Category: Being threatened to be kicked out

Letters to an Asexual #47 (Religion and Asexuality)

This is #47 of a series in which I read correspondence between me and people who have questions, comments, or–more often–misconceptions about asexuality.

This video is about perspectives on asexuality within different religions. I share some other asexual people’s experiences and thoughts in a religious context.

Some religious quotes I mentioned:

“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (NIV: 1 Corinthians 7:8-9).

On why Paul, who remained celibate, recommends marriage for those who desire sex: “I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.” (NIV: 1 Corinthians 7:6-7).

“[I]f one’s healthful condition, integrity of heart, and peace of soul reside in celibacy then that is better for him, since these are things that are desired of marriage. If one can reach these without marriage then celibacy causes no harm.” (The Sustenance of the Hearts (Qut al-qulub) —Abu Talib al-Makki)

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (Bereshit 1:28)

“Every man is obligated to marry a woman in order to reproduce. Anyone who is not having children is as if they were killers.” (Shulhan Arukh, Even Ha’Ezer 1:1)