Are virgins who were raped still virgins?

[DevinCamary]

I know that they were physically violated, but still pure of heart. I was nearly a victim to it but didn't succeed. I do know that many people around the world struggle with this, and it has been in my head.

Are virgins who were raped still virgin? What does the bible say about the virginity of a rape victim?

 

[Unofficial Reverand Alex]

Hard to say; I think this will become more a conversation over the meaning of the word "virgin" as opposed to actually giving a good answer.

The best we can do is see the purity in rape victims, ourselves included if need be. Legalism is an easy trap to fall into, where we can think, "Oh, he/she's not a virgin, so I shouldn't be with them", through no fault of the victim.

Rape is a horrific crime that leaves so many questions; I have no direct experience with it, but 2 very good friends of mine were almost raped, so I'm more familiar with it than I'd like to be.

Prayers going out for all of you, victims & perpetrators, to find the peace & love that Jesus so dearly wants to give you all; kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy).

 

[mark kennedy]

No they are not, they are just innocent victims of a crime.

 

[Unofficial Reverand Alex]

By the way, this website has great resources for all sorts of questions about Christian sexuality; not sure how much is specifically on rape, but Theology of the Body is something life-changing when you come to understand it, and if everyone did, rape would be unheard of. A lot about inappropriate content, dating, and other aspects of sexuality.

Hope it helps, to at least direct your thoughts in better directions.

Chastity Project

God be with you.

 

[Go Braves]

Their virginity was cruelly stolen from them. The Bible and no decent person would ever shame the victim, judge her, or hold her at fault in any way.

 

[drjean]

Yes. The Bible speaks of such unmarried women in different ways, those who are totally undefiled are spoken of as "chaste virgins". Those who may have been assaulted are "just" virgins. (And of course there are the harlots and the married...)

 

[Sketcher]

I know that they were physically violated, but still pure of heart. I was nearly a victim to it but didn't succeed. I do know that many people around the world struggle with this, and it has been in my head.

Are virgins who were raped still virgin? What does the bible say about the virginity of a rape victim?

Why do you ask? Why does the question seem to weigh heavy on you?

 

[Saucy]

As a rape victim, I still consider myself a virgin. Virginity is a social construct really. I don't think it's something that can or should be forcibly taken from you, but is rather a choice you make (hopefully within marriage).

 

[ViaCrucis]

I want to address this question very differently than the way it is being asked, because I think a major issue here is how the victim of rape might feel--to say that rape took away their virginity can be emotionally and psychologically more damaging because they may feel that they are somehow less valuable than they were before.

That isn't the case. Whether or not a person is a virgin or not has nothing to do with their value as a human being. If you had consensual sex, and perhaps now regret having done so for whatever reason that may be, you are not less valuable, you are not somehow "damaged", none of those things. If you are a victim of sexual violence, you are not less valuable, you are not "damaged", you are still a human being created in the image of God, with all the inherent dignity that comes with being human.

In the Christian religion we do speak of the virtue of chastity, that making a conscience choice to abstain from sex, either before marriage or as part of a commitment to a life of celibacy; but it is vitally important that in honoring chastity as a virtue of faith we do not promote an unhealthy obsession with "purity". When we focus on "purity" we dehumanize human persons and treat them as commodity, commodity with mutable value based on how "pure" we imagine them to be. That is inherently cruel, violent, and immoral. Instead, chastity is to be valued as a conscious and conscientious choice of disciplining the natural appetites toward a focus of love toward our neighbor in imitation and obedience to Christ. It isn't about "purity", but an attitude of love and compassion.

Virginity, as a concept, does not define who or what a person is; in particular as regards their human worth as God's good creation.

The only one who should be ashamed is the one committing the act of cruel violence against another human being. It is not the victim who is broken or damaged, it is the perpetrator--for in committing cruel and violent acts against others we dehumanize ourselves, we deny the Divine Image in which we were made. It is not the victim who should feel shame, but the perpetrator.

To the victims of such violence the Church must always be a place of healing, welcome, acceptance, and protection. As part of her high calling in Christ.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[DevinCamary]

Yes. The Bible speaks of such unmarried women in different ways, those who are totally undefiled are spoken of as "chaste virgins". Those who may have been assaulted are "just" virgins. (And of course there are the harlots and the married...)

Hmmmm mind if I know where exactly that is said please?

 

[Go Braves]

Elizabeth Smart Is Standing Up for Rape Victims—And Tearing Down Purity Culture

 

[DevinCamary]

Hard to say; I think this will become more a conversation over the meaning of the word "virgin" as opposed to actually giving a good answer.

The best we can do is see the purity in rape victims, ourselves included if need be. Legalism is an easy trap to fall into, where we can think, "Oh, he/she's not a virgin, so I shouldn't be with them", through no fault of the victim.

Rape is a horrific crime that leaves so many questions; I have no direct experience with it, but 2 very good friends of mine were almost raped, so I'm more familiar with it than I'd like to be.

Prayers going out for all of you, victims & perpetrators, to find the peace & love that Jesus so dearly wants to give you all; kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy).

Yeah, those are really good points and i do see victims as pure. but virginity I still am unsure if rape counts. And I am not as good with bible verses so that's why i ask here.

 

[Radagast]

I know that they were physically violated, but still pure of heart. I was nearly a victim to it but didn't succeed. I do know that many people around the world struggle with this, and it has been in my head.

Are virgins who were raped still virgin?

St Augustine has a lengthy discussion of this in his book City of God (he wrote about this because of the rapes of Christian women being done by invading barbarians).

Short answer: yes. Purity is a matter of the soul. An aggressor may harm the body, but this does not touch the soul. Therefore virgins who were raped are still pure; they are still virgins. They day when they consent to sex is still in the future.

 

[Sammy-San]

St Augustine has a lengthy discussion of this in his book City of God (he wrote about this because of the rapes of Christian women being done by invading barbarians).

Short answer: yes. Purity is a matter of the soul. An aggressor may harm the body, but this does not touch the soul. Therefore virgins who were raped are still pure; they are still virgins. They day when they consent to sex is still in the future.

Aren't even fornicators who are forgiven in a sense virgins because God doesn't see their sin?

 

[Radagast]

Yes. The Bible speaks of such unmarried women in different ways, those who are totally undefiled are spoken of as "chaste virgins". Those who may have been assaulted are "just" virgins.

Really? I've never heard that before.

In 2 Corinthians 11:2, some translations have the phrase "chaste virgin," although "pure virgin" would be a better translation. I cannot find the phrase "just virgin" in any translation of the Bible.

 

[Sammy-San]

Really? I've never heard that before.

In 2 Corinthians 11:2, some translations have the phrase "chaste virgin," although "pure virgin" would be a better translation. I cannot find the phrase "just virgin" in any translation of the Bible.

What does that even mean?

 

[Radagast]

What does that even mean?

What does what even mean?

 

[Sammy-San]

What does what even mean?

?

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Technically speaking if sex takes place, even against your will, you lose your virginity. Biblically this is still the case too. However the victim is still pure in essence. Their virginity was stolen from them. Hopefully no one holds it against someone who was a victim of rape and lost their virginity. And honestly I can say we put an extreme amount of focus on being a virgin as christians and obviously we "should be" virgins of course before we marry. But its not some requirement in order to marry someone. To many hypocrites will judge someone who lost their virginity whether through sex or if they were a victim of a rape.

 

[Jane_Doe]

I know that they were physically violated, but still pure of heart. I was nearly a victim to it but didn't succeed. I do know that many people around the world struggle with this, and it has been in my head.

Are virgins who were raped still virgin? What does the bible say about the virginity of a rape victim?

Answering this as a person who was raped as a virgin--

A person who has been raped has sexual experience. That's just a fact. Nothing is going to change that.

But you have not given away your virtue, or yet made love. Those are two VERY different things than just having sex.