Bottoms Don't Come Off': Premarital Celibacy Among Christian Black Couples

Abstract

This project is about couples that are practicing celibacy until marriage. They are four couples that are part of a small but dedicated group of Black Christian couples across the United States who are determined to remain celibate until marriage. They believe that abstaining from sex allows them to fulfill their religious beliefs while avoiding what they call the negative repercussions of premarital intercourse. These repercussions include having unwanted children, having clouded judgment between couples, and being emotionally and mentally attached to a person with whom they couldn't anticipate a future. The couples share their story of how they met. They also share what helps them to refrain from temptation, and most importantly, they go in depth to share the reason behind their commitment.