Purity Pledges vs. Abstinence Pledges

守貞與禁慾宣誓

美國青少年的性氾濫導致少女懷孕(teen pregnancy)的事件層出不窮,造成極大的社會問題,為遏制此一歪風,除了家庭和學校加強性教育之外,近年興起所謂的Purity Pledges和Abstinence Pledges,在保守和宗教右翼勢力影響大的地區,此一現象尤為顯著。Purity是純潔之意,Abstinence則是禁慾,Pledges是宣誓或誓詞。純潔在此指白璧無瑕,所以Purity Pledges有時也以Virginity Pledges表示,兩者的意思相同,都指婚前要守身如玉,做處女(virgin)一直到洞房花燭之夜。要做到這一步,就必須abstain from sexual intercourse(禁絕性交),這是Abstinence Pledges的由來。可以說,Purity Pledges和Abstinence Pledges是相輔相成,合而為一的。

現在讓我們看看這些誓詞是怎麼說的。誓詞分為兩類,一類是由父親宣誓不惜訴諸戰爭以保護女兒的purity或virginity。下面即是父親Purity Pledges的例子:I,(daughter's name)'s father, choose before to God to war for my daughter's purity. I acknowledge myself as the authority and protector of my daughter's virginity, and pledge to be a man of integrity as I lead, guide, and pray over my daughter and her virginity.(我是〔女兒的名字〕的父親,選擇在上帝面前宣誓,不惜以戰爭保護我女兒的純貞。我宣告自己是我女兒貞操的權威與保護者,我誓言當我帶領、引導女兒,並為她的貞潔禱告時,要做一有為有守的人,也是我家的至高主宰。)

另一類是女兒向父親宣誓要做處女,其誓詞如下:I(name)pledge my purity to my father, my future/husband and my Creator. I recognize that virginity is my most precious gift to offer to my future husband. I will not engage in sexual activity of any kind before marriage but will keep my thought and my body pure as a very special present to the one I marry.(我向我的父親、我未來的丈夫和造物者宣誓誓守貞潔。我承認貞操是給我未來丈夫最寶貴的禮物。我婚前不會有任何的性行為,並保持思想和身體的純潔,做為給我要嫁的人非常特別的禮物。)

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