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Fornication
FORNICATIONSexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married to each other. Under the common law, the crime of fornication consisted of unlawful sexual intercourse between an unmarried woman and a man, regardless of his marital status. If the woman was married, the crime was adultery. Today, statutes in a number of states declare that fornication is an offense, but such statutes are rarely enforced. On the theory that fornication is a victimless crime, many states do not prosecute persons accused of the offense. Under modern-day legislation, if one of the two persons who engage in sexual intercourse is married to another person, he (or she) is guilty of adultery. Statutes in some states declare that if the woman is married, the sexual act constitutes adultery on the part of both persons, regardless of the man's marital status. Fornication is an element of a number of sex offenses such as rape, incest, and seduction. Although penalties are seldom enforced, they usually consist of a fine, imprisonment, or both. In November of 1996 an Idaho prosecutor brought fornication charges against a teenage couple in an effort to curb teen pregnancy. |
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Cite this article
"Fornication." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Fornication." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437701883.html "Fornication." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437701883.html |
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fornication
fornication Various kinds of irregular sexual relationships are covered by this word but the OT takes a fairly relaxed view of most of them. Rahab the harlot is far from being stigmatized (Josh. 2); she comes in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1: 5). But Lev. 18 represents a harsher attitude. Advice to young men after the Exile was that irregular relationships are inadvisable (Prov. 7: 5–27); but where associated with religious prostitution or heathen rites opposition is total (Lev. 21: 7, 9).
In the NT a metaphorical use is common (e.g. Matt. 12: 39) as well as the literal use (1 Cor. 6: 18). Fornication is condemned as being incompatible with the sovereignty of God, whose intention is to restore all mankind in undivided loyalty to himself. Nevertheless Jesus taught that in the Kingdom outcasts and prostitutes would take precedence over the self-righteous (Matt. 21: 31 ff.). |
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Cite this article
W. R. F. BROWNING. "fornication." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "fornication." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-fornication.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "fornication." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-fornication.html |
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fornication
fornication XIII. — (O)F. — late L. fornicātiō, -ōn-, f. fornicārī whence fornicate XVI), f. fornix, fornic- arch, vault, vaulted room such as was tenanted by the lower orders and prostitutes; see -ATION.
So fornicator XIV. — late L. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "fornication." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "fornication." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-fornication.html T. F. HOAD. "fornication." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-fornication.html |
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