From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The factual accuracy of this article is disputed.
Some people are not sexually attracted to anyone, and describe themselves as asexual. This may be viewed as a form of sexual orientation in itself, although it is sometimes claimed that it is a psycho-sexual problem.
Several religions or religious sects believe that asexuality is a spiritually superior condition. Some Christian religions, based on 1 Corinthians 7:9 ("1 Corinthians 7:9 (RSV) But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.") endorse sex only within marriage, and then only as a lesser choice than chastity or sexual abstinence. In the Catholic Church, chastity is one of the vows that one takes in order to become a nun or priest. See also celibacy. This idea that asexuality is the higher way is sometimes referred to as asexism.
In other creeds, children may be considered a gift of God that should not be refused, and/or a means of spreading religion.
In fiction, John Braine's novel The Jealous God (1964) is a good example of sex mainly seen as a sin. On the other hand, in his science fiction novel Distress (1995), Greg Egan imagines a world where "asex" is one out of five or seven acknowledged gender settings.
Asexuality is not to be confused with asexual reproduction.
