The Act of Marriage
Encyclopedia
The Act of Marriage: The Beauty of Sexual Love is a self-help
book, written by Christian
writers Tim
and Beverly LaHaye
.
, mostly women, to achieve sexual satisfaction
. The book was first printed in 1976 and boasts a readership of over 2.5 million readers. While the book is written to be understood by anyone, the primary audience is meant to be Christians. Indeed, the book is noteworthy for opening up dialogue among Christians about their sexuality—especially female sexuality and sexual satisfaction. Unlike other self-help books which address human sexuality, The Act of Marriage helps readers identify how their spirituality and religious beliefs can enhance their love lives.
Since its initial publishing in 1976, The Act of Marriage has been published again in 1998 as The Act Of Marriage, Revised & Updated and again in 2000 as The Act of Marriage after 40: Making Love for Life. Rolling Stone
magazine criticized the book as "an explicit Christian sex manual, condemning 'petting,' abortion
and homosexuality
." However, many Christian groups hail the book as a milestone in contemporary Christian sex education
.
It has been endorsed by "Pastors, doctors, and psychologists alike". This claim of professional endorsement, however, is made by the publisher without any accompanying data which would allow for verification and there have been no statements of this nature made by the American Medical Association or the American Psychological Association.
. They cite several examples in both the Old Testament
and New Testament
where intimate behavior between married persons is commended.
:
Overall, the chapter is concerned with convincing wives that it is okay for their husbands to want to have sex with them.
Overall, the chapter is concerned with convincing husbands that women can and need to be sexually satisfied, too.
created sex, in spite of how it is misused by many.
Overall, the chapter is concerned with convincing couples that sex is a blessing from God, but that it should only be experienced within the bonds of marriage.
and female sex organs
and how they respond to sexual stimulation
. Some counsel is given on how to avoid or reduce pain when breaking
the hymen
. Emphasis is placed on the clitoris
as the seat of the female orgasm
. The differences between male and female orgasms are also outlined.
, the act itself
, and the "afterglow" that follows completion of the act. They stress the importance of the husband waiting until his wife is fully aroused before entering her vagina and proceeding to orgasm. They recommend that a couple use their honeymoon
for experimentation so that they can best learn how to please their partner. The importance of clitoral stimulation to achieve female orgasm is again stressed. Male and female sexual responses are again compared and a brief discussion of positions is given.
started training women to exercise
their pubococcygeus muscle in order to curb postpartum incontinence
. It was discovered that a side effect of this exercise was to improve women's ability to experience orgasm. The authors recommend an exercise regimen for women seeking to improve their sexual response.
). They recommend, in order of reliability, birth control pills, condom
s, diaphragms
, vaginal foam
, the rhythm method, and coitus interruptus
. They recommend against permanent methods, such as vasectomy
and having tubes tied
.
they conducted. Their intent is to show that a) Christians have more fulfilling sex lives than their non-Christian counterparts and b) Christians don't have the Victorian attitudes
about sex that they are stereotyped as having.
, adultery
, birth control
, communication, counseling, dating, fantasy, fornication
, free love
, homosexuality
, masturbation
, menopause
, oral sex
, petting, privacy
, "September sex", etc.
The Act of Marriage at Barnes and Noble
The Act of Marriage at Christianbook.com
The Act of Marriage at the author's website
The Act of Marriage at the publisher's website
Interview with Beverly LaHaye
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
book, written by Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
writers Tim
Tim LaHaye
Timothy F. LaHaye is an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker. He is best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.-Early life:LaHaye was born in Detroit,...
and Beverly LaHaye
Beverly LaHaye
Beverly LaHaye is an American Christian conservative activist and author.-Biography:Beverly LaHaye is best known for The Act of Marriage, a Christian sex self-help bestseller she co-authored in 1976 with her husband Tim LaHaye, and for founding Concerned Women for America in 1979 in San Diego,...
.
Introduction
The Act of Marriage is concerned with helping couplesMarriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, mostly women, to achieve sexual satisfaction
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
. The book was first printed in 1976 and boasts a readership of over 2.5 million readers. While the book is written to be understood by anyone, the primary audience is meant to be Christians. Indeed, the book is noteworthy for opening up dialogue among Christians about their sexuality—especially female sexuality and sexual satisfaction. Unlike other self-help books which address human sexuality, The Act of Marriage helps readers identify how their spirituality and religious beliefs can enhance their love lives.
Since its initial publishing in 1976, The Act of Marriage has been published again in 1998 as The Act Of Marriage, Revised & Updated and again in 2000 as The Act of Marriage after 40: Making Love for Life. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine criticized the book as "an explicit Christian sex manual, condemning 'petting,' abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
." However, many Christian groups hail the book as a milestone in contemporary Christian sex education
Sex education
Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
.
It has been endorsed by "Pastors, doctors, and psychologists alike". This claim of professional endorsement, however, is made by the publisher without any accompanying data which would allow for verification and there have been no statements of this nature made by the American Medical Association or the American Psychological Association.
Chapter 1: The Sanctity of Sex
This chapter sets out to convince the reader that sex is holy and sacred, not dirty—an attitude they have found to be prevalent among the couples they have counseledRelationship counseling
Relationship counseling is the process of counseling the parties of a relationship in an effort to recognize and to better manage or reconcile troublesome differences and repeating patterns of distress...
. They cite several examples in both the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
where intimate behavior between married persons is commended.
Chapter 2: What Lovemaking Means to a Man
In this chapter the authors set out five benefits that men derive from intimacy with their wivesWife
A wife is a female partner in a marriage. The rights and obligations of the wife regarding her spouse and others, and her status in the community and in law, varies between cultures and has varied over time.-Origin and etymology:...
:
- It satisfies his sex driveLibidoLibido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
, which is usually greater than his wife's. - It boosts his self imageSelf imageA person's self-image is the mental picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change, that depicts not only details that are potentially available to objective investigation by others A person's self-image is the mental picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change,...
. - It increases the love he feels for his wife and makes it less likely that he will engage in extramarital affairs.
- It calms him down and makes him less prone to find fault with his family.
- It provides one of the most exciting experiencesOrgasmOrgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
of his life.
Overall, the chapter is concerned with convincing wives that it is okay for their husbands to want to have sex with them.
Chapter 3: What Lovemaking Means to a Woman
In this chapter the authors set out five benefits that women derive from intimacy with their husbands.- It fulfills her sense of womanhood.
- It reassures her of her husband's love. They point out that a woman needs to feel companionship loveInterpersonal relationshipAn interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring. This association may be based on limerence, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the...
, compassionate loveCompassionCompassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
, romantic loveRomantic loveRomance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
, and affectionate loveAffectionAffection or fondness is a "disposition or rare state of mind or body" that is often associated with a feeling or type of love. It has given rise to a number of branches of philosophy and psychology concerning: emotion ; disease; influence; state of being ; and state of mind...
from her husband before she will feel ready to accept passionate lovePassion (emotion)Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something....
. - It satisfies her sex drive.
- It helps her to relax and to not be high-strung.
- It is the ultimate experience when properly done.
Overall, the chapter is concerned with convincing husbands that women can and need to be sexually satisfied, too.
Chapter 4: Why God Created Sex
In this chapter the authors present five reasons that GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
created sex, in spite of how it is misused by many.
- It is needed to propagateSexual reproductionSexual reproduction is the creation of a new organism by combining the genetic material of two organisms. There are two main processes during sexual reproduction; they are: meiosis, involving the halving of the number of chromosomes; and fertilization, involving the fusion of two gametes and the...
the human race. - It provides a married couple the means to give mutual pleasure.
- It allows spouses to be fulfilled with each other and to be less tempted by other sexual opportunitiesExtramarital sexExtramarital sex occurs when a married person engages in sexual activity with someone other than his or her marriage partner.Where extramarital sexual relations breach a sexual norm it may also be referred to as adultery, fornication, philandery, or infidelity...
. - The husband will have claim over his wife and the wife will have claim over her husband.
- It creates a unique union and method of communication between two people that cannot be shared with anyone else.
Overall, the chapter is concerned with convincing couples that sex is a blessing from God, but that it should only be experienced within the bonds of marriage.
Chapter 5: Sex Education
This chapter explains the maleMale reproductive system (human)
The human male reproductive system consists of a number of sex organs that are a part of the human reproductive process...
and female sex organs
Female reproductive system (human)
The female reproductive system contains two main parts: the uterus, which hosts the developing fetus, produces vaginal and uterine secretions, and passes the anatomically male person's sperm through to the fallopian tubes; and the ovaries, which produce the anatomically female person's egg cells...
and how they respond to sexual stimulation
Sexual stimulation
Sexual stimulation is any stimulus that leads to, enhances and maintains sexual arousal, and may lead to ejaculation and/or orgasm...
. Some counsel is given on how to avoid or reduce pain when breaking
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
the hymen
Hymen
The hymen is a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. It forms part of the vulva, or external genitalia. The size of the hymenal opening increases with age. Although an often practiced method, it is not possible to confirm with certainty that a girl or woman is a...
. Emphasis is placed on the clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
as the seat of the female orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
. The differences between male and female orgasms are also outlined.
Chapter 6: The Art of Lovemaking
This chapter outlines the basic steps taken during a lovemaking session. It includes preparations that should be taken, foreplayForeplay
In human sexual behavior, foreplay is a set of intimate psychological and physically intimate acts between two or more people meant to create desire for sexual activity and sexual arousal. Either or any of the sexual partners may initiate the foreplay, and they may not be the active partner during...
, the act itself
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, and the "afterglow" that follows completion of the act. They stress the importance of the husband waiting until his wife is fully aroused before entering her vagina and proceeding to orgasm. They recommend that a couple use their honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
for experimentation so that they can best learn how to please their partner. The importance of clitoral stimulation to achieve female orgasm is again stressed. Male and female sexual responses are again compared and a brief discussion of positions is given.
Chapter 7: For Men Only
This chapter gives eleven suggestions on how men can satisfy their wives.- Educate yourself on the female anatomy.
- Learn to control your ejaculationEjaculationEjaculation is the ejecting of semen from the male reproductory tract, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. It is usually the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. In rare cases ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease...
so it does not happen prematurelyPremature ejaculationPremature ejaculation is a condition in which a man ejaculates earlier than he or his partner would like him to. Premature ejaculation is also known as rapid ejaculation, rapid climax, premature climax, or early ejaculation....
. - Concentrate on the woman's satisfaction, not your own.
- Remember what arouses a woman (companionship, compassionate, romantic, and affectionate love).
- Control your temperAngerAnger is an automatic response to ill treatment. It is the way a person indicates he or she will not tolerate certain types of behaviour. It is a feedback mechanism in which an unpleasant stimulus is met with an unpleasant response....
. - Avoid the use of crude wordsProfanityProfanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
. - Avoid speaking of private matters with friends and colleaguesGossipGossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
. - Avoid smelling badBody odorBody odor or body odour, sometimes colloquially abbreviated as B.O., is the smell of bacteria growing on the body. The bacteria multiply rapidly in the presence of sweat, but sweat itself is almost completely odorless to humans....
. - Avoid rushing the act.
- Have open communication with your wife.
- Love your wife as a person.
Chapter 8: For Women Only
This chapter gives nine suggestions on how women can satisfy their husbands and achieve satisfaction themselves during the sex act.- Keep a positive mental attitudeOptimismThe Oxford English Dictionary defines optimism as having "hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favourable or hopeful view." The word is originally derived from the Latin optimum, meaning "best." Being optimistic, in the typical sense...
. This is broken down into three parts: have a positive attitude about sex, a positive attitude about yourself,, and a positive attitude about your husband. - # Recognize that many inhibitionsSexual inhibitionA sexual inhibition is a conscious or unconscious constraint or curtailment by a person of behaviour relating to specific sexual matters or practices or of a discussion of sexual matters....
need to be abandoned in the bedroom. - Remember that your husband is stimulated by sight.
- Avoid nagging, criticizing, or ridiculing your husband.
- Remember that while you may not be in the mood for sexual relations when your husband makes advances, you are capable of responding and "getting into the mood."
- Keep your feminine parts cleanFeminine hygieneFeminine hygiene is a general euphemism used to describe personal care products used by women during menstruation, vaginal discharge, and other bodily functions related to the vulva...
. - Communicate with your husband and tell him what pleases you.
- PrayPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
and ask God for help in achieving sexual satisfaction.
Chapter 9: The Unfulfilled Woman
This chapter declares that many wives are not as satisfied by sexual encounters as they could be because they fail to achieve orgasm. Eleven reasons are given why women might experience dissatisfaction with sex and suggestions are given on how to overcome those problems.- Ignorance on both her part and her husband's part on how to achieve clitoral orgasm.
- Feelings of hate or hostility towards someone else, especially her husband.
- Feelings of guilt, especially those brought on by premarital sexPremarital sexPremarital sex is sexual activity, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex, practiced by persons who are unmarried. Although it has always been practiced, in the West it has increased in prevalence since the mid-1950s...
premarital or extramarital indiscretions. - Fear that she will not be able to be satisfied or satisfy her husband.
- Being too passive during the act.
- A husband who ejaculates before she has climaxed
- Fatigue.
- Illness.
- Being overweightOverweightOverweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
. - Being unwilling to surrender herself to her husband.
- Having weak vaginaVaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
l muscles.
Chapter 10: The Key to the Feminine Response
This chapter explains how Dr. Arnold H. KegelArnold Kegel
Arnold H. Kegel M.D., F.A.C.S. was a gynecologist who invented the Kegel Perineometer and Kegel exercises as non-surgical treatment of genital relaxation...
started training women to exercise
Kegel exercise
A pelvic floor exercise, more commonly called a Kegel exercise , consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor, which are now sometimes colloquially referred to as the "Kegel muscles". Several tools exist to help with these exercises, though many are ineffective...
their pubococcygeus muscle in order to curb postpartum incontinence
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is any involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a profound impact on quality of life. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition but is under-reported to medical practitioners...
. It was discovered that a side effect of this exercise was to improve women's ability to experience orgasm. The authors recommend an exercise regimen for women seeking to improve their sexual response.
Chapter 11: The Impotent Man
This chapter gives nineteen reasons why husbands may experience inability to maintain an erection or ejaculate and gives suggestions on how to overcome those problems.- The onset of age: they will lose vital energy as they get older.
- Feelings of hate or hostility towards someone else, especially his wife.
- Fear (of rejection, of being unable to satisfy his wife, of being compared with other men, of failure to maintain erection or to ejaculate).
- Ridicule from his wife.
- Feelings of guilt, especially those brought on by premarital or extramarital indiscretions.
- Having unreasonable expectations about how he will be able to perform as his age increases.
- ObesityObesityObesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
. - Poor physical fitnessPhysical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
. - Heavy smokingSmokingSmoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
. - Mental pressure from outside concerns.
- DepressionDepression (mood)Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. - Drugs and alcohol.
- MasturbationMasturbationMasturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
. - If his wife has weak vaginal muscles.
- A wife who is too passive during the act.
- Nagging from his wife.
- A dominating wife.
- Premature ejaculation.
- Retarded ejaculation.
Chapter 12: Sane Family Planning
The authors express their belief that a husband and wife should produce as many children as they can reasonably manage and deplore several reasons some give for avoiding parenthood. They counter with several reasons why parents should seek to have and raise children. They then give suggestions for contraception that they believe are appropriate for Christians (because they are not abortifacientAbortifacient
An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. Abortifacients for animals that have mated undesirably are known as mismating shots....
). They recommend, in order of reliability, birth control pills, condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
s, diaphragms
Diaphragm (contraceptive)
The diaphragm is a cervical barrier type of birth control. It is a soft latex or silicone dome with a spring molded into the rim. The spring creates a seal against the walls of the vagina.-Use:...
, vaginal foam
Spermicide
Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that eradicates sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienced by couples using only spermicide is higher than that of couples using other methods...
, the rhythm method, and coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptus, also known as the rejected sexual intercourse, withdrawal or pull-out method, is a method of birth-control in which a man, during intercourse withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina prior to ejaculation...
. They recommend against permanent methods, such as vasectomy
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
and having tubes tied
Tubal ligation
Tubal ligation or tubectomy is a surgical procedure for sterilization in which a woman's fallopian tubes are clamped and blocked, or severed and sealed, either method of which prevents eggs from reaching the uterus for fertilization...
.
Chapter 13: Sex Survey Report
The authors report the results of a surveyOpinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
they conducted. Their intent is to show that a) Christians have more fulfilling sex lives than their non-Christian counterparts and b) Christians don't have the Victorian attitudes
Victorian morality
Victorian morality is a distillation of the moral views of people living at the time of Queen Victoria's reign and of the moral climate of the United Kingdom throughout the 19th century in general, which contrasted greatly with the morality of the previous Georgian period...
about sex that they are stereotyped as having.
Chapter 14: The Missing Dimension
In this chapter the authors advocate that the most important element to a satisfying sex life and a satisfying life overall is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They advocate a Christian lifestyle and suggest that a shared belief in Christ will help a couple overcome incompatibilities.Chapter 15: Practical Answers to Common Questions
In this chapter the authors field questions on a variety of topics, including abortionAbortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
, birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
, communication, counseling, dating, fantasy, fornication
Fornication
Fornication typically refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other. For many people, the term carries a moral or religious association, but the significance of sexual acts to which the term is applied varies between religions, societies and cultures. The...
, free love
Free love
The term free love has been used to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage. The Free Love movement’s initial goal was to separate the state from sexual matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery...
, homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
, menopause
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
, oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
, petting, privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
, "September sex", etc.
External links
The Act of Marriage at AmazonThe Act of Marriage at Barnes and Noble
The Act of Marriage at Christianbook.com
The Act of Marriage at the author's website
The Act of Marriage at the publisher's website
Interview with Beverly LaHaye
Beverly LaHaye
Beverly LaHaye is an American Christian conservative activist and author.-Biography:Beverly LaHaye is best known for The Act of Marriage, a Christian sex self-help bestseller she co-authored in 1976 with her husband Tim LaHaye, and for founding Concerned Women for America in 1979 in San Diego,...