Evangelicalism

===Sexuality===
[[File: Wedding, Nicaragua.JPG|thumb|right| Wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church of [[Rivas, Nicaragua|Rivas]], [[Baptist Convention of Nicaragua]], 2011.]]
In matters of [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], several evangelical churches promote the [[virginity pledge]] (abstinence pledge) among young evangelical Christians, who are invited to commit themselves, during a public ceremony, to [[sexual abstinence]] until [[Christian marriage]].<ref>John DeLamater, Rebecca F. Plante, ''Handbook of the Sociology of Sexualities'', Springer, USA, 2015, p. 351</ref> This pledge is often symbolized by a [[purity ring]].<ref>Kathleen J. Fitzgerald, Kandice L. Grossman, ''Sociology of Sexualities'', SAGE Publications, USA, 2017, p. 166</ref>

In some evangelical churches, young adults and unmarried couples are encouraged to marry early in order to live a sexuality according to the will of God.<ref>Noah Manskar, [https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2014/08/12/southern-baptists-double-marriage/13894197/ Baptists encourage marrying younger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220161204/https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2014/08/12/southern-baptists-double-marriage/13894197/ |date=February 20, 2021 }}, tennessean.com, USA, August 12, 2014</ref><ref>Maïté Maskens, [http://journals.openedition.org/espacepolitique/1847 Le traitement de la virginité chez les migrants pentecôtistes à Bruxelles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129170930/https://journals.openedition.org/espacepolitique/1847 |date=November 29, 2020 }}, L'Espace Politique, 13 | 2011-1, France, posted on May 6, 2011, paragraph 28</ref>

A 2009 American study of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reported that 80 percent of young, unmarried evangelicals had had sex and that 42 percent were in a relationship with sex, when surveyed.<ref>Anugrah Kumar, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/are-most-single-christians-in-america-having-sex.html Are Most Single Christians in America Having Sex?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202042150/https://www.christianpost.com/news/are-most-single-christians-in-america-having-sex.html |date=December 2, 2020 }}, christianpost.com, USA, September 28, 2011</ref>

The majority of evangelical Christian churches are against [[abortion]] and support adoption agencies and social support agencies for young mothers.<ref>Robert Woods, ''Evangelical Christians and Popular Culture: Pop Goes the Gospel, Volume 1'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 44</ref>

[[Masturbation]] is seen as forbidden by some evangelical pastors because of the sexual thoughts that may accompany it.<ref>David K. Clark, Robert V. Rakestraw, ''Readings in Christian Ethics: Issues and Applications'', Baker Academic, USA, 1994, p. 162</ref><ref>Mark D. Regnerus, ''Forbidden Fruit : Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers'', Oxford University Press, USA, 2007, p. 115</ref> However, evangelical pastors have pointed out that the practice has been erroneously associated with [[Onan]] by scholars, that it is not a sin if it is not practiced with fantasies or compulsively, and that it was useful in a married couple, if his or her partner did not have the same frequency of sexual needs.<ref>Hilde Løvdal Stephens, ''Family Matters: James Dobson and Focus on the Family's Crusade for the Christian Home'', University of Alabama Press, USA, 2019, p. 95-97</ref><ref>Eromosele Ebhomele, [https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/24/masturbation-not-a-sin-oyakhilome/ Masturbation Not A Sin – Oyakhilome] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818053807/https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/02/24/masturbation-not-a-sin-oyakhilome/ |date=August 18, 2020 }}, pmnewsnigeria.com, Nigeria, February 24, 2012</ref>

Some evangelical churches speak only of [[sexual abstinence]] and do not speak of sexuality in marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginity pledges for men can lead to sexual confusion — even after the wedding day |url=https://www.washington.edu/news/2014/08/16/virginity-pledges-for-men-can-lead-to-sexual-confusion-even-after-the-wedding-day/ |access-date=July 20, 2022 |website=UW News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 11, 2013 |title=Many churches don't talk about sex beyond virginity, virginity, virginity {{!}} Joy Bennett |url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/11/christian-church-obsessed-with-virginity |access-date=July 20, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>Sara Moslener, ''Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence'', Oxford University Press, USA, 2015, p. 14</ref> Other evangelical churches in the United States and Switzerland speak of satisfying [[Human sexuality|sexuality]] as a gift from God and a component of a Christian marriage harmonious, in messages during [[Worship service (evangelicalism)|worship services]] or conferences.<ref>Timothy J. Demy PhD, Paul R. Shockley PhD, ''Evangelical America: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Religious Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2017, p. 371</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Emma |date=November 9, 2014 |title=The Warrior Wives of Evangelical Christianity |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/11/the-warrior-wives-of-evangelical-christianity/382365/ |access-date=July 20, 2022 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2016 |title=400 jeunes pour une conférence sur le sexe |url=https://www.christianismeaujourdhui.info/400-jeunes-pour-une-conference-sur-le-sexe/ |access-date=July 20, 2022 |website=Christianisme Aujourd'hui |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Many evangelical books and websites are specialized on the subject.<ref>Luiza Oleszczuk, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/interview-famed-author-gary-chapman-talks-love-marriage-sex-70265/ Interview: Famed Author Gary Chapman Talks Love, Marriage, Sex] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101203549/https://www.christianpost.com/news/interview-famed-author-gary-chapman-talks-love-marriage-sex-70265/ |date=November 1, 2020 }}, christianpost.com, USA, February 25, 2012</ref><ref>Kelsy Burke, ''Christians Under Covers: Evangelicals and Sexual Pleasure on the Internet'', University of California Press, USA, 2016, p. 31, 66</ref> The book ''[[The Act of Marriage: The Beauty of Sexual Love]]'' published in 1976 by Baptist pastor [[Tim LaHaye]] and his wife Beverly LaHaye was a pioneer in the field.<ref>Jonathan Zimmerman, [https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/jonathan-zimmerman-tim-lahaye-sex-ed-legacy-article-1.2731036 Tim LaHaye's sex-ed legacy: Before he wrote novels about the apocalypse, he and his wife opened right-wing Christian married couples' eyes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122011130/https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/jonathan-zimmerman-tim-lahaye-sex-ed-legacy-article-1.2731036 |date=January 22, 2021 }}, nydailynews.com, USA, July 29, 2016</ref>

The [[Christianity and homosexuality#Evangelical churches|perceptions of homosexuality in the Evangelical Churches]] are varied. They range from [[Liberal Christianity|liberal]] to [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] or [[Moderate evangelical theology|moderate]] [[conservatism|conservative]] and neutral.<ref>Jeffrey S. Siker, ''Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia'', Greenwood Publishing Group, USA, 2007, p. 112</ref><ref>William Henard, Adam Greenway, ''Evangelicals Engaging Emergent'', B&H Publishing Group, USA, 2009, p. 20</ref> A 2011 Pew Research Center study found that 84 percent of evangelical leaders surveyed believed homosexuality should be discouraged.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 22, 2011 |title=Global Survey of Evangelical Protestant Leaders |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2011/06/22/global-survey-of-evangelical-protestant-leaders/#social-and-political-attitudes |access-date=August 9, 2020 |website= |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> It is in the fundamentalist [[conservatism|conservative]] positions that there are [[anti-LGBT rhetoric|antigay activists]] on TV or radio who claim that homosexuality is the cause of many social problems, such as terrorism.<ref>"Some notable fundamentalist conservative evangelical television and radio speakers frequently blame gays in America for an assortment of social problems, including terrorism (…)" in Roger E. Olson, ''The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology'', Westminster John Knox Press, USA, 2004, p. 315</ref><ref>Jeffrey S. Siker, ''Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia'', Greenwood Publishing Group, USA, 2007, p. 114</ref><ref>Ralph R. Smith, Russel R. Windes, ''Progay/Antigay: The Rhetorical War Over Sexuality'', SAGE Publications, USA, 2000, p. 29</ref> Some churches have a conservative moderate position.<ref>David L. Balch, Muddling Thought: The Church and Sexuality / Homosexuality by Mark G. Toulouse, '' Homosexuality, Science, and the "Plain Sense" of Scripture '', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2007, p . 28</ref> Although they do not approve homosexual practices, they claim to show sympathy and respect for homosexuals.<ref>Stephen Hunt, ''Contemporary Christianity and LGBT Sexualities'', Routledge, UK, 2016, p. 40-41</ref> Some evangelical denominations have adopted neutral positions, leaving the choice to local churches to decide for [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>Jacqueline L. Salmon, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/18/AR2007081801167.html Rift Over Gay Unions Reflects Battle New to Black Churches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102093337/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/18/AR2007081801167.html |date=November 2, 2020 }}, washingtonpost.com, USA, August 19, 2007</ref><ref>Dan Dyck et Dick Benner, [https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/delegates-vote-allow-space-differences Delegates vote to allow space for differences] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109054016/https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/delegates-vote-allow-space-differences |date=November 9, 2020 }}, canadianmennonite.org, Canada, July 20, 2016</ref> There are some international evangelical denominations that are [[gay-friendly]].<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 603</ref><ref>Adrian Thatcher, ''The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender'', Oxford University Press, UK, 2015, p. 368</ref>

[[Christian marriage]] is presented by some churches as a protection against sexual misconduct and a compulsory step to obtain a position of responsibility in the church.<ref>Erik Eckholm, [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/us/22pastor.html In the Beginning Unmarried Pastor, Seeking a Job, Sees Bias], nytimes.com, USA, March 21, 2011</ref> This concept, however, has been challenged by numerous sex scandals involving married evangelical leaders.<ref>Thomas Reese, [https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/signs-times/what-catholics-and-southern-baptists-can-learn-each-other-about-sex-abuse What Catholics and Southern Baptists can learn from each other about sex abuse crisis], ncronline.org, USA, February 18, 2019</ref><ref>Zachary Wagner, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/july-august/wagner-purity-culture-non-toxic-masculinity.html In Search of Non-Toxic Male Sexuality], christianitytoday.com, USA, June 12, 2023</ref> Finally, evangelical theologians recalled that [[celibacy]] should be more valued in the Church today, since the gift of celibacy was taught and lived by [[Jesus Christ]] and [[Paul of Tarsus]].<ref>Steve Tracy, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/july10/2.37.html Sex and the Single Christian], christianitytoday.com, USA, July 7, 2000</ref><ref>Pieter Valk, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/november-web-only/valk-case-for-vocational-singleness.html The Case for Vocational Singleness], christianitytoday.com, USA, November 25, 2020</ref>