Were you aware that Christians who adhere to Biblical teachings are purportedly 'prohibited' from engaging in ten specific sexual acts?

The latest Census data revealed that 46 percent of the UK’s population identified as Christian, marking a 12.9 percent drop from 59.5 percent in 2011.

Yet, according to Premier Christianity Magazine, only nine percent of religious Millennials engage in daily Bible reading.

There exist numerous versions of the Christian Bible, a sacred text composed over more than a thousand years.

One of the most widely recognized translations is the King James Bible, which contains approximately 800,000 words.

This version includes 66 books, some of which detail what Christ's followers are discouraged from doing in the realm of intimacy.

These prohibitions include committing adultery, having sexual relations with a close relative, and engaging in sex work.

Below, we’ve detailed the ten acts the Bible reportedly disapproves of and the reasons why.

Fornication, adultery, and polygamy are all prohibited in the Bible (Getty Stock Image)

Fornication

It is stated in multiple books, such as Genesis and Hebrews, that fornication is not allowed.

The term ‘fornication’ typically refers to any sexual activity between individuals who are not married, and many believers interpret this as prohibiting sex before marriage.

However, given the broadness of the term ‘fornication’, some individuals might even consider premarital kissing a sin, as it still constitutes sexual behavior.

Although the Bible does not explicitly state that premarital sex is acceptable, it does present several instances of non-condemned premarital sex, according to Earth and Altar magazine.

These instances appear in the book of Ruth and the story of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38).

Adultery

Twice (Ex. 20 and Deut. 5), the holy text declares: “You shall not commit adultery.”

Another passage (Matt. 15) describes extramarital sexual activities as ‘evil thoughts that emerge ‘from the heart’.

The concept of infidelity is grouped here with acts like stealing, providing false testimony, or making a slanderous statement.

According to statistics from the World Population Review last year, 36 percent of Brits confessed to being unfaithful to their partner at some point.

Furthermore, Illicit Encounters claimed that 53 percent of marriages that endure infidelity manage to survive - offering hope for those affected by adultery.

Having multiple spouses is also discouraged in the Bible (Getty Stock Image)

Polygamy

For those unfamiliar, Polygamy refers to the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time.

Under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, it is illegal for anyone in England and Wales to enter into such a union.

Currently, the legal repercussions of being found guilty of multiple marriages can include 'up to seven years' imprisonment and/or a fine', as per Manor Law.

The practice is mentioned several times in the Bible as a clear prohibition, including in Gen. 4, Matt. 19, and the First Epistle of Timothy (1 Timothy).

Rape

Engaging in sexual activity with someone without their consent constitutes rape. This form of sexual violence does not have a statutory minimum sentence in the UK, but typically, imprisonment for rape convictions starts at four years.

This abhorrent act is condemned in the Bible and is depicted in a scenario in 2 Sam. 13.

An excerpt reads: “However, he would not heed her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.”

Incest

Patient.info defines incest as engaging in sexual activity with a member of one's immediate family.

In England and Wales, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 established an offence of familial sexual abuse to shield children up to 18 from any form of activity deemed sexual or indecent.

The act is prohibited in the Bible and is mentioned in Lev. 18, Lev. 20, and Lev. 27.

The Bible enumerates 10 sexual acts that are 'forbidden', including the sexual worship of false idols (Getty Stock Image)

Homosexuality

As per the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, several religious passages are interpreted as addressing same-sex sexual activity and relationships.

These include Lev. 18, Rom. 1, and the First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor.).

HRC contends that this assertion is ‘poor biblical scholarship and a cultural bias imposed upon the Bible’.

The American LGBTQ+ advocacy organization encourages Christians not to distrust Scripture, but rather to focus on ‘grappling with the contexts of the biblical authors and our own lived experiences’.

“Presently, millions of devout Christians worldwide have come to recognize the work of God in and through the relationships of LGBTQ+ individuals,” it added.

Bestiality

Bestiality is a category of sexual offence where an animal is utilized to satisfy sexual urges, as explained in a study published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine.

Under Section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, engaging in sexual intercourse with live animals is a criminal offense. The law does not cover oral sex or intercourse with a deceased animal.

Bestiality is deemed forbidden in the Bible in Ex. 22, Lev. 20, and Deut. 27.

Engaging in sex for money is also marked as a prohibition (Getty Stock Image)

Sex work

Providing or receiving sexual services for money or other forms of compensation is prohibited in the Biblical texts Lev. 19, Lev. 21, and 1 Cor. 6.

According to StreetlightUK, there are approximately 105,000 people in the UK believed to be involved in prostitution, with the vast majority being women.

Sexual Immorality or porneia

In reading the New Testament, you will notice the ancient Greek word ‘porneia’ appears frequently; 25 times across 24 verses, to be precise.

It can be translated as ‘sexual immorality’, ‘whoredom’, ‘fornication’, or ‘idolatry’, depending on the version of the Bible you are reading.

Bible Hub noted that the term seemingly ‘encompasses all forms of sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage as ordained by God’.

Acts encompassed by this illicit term include sex work, lusting after someone who isn’t your spouse, and watching pornography.

Pagan sexual activity

Any sexual acts involved in the worship of false gods are denounced in the Bible and labeled as ‘pagan sexual activity’.

Some examples include idols associated with pornography and the worship of personal sexual gratification.

Pagan sexual activity is prohibited in passages like Ex. 32, Is. 57, and Col. 3.