Adultery - what is it? Sin of adultery in Orthodoxy

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

In this article we will talk with you about an important topic today - adultery. Many people have heard that this kind of sin is considered a punishable crime, baseness, dishonor, pollution of the soul, etc. But if you ask: “Adultery - what is it?”, not everyone can clearly answer. Therefore, in order for your knowledge in this area to become more extensive, below we will try to discuss the mentioned issue in as much detail as possible. However, first, let's remember what sin is and what deeds the church classifies as sinful.

Deadly sins

The list of violations of religious commandments (namely, such a definition is the concept of "sin") is very extensive, but the main, or mortal, are far from all. The latter include those vices that give rise to other impartial acts. We will not describe them in detail, since the topic of our conversation is somewhat different, we will limit ourselves to simply listing. So, what does the church mean by the phrase "mortal sins"? The list is represented by a family (in Eastern Christiantraditions - eight) positions:

1. Pride.
2. Envy.
3. Anger.
4. Despond.
5. Greed.
6. Gluttony.
7. Adultery (fornication).

Here we will talk about the latter in more detail.

Adultery: what is it?

Adultery is a great sin and is part of the 10 commandments. As a rule, it is associated with treason and infidelity. In the old days, the one who committed such a sin was subject to the death pen alty, because an act of this kind was regarded as an unholy and diabolical act. Succumbing to love and sexual attraction to the opposite sex, a person violates marital fidelity, destroys the family. In addition, extramarital sexual intercourse between a woman and a man is considered adultery. This issue is especially acute in Muslim countries. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty pronounces the following words: “Do not approach adultery, for it is an abomination and a bad way.” Also under the prohibition of this commandment is divorce, lust and lust in relation to other people's wives and husbands.

What exactly is adultery?

And yet, what do people mean when they talk about such a sin as adultery? What it is? Is it only an extramarital intimate life, a relationship with someone else's companion, or maybe something else? Many today cannot distinguish sin from human relationships that are full of love and further plans for a happy life together. In order for youwere able to understand this issue, here are a few examples that vividly characterize sinful sexual relationships:

1. A single unmarried guy had sexual intercourse with a married lady - this is a vivid example of adultery, which will be punished in the future.
2. A married man had sexual intercourse with a married lady - this also applies to the sin we are considering, for a woman's heart belongs to another.
3. Intimate relationships between relatives (brother and sister, niece and uncle, etc.) are also a mortal sin.

In addition to the above, adultery can be safely attributed to any sexual fantasy in which there is a woman who belonged to another man. So, for example, Yeshua said: "… everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Now the unresolved question remains what is not adultery, and whether it is possible to enter into an affair with an unmarried woman? Let's dwell on this point in more detail:

1. A relationship between a single unmarried guy and an unmarried girl is not adultery only if the partners plan to enter into a marriage union in the near future. If, after a sexual intercourse, a guy does not dare to propose a hand and heart to a lady, this is called fornication.
2. A man who is already married, having slept with an unmarried single woman, is obliged to propose to her and invite her to his house in the place of his second wife, only in this casesexual intercourse will not be considered adultery, otherwise this kind of intimate relationship is called fornication.

Punishment for adultery

What is fornication and adultery, we have more or less sorted out, now we need to talk about the consequences and punishments that anyone who has committed this kind of sin can endure. For manifested lust for the opposite sex, betrayal, dishonor, or for any other similar sin, an unmarried man deserves one hundred strong lashes, in addition to this, he is expelled from society for exactly a year. This is how adultery is punished in Islam. And, we dare to assure you, these are still flowers. And it does not matter who was convicted of a misconduct - a man or a woman, both will be punished. Although, of course, there is more demand from women. As for adulterers who are married, or were before they committed a sin, they are treated with the most cruelty, throwing stones to their last breath. It is believed that an adulterous person will surely burn in hell, and the only salvation for him is the atonement for sins and sincere repentance.

What specifically do Muslims consider adultery?

Adultery in Islam is considered a terrible crime. Let us note that the commandment dedicated to the sexual baseness of a person has the name "zina" among them. For Muslims, "zina" is copulation with a female without a Sharia agreement. According to them, it is because of this sin that the world today suffers terrible catastrophes and disasters. Apart fromTherefore, the sons of Allah believe that any intimate relationship with a woman who gave her innocence and heart to another man will sooner or later lead to collapse and the end of the world. The Prophet Muhammad also noted that all people who allow themselves to commit adultery are deprived of faith. If faith leaves a person, he weakens and becomes unprotected. Well, the question is: “Adultery. What is it for Muslims? may be considered closed. To recap:

1. Firstly, for Muslims, "zina" is an extramarital sexual relationship with another woman.
2. Secondly, this is a longed-for look towards a woman.
3. Third, even a lewd word falls into this category.

About this sin, the Messenger of Allah said: “The adultery of the eyes is the sight, the adultery of the tongue is the words.” Allah himself calls on all young people who today have the opportunity to get married to do it as quickly as possible, because the only chance to protect yourself from unnecessary looks, lewd words and zina is marriage. If at the moment there is no such possibility, fasting is the only salvation.

What is the price for sweet sin?

Today, for the sin of adultery, Muslims experience severe punishment - hadd. It implies corporal torture. However, such a punishment is possible only if the sinner resides in the territory of Islam, is mentally balanced and not retarded, and is aware of sinful adultery. As you can see, everything is pretty serious. By the way, in the old days the punishment was no less severe. So,if the married woman was not a virgin, she was stoned to death, and if the husband gave a false accusation, he had no right to divorce her and was obliged to pay her father 100 shekels. Also, the death pen alty awaited the man who allowed himself to dishonor the betrothed bride. If a free woman was subjected to violence, only the guilty one was killed, but if the unfortunate woman was a slave, both were punished.

Orthodoxy and adultery

And what is adultery in Orthodoxy? First of all, this sin means treason, an intimate relationship between the betrothed and a married person, as well as the sexual intercourse of a free person with the betrothed. Exchanging rings during the wedding, the husband and wife make a vow of their fidelity and love before God, the Cross, the Gospel. Having violated the previously promised, they thereby, as it were, deceive their witnesses. The sin of adultery in Orthodoxy does not imply corporal punishment of the offender, however, it causes condemnation from God. In addition, it is believed that a delinquent person is divided into two halves, as if torn between a spouse and a mistress, or between a spouse and a lover. Many people believe that the separated body dies sooner or later, taking with it all the bonds of marriage. Therefore, we can conclude that a broken promise of fidelity and love for each other will always be considered a sin, which, one way or another, will affect the life of a traitor or traitor. And remember that a marriage made before God cannot be dissolved. Is it that someone fromspouses will go to another world.

1 Cor. 7:39: "A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only in the Lord."

What are the consequences for a person who commits adultery?

Like any sin, adultery is fraught with consequences that can play a cruel joke on a person. We propose to analyze this issue in more detail.

1. Many believers believe that a person who commits adultery steals a piece of flesh from his neighbor, thereby committing theft.
2. By committing a sin, a person automatically exists in this world on a par with animals.
3. It is believed that the adulterer is possessed by an unclean spirit, he is equated with the devil, who is unable to cleanse himself from sin. The Bible called this state a deep human abyss.
4. Muslim zina contributes to the destruction of human flesh. Sin destroys the he alth of the guilty. It is believed that the sinner himself chooses the path for himself, which as a result will lead him to death.
5. A person who commits adultery loses his property. Anyone who lived richly and bathed in luxury before committing a sin will surely become a beggar.
6. Sinning, a person gives rise to gossip and gossip, incurs disgrace, which directly harms his reputation. The saying “When a person dies, notoriety continues to live!” is appropriate here!
7. Adultery carries the death pen alty. “If anyone commits adultery with a married wife, if anyone commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, let themput to death both the adulterer and the adulteress.”
8. Not repenting of their sins, a person destroys the soul. As they say, lust accompanies the sinner and his soul to the flames of hell.
9. The adulterer destroys not only his own soul, but also the soul of the chosen one. In fact, this is one of the most terrible consequences of adultery, because, having sinned, the guilty one drags the partner’s soul to hell.
10. The Lord can be angry with an adulterer and deprive him of reason and reason.
11. In a family where there is adultery, there will never be love and understanding.

Woman and adultery

Once, in order to put Jesus in an awkward position for Him in front of all the people, the religious leaders brought a harlot, who would later be called "the woman taken in adultery." According to the law of Moses, she was to be killed by throwing stones at her. The leaders skillfully took advantage of the situation, offering to destroy the fallen female. In fact, their only goal was to tempt Jesus, to catch him on a crooked word in order to have a reason for universal condemnation. But all their efforts were in vain. The only thing that Jesus said was something like this: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Of course, the square where the crowd had gathered began to clear up, and in the end, only the sinner and Him remained on the street. Since then, everything has changed, the former adulteress repented and promised not to return to her former way of life. The moral is this: it is never too late to repent of your sins, the main thing is to realize your desire in timeto exist righteously in our world.

Atone for the sin of adultery

In the Quran, Allah says: “Verily, Allah forgives those who commit an evil deed out of ignorance and soon repent. Allah forgives them. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise!” Many people know how to repent for the many misdeeds committed in life and not repeat them again. But remorse is half the battle. Redemption is coming for him. And here everything is much more complicated. How to atone for the sin of adultery? A lot of people turn with such a question to a spiritual mentor or to a priest in a church. The question is, of course, a difficult one. As mentioned above, adultery is one of the deadly sins that destroys human lives. Nevertheless, as the ministers of the church say, if you sincerely and truly repent with great faith, ask for forgiveness, the Almighty will forgive the sinner and give you a chance for further existence. In order to protect yourself from the temptation of sin in the future, there is one good remedy - prayer from adultery and fornication.

How to protect yourself and your soul?

This question must be answered by each person independently. After all, someone, after reading this article, will treat all of the above with disdain; someone in their life has already encountered adultery more than once, but does not know how to deal with it, and therefore will not try; there are those people who will draw the right conclusions and try to live their lives with dignity. How to protect yourself from temptation?Probably, here you just need faith, faith in yourself and in your life partner. Sincere, pure love, respect and mutual understanding, reason and the ability to control oneself will do their job: you will definitely live a long and happy life full of meaning with your soulmate. And finally, we will advise only one thing: fill your life with good, kind, bright deeds, respect your relatives and loved ones, love your wives, husbands and children, pray for your he alth and those around you and, most importantly, never commit adultery!