Family Support - Chastity Education

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Family Support - Chastity Education

About Chastity

We’ve all heard of abstinence. We can abstain from eating chocolate or candy or even from partaking in certain activities. Abstinence means choosing not to do something. This can also be applied to sexual activity when we refer to sexual abstinence. But, chastity is more than just abstinence; whereas abstinence focuses on what you can’t have, chastity focuses on what you CAN HAVE…God’s great plan that He has for you and your sexuality—a plan that you can live to its fullest.

Chastity respects the gift of sexuality God has given us as beautiful and good. It applies to all of us in all stages of our lives whether single or married. Chastity is a virtue that helps us to achieve purity of mind and body by using our sexuality the way God intended.

Guidelines for Dating

1. Be choosy about the people you date. It’s good to date those sharing your convictions.

2. Make definite plans before going out. Avoid long periods of time with “nothing to do.”

3. Wear attractive but decent clothing.

4. Approach your date with courtesy and respect. This is someone’s future wife or husband.

5. Stay away from intimate and private places. Know the places you like and dislike. Privacy and late hours can lead to unwanted activities.

6. Don’t underestimate the power of “the moment.” Set a standard of dating behavior. Don’t go beyond holding hands, hugging and short kissing.

7. Double date as often as possible. It doubles the fun and makes conversations more stimulating.

8. Know your friends. They can drag you up or down.

9. Remember the purpose of dating. It’s to get to know your date’s personality, values, goals, likes and dislikes and to develop a friendship.

10. Have fun and don’t forget: It’s OK to say no.

Sexual Exposure Chart

A chart is available that shows a visible image displaying the number of persons you have been exposed to based on the number of sexual partners you have had. It is a two-sided "chart" (8 1/2" X 14").

Downloadable Sexual Exposure Chart

Note: each time you have sexual exposure to another partner, your chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease goes up dramatically.

“When you have had sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have had sex with for the last ten years, and everyone they and their partners have had sex with for the last ten years.”
-C. Everett Koop, M.D., Former U.S. Surgeon General

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