Editing Religion and sexuality (section)

====Protestantism====
{{main|Fornication#Mainstream Protestantism}}
[[File:United States Adultery Laws Enacted by Year by State.svg|thumb|Laws against [[adultery]] in the United States in 1996 and when these laws were enacted]]
Views over sexuality in [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches differ.

Conservative Protestants assert that any and all sex outside of marriage, including that conducted between committed, engaged or cohabiting couples, is the sin of fornication.<ref>{{cite book |title=Luther on Women|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BE8yAl6K0tQC&q=sex|author=Susan C. Karant-Nunn and Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks|access-date=5 June 2014|page=11|year=2003|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-65884-3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Helm|first=Paul|title=Sex, Marriage, and Family in John Calvin's Geneva, Volume 1: Courtship, Engagement, and Marriage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IlWH2jHaj1YC&q=john+calvin+cohabitation&pg=PA417|publisher=Reformation21|access-date=3 October 2014|date=July 2006|isbn=9780802848031}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://oratoiredulouvre.fr/faq/sexualite-et-foi.php|title=xxx|first=Marc Pernot, pasteur de l'Eglise Protestante Unie de|last=France|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920143847/https://oratoiredulouvre.fr/faq/sexualite-et-foi.php|archive-date=20 September 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://oratoiredulouvre.fr/faq/j-ai-du-mal-a-trouver-la-paix-apres-une-aventure-avec-un-homme-qui-ne-m-aimait-pas.php|title=J'ai du mal à trouver la paix après une aventure avec un homme qui ne m'aimait pas ?|first=Marc Pernot, pasteur de l'Eglise Protestante Unie de|last=France|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920144451/https://oratoiredulouvre.fr/faq/j-ai-du-mal-a-trouver-la-paix-apres-une-aventure-avec-un-homme-qui-ne-m-aimait-pas.php|archive-date=20 September 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Social Statement on Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust |date=19 August 2009 |publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |url=http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/SexualitySS.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/SexualitySS.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Unlike Roman Catholics, certain Protestants do not disapprove of [[Christian views on masturbation#Protestantism|masturbation]] due to the lack of a Biblical injunction against the act, including mainline<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fragen.evangelisch.de/frage/3072/position-zur-masturbation |title=Position zur Masturbation |language=de|website=Fragen.evangelisch.de |date=2013-05-30 |access-date=2017-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Reaction to sex report pours in on Lutherans |journal=National Catholic Reporter |volume=30 |issue=3 |date=November 1993 |page=12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcusa.org/get/resources/resource/12036/ |title=Presbyterians and Human Sexuality 1991 |website=Pcusa.org |access-date=2017-06-30 |archive-date=2022-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116044227/https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/_resolutions/human-sexuality1991.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and conservative denominations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://christianity.net.au/questions/masturbation-a-sin |title=Is masturbation a sin? {{pipe}} Questions & Answers |website=Christianity.net.au |access-date=2017-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701183001/http://christianity.net.au/questions/masturbation-a-sin |archive-date=2017-07-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among those Protestants who do not view masturbation as being sinful, there are various restrictions, such as making sure it does not lead to use of pornography or looking lustfully at people or mutual masturbation or addiction to the act. It must also not be undertaken in a spirit of defiance against God.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://oratoiredulouvre.fr/faq/la-masturbation-est-elle-un-peche.php |title=La masturbation est-elle un péché ? |website=Oratoiredulouvre.fr |access-date=2017-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707062047/https://oratoiredulouvre.fr/faq/la-masturbation-est-elle-un-peche.php |archive-date=2017-07-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===== Lutheran and Reformed churches =====
The [[Confessional Lutheran]] tradition, which includes several denominations worldwide (such as the [[Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod]]) takes a traditional stance towards human sexuality, teaching that "God created male and female, sexual human beings".<ref name="Sonnenberg2013">{{cite web |last1=Sonnenberg |first1=Roger |title=The Gift of Sexuality |url=https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/y0hee6DUKO7K2yXDxveNoiXdEcvSQ4og |publisher=[[Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod]] |access-date=12 December 2024 |language=en |date=2013}}</ref> Confessional Lutherans hold that "Upon creating man and women and the rest of creation, God observed that 'it (was) good,' including the gift of sex."<ref name="Sonnenberg2013"/> The Confessional Lutheran denominations view "pornography, homosexuality and cohabitation" as sinful.<ref name="Sonnenberg2013"/>

All 20 [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] and [[Calvinism|Reformed]] churches of the [[Evangelical Church in Germany]] welcome LGBT members,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ekd.de/lebensgemeinschaft_2000.html |title=Verläßlichkeit und Verantwortung stärken |language=German |date=2000}}</ref> as well as the [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]].<ref name="brunne" /> In these Lutheran and Reformed churches gay ministers are permitted in ministry and gay married couples are allowed in their churches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/eine-neue-evangelische-sexualethik.1278.de.html?dram:article_id=225003|title=- Eine neue evangelische Sexualethik|website=Deutschlandfunk Kultur|date=20 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2015-08/sexualitaet-evangelische-kirche-ekd-grundsatzerklaerung| title = Zeit.de: Sex auf Evangelisch (german), 2015| newspaper = Die Zeit| date = 8 August 2015| last1 = Welt| first1 = Christ &.}}</ref>

Inside the Lutheran [[Church of Sweden]], the Bishop of Stockholm, [[Eva Brunne]] is a [[lesbian]] in a registered partnership with Gunilla Lindén, who is also an ordained priest of the Church of Sweden.<ref name="brunne">{{Cite web |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_116555_ENG_HTM.htm |title=SWEDEN: Lesbian priest ordained as Lutheran bishop of Stockholm. Episcopal News Service. |access-date=2011-06-24 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102013508/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_116555_ENG_HTM.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===== Anglicanism =====
The [[Anglicanism|Anglican Church]] upholds human sexuality as a gift from a loving God, designed to be between a man and a woman in a monogamous, lifetime union of marriage. It also recognises singleness and dedicated celibacy as Christ-like. It reassures people with same-sex attraction they are loved by God, and are welcomed as full members of the [[Body of Christ]]. The church leadership has a variety of views in regard to homosexual expression and ordination. Some expressions of sexuality are considered sinful, including "promiscuity, prostitution, incest, pornography, paedophilia, predatory sexual behaviour, and sadomasochism (all of which may be heterosexual and homosexual), adultery, violence against wives, and female circumcision." The church is concerned with pressures on young people to engage sexually and encourages abstinence.<ref name="Section I.10 - Human Sexuality"/>

In the Anglican Church, there is a large discussion over the blessing of gay couples, and over tolerance of homosexuality. The discussion is more about the aspect of love between two people of the same-sex in a relationship than it is about the sexual aspect of a relationship.<ref name="Vernon">{{cite journal|last1=Vernon|first1=Mark|title=A church at war: Anglicans and homosexuality|journal=Theology & Sexuality|date=January 2006|pages=220–222}}</ref>

===== Methodism =====
The [[Free Methodist Church]] teaches:<ref name="FMC2020"/>
{{quotation|Sexual intercourse is God’s gift to humanity, for the intimate union of a man and woman within marriage. In this relationship, it is to be celebrative (Hebrews 13:4). Marriage, between one man and one woman, is therefore the only proper setting for sexual intimacy. Scripture requires purity before and faithfulness within and following marriage.<ref name="FMC2020">{{cite web |title=Sanctified Sexuality |url=https://fmcusa.org/wp-content/uploads/PP-FMCUSA-Sanctified-Sexuality.pdf |publisher=[[Free Methodist Church]] |access-date=12 December 2024 |language=English |date=27 February 2020}}</ref>}}
The [[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]] teaches: "We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman."<ref name="AWMC2014">{{cite book|title=The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference)|year=2014|publisher=[[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]]|location=[[Salem, Ohio|Salem]]|language=en|pages=21}}</ref> It additionally holds that those who remarry after divorce are living in a state of adultery.<ref name="AWMC2014"/>

The [[United Methodist Church]] permits its clergy to officiate same-sex weddings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=What is the Church's position on homosexuality? |url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-is-the-churchs-position-on-homosexuality |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=The United Methodist Church |language=en}}</ref>

=====Metropolitan Community Church=====
The [[Metropolitan Community Church]], also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, has a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families and communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mccchurch.org |title=Metropolitan Community Churches - The Inclusive Church - All are welcome |website=Mccchurch.org |access-date=2017-06-30}}</ref>