlefield or spiritual development.

vow of chastity

The vow of chastity is given directly to God and is considered irrevocable. The one who made such a vow no longer has the right to marry and have children, as well as engage in sex forever. The vow of chastity can be given by both men and women, both in monasticism and in the world. Monasticism, as well as nightlife - is translated as "solitary, solitary residence."

There are also similar concepts: ascesis (from the Greek “exercise”), as a type of spiritual practice, the purpose of which is to achieve a certain spiritual state or acquire supernatural abilities, is recognized in all religions and cultures; celibacy (lit. "celibacy"), brahmacharya - sexual abstinence; self-control over desires, striving for purity of thoughts, words and deeds always and under all circumstances.

The vow of chastity is perhaps one of the most difficult vows, as it goes against the very nature of man. Those who choose this path will face many temptations and difficulties in curbing their natural desires.

chastity belt

A chastity belt, chastity belt or "Venetian lattice" is a leather or metal device that mechanically makes sexual intercourse impossible.

The concept of "chastity belt" is mentioned for the first time in ancient Greek texts. Allegedly, it was created in order to protect slaves from unwanted pregnancy, which would interfere with the use of their labor.

Historically, the mention of the chastity belt most of all falls on the Middle Ages. When a husband left home, so that his wife would not be tempted to cheat, a leather or metal belt was put on her hips, a strip of metal or leather was attached in front, passed through the crotch and fixed at the back. The key to the belt was given to the husband. Today it is believed that the chastity belt is a fiction, if you rely on logic and ideas, how much you can walk in leather or metal "thongs" without damaging the skin, not to mention the impossibility of maintaining at least partial hygiene. But history knows a lot of examples of the torture of people, especially in the name of preserving the chastity of a woman. But over time, such belts began to be created not only for keeping female fidelity. Different models of belts for boys that prevent masturbation are still kept in some European museums.

Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"

“Chastity is integrity, a wise attitude to life, purity of soul and body, integrity of the mind, not polluted by passions.”
Nun Nina (Krygina), "Chastity of the Royal Family"

"Chastity is the comprehensive name for all the virtues."
John of the Ladder.

Chastity is a virtue that manifests spiritual and bodily purity, purity.
This is the inner purity of the soul, the integrity of thoughts and actions, which is not determined by external factors.

Chastity and nobility- two moral values ​​that are more associated with the concept of "Honor".

“Chastity” in the dictionary of Russian synonyms:
impeccability, impeccability;
sanity, chastity, sinlessness, girlhood, girlish color, innocence, purity, chastity, morality, innocence, virginity, honor, honesty, sinlessness, modesty.

Dictionary definitions

In Ushakov's Dictionary (Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language by Ushakov)
Chastity, chastity, pl. no, cf. (Books). Virtue, moral rigor.

In Ozhegov's Dictionary (Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary)
Chastity:
1. Same as virginity;
2.trans. Strict morality, purity.

Dahl's dictionary defines chastity closest to the modern interpretation:
“The chaste one who has preserved himself in virginity (youth is pure before marriage) and in marriage purity, immaculate, leading a life in marriage purely, immaculately.”

"Chastity" in the modern explanatory dictionary ed. "Great Soviet Encyclopedia" The term "chastity" was not found in the dictionary.

"Chastity" in the Christian religious tradition

The word "chastity" is a religious word, it is a spiritual word. And so, to become chaste, you have to become a little bit religious. The priests know this. The word, the concept of "chastity" appeared long before the birth of Rus'. Here are two very small examples.

Here is the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans. 3rd sih of the 12th chapter:
1) in Church Slavonic:
“I say, for the grace that was given to me, everyone who is in you should not be more wise than it is necessary to be wiser: but to philosophize in chastity, to whom God has divided is the measure of faith”
2) in Russian:
“According to the grace given to me, I say to each of you: do not think more of yourself than you should think; but think chastely, modestly, according to the measure of faith that God has given to each.

Here is the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, who lived in the 4th century
“Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk, do not give me. The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, grant me to Your servant.
Yes, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins, and do not condemn my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever, amen.

This shows that chastity is a spirit, it is a gift that you need to ask for and, having received, keep it very carefully.

Chastity is a religious concept. Chastity is not good or bad, it is either there or not. Virginity, marital fidelity, modesty, etc. it's all about chastity, but not chastity. Chastity begins with obedience: to parents, teachers, husband, wife... But how to stay in obedience if a person is not religious, if his assessments of everything are on the level: "good - bad." Yes, and that "good - bad", as he himself imagines them.

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov explains the concept of chastity as follows:
“Chastity is the avoidance of all kinds of fornication. Evasion from voluptuous conversations and reading, from the pronunciation of voluptuous, nasty and ambiguous words. Storage of the senses, especially sight and hearing, and even more touch. Modesty. Refusal of thoughts and dreams of prodigal.
Silence. Silence. Serving the sick and crippled. Memories of death and hell. The beginning of chastity is the mind that does not waver from lustful thoughts and dreams;
perfection of chastity - purity that sees God».

Saint Ambrose of Milan speaks of three forms of chastity:
“There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the chastity of spouses, the chastity of widowhood, and the chastity of virginity. We do not praise one of them to the exclusion of others. This is the wealth of church discipline.”

Definitions from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chastity is a positive moral characteristic of a person, which is revealed in the observance of a conscious self-prohibition on knowing, experiencing and doing everything that can weaken or destroy the ability to resist and resist evil.

In ordinary consciousness, the concept of chastity is associated with abstinence from sexual experiences. In this interpretation, chastity means:
A). refusal of a person from sexual relations in general,
b). abstaining from sexual relations before and outside of marriage.

In moral philosophy, in addition to this content, some special meaning was introduced into the concept of chastity: firstly, it was usually used as a characteristic of an unformed person; secondly, it expressed a proper attitude (namely, abstinence) not only to sexual, but also to bodily pleasures in general, as well as to strong passions, inclinations, unbridled impulses, etc. - to everything that can destroy the integrity of a person. Chastity was understood as the refusal of a young man from trials with which he is not yet able to cope.

Some cultures have oriented towards chastity as a universal ideal. In Christianity, this was partly manifested in the vow of celibacy of the entire Catholic clergy (celibacy) and Orthodox monasticism, and also in the fact that for the laity only marital sexual relations were recognized as permissible, the only justification having in the birth of children.

The concept of chastity is close in meaning to the concept of innocence. Like the state of innocence, the chaste state is distinguished by integrity, harmony, and purity. The essential feature of a chaste person is that he is not innocent in relation to good and evil, he knows their absolute difference, his thoughts, feelings and actions are in a field of tension formed by the main moral dichotomy, therefore they are subject to moral evaluation. Innocence is non-moral. In addition, the inner life of a chaste person is complex, differentiated, conscious. Due to these features, the preservation of inner harmony and harmony with the world, purity, peace in goodness requires a chaste person, in contrast to an innocent person, for whom such a state is natural and unconscious, to make certain efforts. The moral effort of the chaste is directed primarily to the observance of prohibitions. The bliss sustained as a result of such a moral effort was defined by P. A. Florensky as “rest from the tirelessly greedy and never satisfied desire, as self-conclusion and self-collection of the soul ...”.

Another concept close in meaning to chastity is the concept of moderation. If chastity is characteristic of the stage of a person’s spiritual development, then moderation is a virtue of a mature person, it manifests itself in stable self-control, in the ability to be the master of one’s feelings, desires and passions. If the chaste man protects himself from overwhelming trials, refusing everything that can plunge him into the power of temptations, then there are no temptations for the moderate. According to Aristotle's description, the moderate has no evil inclinations and does not experience pleasures contrary to right judgment. Moderation is a characteristic of a person striving for a morally justified or permissible, from the point of view of morality, goal, whether it be the highest good, selfless service to God, happiness, fulfillment of duty to oneself. Chastity, on the other hand, characterizes the spiritual maturation of a person, its main purpose is to protect the fragile soul and allow it to form.

In modern liberal ethical and philosophical thought, the concept of chastity has been moved to the sphere of sexuality. Thus, R. Scruton analyzes chastity in the context of sexual desire. Chastity here implies restraint and the fulfillment of only such a sexual desire, which is aimed at uniting with another (s), appearing (s) within the framework of this relationship in the fullness of his personality. Chastity is aimed at maintaining the integrity of a person, first of all - the unity of the sexual and personal in him. It manifests itself in a predisposition to avoid the fulfillment of sexual desire, when only the body of another is desired. Otherwise, both the subject and the object of desire turn out to be devoid of integrity: the corporality and personality of both turn out to be separated from each other, and their relationship becomes impersonal.

Chastity, strict morality, purity of relations between a girl and a boy. In such a relationship, the virginity of the girl, the purity of the youth is preserved. The basis of high moral purity is modesty - a quality acquired by a person with age. Modesty in relation to the opposite sex is especially strongly expressed with the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. During this period, young people begin to seriously make friends, fall in love. Friendship, and then love, between a boy and a girl is a serious test of their morality. At first, happiness seems to be the opportunity to touch the hand of a loved one, then - to cuddle up to him, to kiss. But a person quickly gets used to what is permitted, and now a new "forbidden fruit" beckons, inflames passions. Having fallen into a flood of unknown sensations, young people cannot always understand their feelings, correctly assess the prospects for relationships with each other. Therefore, girls should weigh well the pros and cons of premarital sex, and not be guided by a momentary impulse. At all times, chastity was prescribed for young people before marriage, although public opinion forgave the young man more easily and asked the girl more severely.

The point here is not only in the influence of church morality, but also in the fact that only a woman bears biological responsibility for an intimate relationship. She is to give birth, she is to raise a child if the father refuses him. Nature itself imposed a great responsibility on the girl, denoting virginity even anatomically. Moreover, in many cases, it is the girl who sets the boundaries for the young man of acceptable relationships with herself. She sets the tone for love relationships, makes them vulgar or highly spiritual, truly beautiful.

No less important in interpersonal relationships is the position of the young man. No wonder the measure of man's dignity has always been considered his attitude towards a woman. A real man is just distinguished in relation to his beloved woman by restraint and correctness. Today, the moral requirements for men and women have become less stringent. However, even today, without love, respect, affection, a sense of duty, intimacy comes down to just an ordinary physiological act. That is why youthful restraint, girlish purity, pride, chastity are not outdated concepts. These are questions not only of morality, but also of future health and happiness.

“Chastity is not so much a physiological and not only a moral category, it is a worldview category that reflects a holistic picture of being, a holistic and wise image of the world.”
Vera Abramenkova "Education of chastity"

“Chastity is the sovereignty of both the individual and society in relation to evil.”
Artemy Ermakov "The State and Chastity"

Sayings of great and famous people about Chastity.

Albert Camus (1913-1960, French writer and philosopher): “Unbridled sensuality leads to the conviction that the world is meaningless. Chastity, on the contrary, returns meaning to the world.

John Krestyankin (1910-2006, clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, archimandrite): “The beauty of the soul is in chastity and truth, the health of the soul is in courage and prudence.”

Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799, French playwright and publicist): "Heaven always favors innocence!"

Pavel Gumerov (b.1974, Russian priest, writer): "It is necessary to keep clean not only sight, but also the mind. Impure, prodigal thoughts, like dirt, stain, defile the soul and heart."

Viktor Ivanovich, in order to get closer to the truth of chastity education in a child, tell us in general terms whether this quality is innate or acquired? Where to look for the foundations of chastity? Is a newborn baby chaste?

In this matter, I would consciously want to avoid identifying this concept with virginity. The “chastity” of a person must be considered in a broad sense: its harmony and hierarchy as a whole. Unfortunately, the word that seems to be understandable to everyone, directly meaning “whole” and “integrity”, in everyday interpretation is considered precisely as the integrity of the body, and the destruction of chastity is perceived as the loss of innocence. Chastity in the broadest sense was in a person the only time in the world - at the moment: everything in him was perfect, harmonious, hierarchical. As a result of the fall in man, the harmony and
hierarchy: each instance began to fight for power, the body actually occupied the soul, putting it at its service, and together they began to resist the spirit, block it, imposing their own meanings and goals. Although a modern person enters this world with a built-in ability for chastity, this quality must someday manifest itself in a person, by analogy with a photographic image showing through on photographic paper, and gradually build up.

Having created a man and a woman, the Lord immediately created a house of chastity - a family. And if we are talking about the upbringing of chastity in our day, first of all, we need to pay attention to how our family is arranged, what is the father and what is the mother like, in what relationship do they have with each other, with children, what do they offer and present to children? Chastity develops in children only thanks to the example of parents, that is, everything starts with us - it is not an evil environment that distorts and destroys chastity in a child, but, first of all, his wrong upbringing! Chastity is not recorded in the genotype, it does not “live” in moral prescriptions either. No teachings, prescriptions and calls “be good, be well-mannered, be polite, be such and such”, as in the song “become the way I want”, - they give nothing! Chastity is God's plan for a person and exists in the organization of the joint life of children and adults. Just as adults without children are meaningless beings, so a child without adults is an impossible being. Therefore, the first commandment of a parent, the first task of adults is to look at their own way of life: do we live correctly. The actions of the child are determined by the voluminous picture of the world that he develops in his parental home! Consequently, chastity, as an internal fundamental quality of a person, is assimilated (note, not appropriated!) by a child through the joint existence of adults and children.

“Living” between us, it becomes that inner core, that absolute value and strength that allows a growing person to resist and defend himself in any life situations. If this child-adult community is destroyed, then all hopes for chastity are simply meaningless, because those very vital conditions will not remain.

In view of the tripartite nature of man, a blow to chastity can fall anywhere. For example, bodily sensuality excites his mental and spiritual, and for someone corruption can begin at the spiritual level - with emotions, experiences, pictures, etc. It is known that in addition to the memory of time, there is imprinting, that is, memory-printing, when a picture from a child's life is imprinted in the subconscious, and then pops up and turns out to be a provocateur of a person's actions in his later life.

A direct threat to chastity is the connivance and irresponsibility of parents, when they are simply too lazy to think: all trifles, "whatever the child amuses, if only he does not cry"! In the upbringing of an integral perception of the world, that is, chastity, every little thing is important: for example, many modern toys are aimed at destruction, alienation and separation of the child from the family. Instead of playing with a child, a modern mother often shoves a toy at him just so that he gets behind her: “You mess with her, but for now I’ll take care of other important things.” But through a toy, the child opens up the facets of the world into which he will have to enter and live!

Understand that we need to return to ourselves the original meanings of our existence, only then can we realize that raising a child is a colossal responsibility, colossal art and work, involving a vision of the perspective of a growing person: “I am already now, while my just born baby is two days old. , should think about what will happen to him in twenty or thirty years.

Today, a parent is put in conditions where he must, whether he knows or does not know, whether he knows how or not, take care only of how to professionally prepare the child first for school, then professionally prepare the younger student for high school, then professionally prepare for the university. There is a total "professionalization": parents are concerned about how to equip the child with competencies as much as possible - only in this case he will be socially more "successful". What kind of chastity can we talk about when a small person is formatted and specialized for requests and expectations from outside? This is what they replaced with the task of normal cultivation of a viable, resilient, cheerful, and therefore chaste person - it was reduced, at best, to medical use! And this is a violation in education, which I would formulate in the form of a kind of anthropological law: "Any prematurity: intellectual, physical, emotional-sensual, is corruptive."

Developmental psychologists know that today's action will come around not tomorrow, not even the day after tomorrow, but much later. The modern parent is deprived of this sense of time and delayed consequences. The word "corruption" means mortification (from "decay" - dying), causing what is a molecule, the cause of death. That is, prematureness is not just the destruction of chastity, it is its mortification.

The current total physical non-chastity, not to mention moral non-chastity, was the result of that very accelerating process of any prematureness in education. Its participants are both parents and society - everyone should understand their measure of responsibility.

We do not even realize that we are giving in to some kind of unspoken order, an irresistible impulse: “we must be in time, we must not be late.” And what does it mean? This means: forget about God, family, father and mother - everything later, they will not go anywhere, the main thing is not to be late "there", the main thing is to be in time "there"! But in reality it turns out: I managed to “go there”, but there was nothing left in my hands. They are surprised, for example, why this girl suddenly went to a casting in Moscow, and then does not know how to return to her own village to her parents! Yes, here, at the casting, they "died" in her mind, although they are physically alive - an abyss formed between the child and the parents!

- If we talk about the education of chastity in boys and girls, is there a difference in approaches?

Without understanding the starting point, the nature of man and woman in God's plan, we will not be able to seriously understand what is happening to us.

Each newborn comes into this world with the task of realizing God's plan in it. To our great regret, many people simplify the task of instilling chastity in children: "Give me a recipe for how to do it." And the task is more global: it is necessary to educate not abstract chastity, but a boy-man-father and a girl-woman-wife! It is pointless to talk about the chastity of a boy if there is no upbringing of a male boy and a father. It makes no sense to talk about the chastity of a girl if there is no upbringing of a girl-woman, and not just a woman, but also a mother. The fact is that "boy" is the maiden name of the "man", as "child" is the maiden name of the person, and "girl" is the maiden name of the "woman".

The ever-memorable, Orthodox priest, psychologist, teacher, public and scientific figure, for the first time seriously considered this issue from a spiritual point of view, and not from the point of view of only the age and sex characteristics of a man or woman. Before him, at best, the behavioral characteristics of boys and girls were described: for example, why the first is inherent in playing cars, and the second in dolls. And what is behind this, what does it mean? A man and a woman, both have their own mission in the joint building of a family - a small Church. Building a family is based on two pillars: a man and a woman, father and mother, and the whole question is how these pillars grow, that is, how to grow worthy builders of a chastity house from a boy and a girl!

In his book “Introduction to Christian Psychology,” Father Boris calls the upbringing of boys the cornerstone of pedagogy and says: “What kind of boys we are raising today - the whole fate of our state will depend on this.” The most important moment in the upbringing of chastity in a boy, in his opinion, should be the upbringing of patriotism, which means awareness of the native land as one’s own, and oneself as responsible for it, for its well-being, awareness of oneself in dialogue with the living history of the earth, among the generations that inhabited this earth. This is, finally, the formation of readiness, without judging, to forgive the mistakes of fathers and grandfathers and atone for them with your life. The latter can be called straightening the path of the clan (family) and the people as a whole. He notes two more fundamental masculine qualities that need to be educated in boys. This courage is the foundation of the boy's character, and sacrifice is the pinnacle of his spiritual appearance.

And then he lists important moral qualities, psychological abilities, which, in his opinion, are relevant for the upbringing of today's boys: the concept of sin, the experience of repentance in God; the experience of grace, joy and peace after sincere prayer, intimacy with nature, sacrifice, a sense of shame and pity, tolerance for any other position against the background of a calm and deep awareness of one's own - and all this should be deployed, in his opinion, in time, experimentally. Father Boris especially emphasizes that the lack of spiritual education gives birth to idleness of the soul in children. “Idleness, emptiness, lack of demand for the soul arises even with the formal workload of children in various schools, sections and circles. But a holy place is never empty. Purely energetically, the soul of a child is gradually filled with energies that have a graceless, and often openly demonic nature. This is associated with excessive dreaminess and romanticism, often associated with a partial loss of a sense of reality. The depth of depression in many of today's children is increasingly combined with suicidal tendencies. He says that the reason for this is the lack of courage and idleness, noting that modern boys and girls have a common moral vice - this is the idleness of the soul, and mechanical employment in circles and sections only partially solves the problem of this emptiness of the soul.