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Preferred term

fornication laws  

Definition

  • Although the term fornication derives from the Latin word for brothel, fornix being the vaults under which prostitution was practiced in ancient Rome, the term typically refers to illicit sexual intercourse. The Bible warns against fornication, and the New Testament lays down the principles of Christian sexuality that had been zealously disseminated by Paul in the Christian circles of the 2nd century. [Source: The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encylopedia; Fornication Laws]

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URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/fornication_laws

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