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'''Adultery''' is voluntary [[sexual intercourse]] between a married person and one who is not his or her spouse. Some legal jurisdictions have defined it as "crime against marriage",<ref>[[Germany]]: § 1353 Abs. 1 S. 2 [[BGB]]</ref> as opposed to [[infidelity]].

'''Adultery''' is voluntary [[sexual intercourse]] between a married person and one who is not his or her spouse. Some legal jurisdictions have defined it as "crime against marriage", (Germany: § 1353 Abs. 1 S. 2 BGB) as opposed to [[infidelity]].

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

Although the definition of "adultery" differs in nearly every legal system, the common theme is [[Human sexual behavior|sexual relations]] outside of marriage, in one form or another.

Although the definition of "adultery" differs in nearly every legal system, the common theme is [[Human sexual behavior|sexual relations]] outside of marriage, in one form or another.

For example, [[New York (state)|New York]] defines an adulterer as a person who "engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse."<ref>{{cite web

For example, [[New York (state)|New York]] defines an adulterer as a person who "engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse." [http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS]

| url =http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS

[[Minnesota]] defines adultery as: "when a married woman has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband, whether married or not, both are guilty of adultery".<ref>{{cite web

Adultery was known in earlier times by the legalistic term "criminal conversation" (another term, [[alienation of affection]], is used when one spouse deserts the other for a third person). The term originates not from ''[[adult]]'', which is from [[Latin]] a-dolescere, to grow up, mature, a combination of ''a'', "to", ''dolere'', "work", and the processing combound ''sc''), but from the Latin ''ad-ulterare'' (to commit adultery, adulterate/falsify, a combination of ''ad'', "at", and ''ulter'', "above", "beyond", "opposite", meaning "on the other side of the bond of marriage").<ref>Longman Dictionary of Latin, Berlin 1950</ref>

 

 

Adultery was known in earlier times by the legalistic term "criminal conversation" (another term, [[alienation of affection]], is used when one spouse deserts the other for a third person). The term originates not from ''[[adult]]'', which is from [[Latin]] a-dolescere, to grow up, mature, a combination of ''a'', "to", ''dolere'', "work", and the processing combound ''sc''), but from the Latin ''ad-ulterare'' (to commit adultery, adulterate/falsify, a combination of ''ad'', "at", and ''ulter'', "above", "beyond", "opposite", meaning "on the other side of the bond of marriage"). (Longman Dictionary of Latin, Berlin 1950)

A marriage in which both spouses agree that it is acceptable for either partner to have sexual relationships with other people other than their spouse is a form of [[nonmonogamy]]. The resulting sexual relationships the husband or wife has with other people, although could be considered to be adultery in some legal jurisdictions, are not treated as such by the spouses.

A marriage in which both spouses agree that it is acceptable for either partner to have sexual relationships with other people other than their spouse is a form of [[nonmonogamy]]. The resulting sexual relationships the husband or wife has with other people, although could be considered to be adultery in some legal jurisdictions, are not treated as such by the spouses.

 

Some cultures have a distinguished interpretation of the term [[infidelity]]: in some legal systems, it might be tolerated as long as it does not fit the jurisdiction's legal definition of adultery.

Some cultures have a distinguished interpretation of the term [[infidelity]]: in some legal systems, it might be tolerated as long as it does not fit the jurisdiction's legal definition of adultery.

There is some debate about whether the desire to commit adultery, like the compulsive desire to consume alcohol, results from a mental disorder.<ref>{{cite web

There is some debate about whether the desire to commit adultery, like the compulsive desire to consume alcohol, results from a mental disorder.  (Is Cheating A Mental Disorder-[http://www.ischeatingamentaldisorder.com/])

  | title = Is Cheating A Mental Disorder

| url =http://www.ischeatingamentaldisorder.com/

== Penalties for adultery ==

== Penalties for adultery ==

===Christianity===

===Christianity===

The position in [[Christianity]], which arose out of [[Judaism]], comes from the [[Torah]], the first five books of the Christian [[Old Testament]]. The Torah explicitly forbids adultery, describing it as an act punishable by death.<ref> {{bibleverse||Leviticus|20:10}}</ref> It is also forbidden by the [[Ten Commandments]], which are considered to be the basis of all [[Jewish Law]].

The position in [[Christianity]], which arose out of [[Judaism]], comes from the [[Torah]], the first five books of the Christian [[Old Testament]]. The Torah explicitly forbids adultery, describing it as an act punishable by death. (Leviticus|20:10) It is also forbidden by the [[Ten Commandments]], which are considered to be the basis of all [[Jewish Law]].

In the accounts of {{bibleverse||Mark|10:11-12}} and {{bibleverse||Luke|16:18}}, Jesus taught that a man who divorces his wife and marries another, has committed adultery. In the account of {{bibleverse||Matthew|5:32}} and {{bibleverse-nb||Matthew|19:9}}, Jesus makes an exception for cases of marital infidelity on the part of the wife.  

In the accounts of {{bibleverse||Mark|10:11-12}} and {{bibleverse||Luke|16:18}}, Jesus taught that a man who divorces his wife and marries another, has committed adultery. In the account of {{bibleverse||Matthew|5:32}} and {{bibleverse-nb||Matthew|19:9}}, Jesus makes an exception for cases of marital infidelity on the part of the wife.  

In {{bibleverse||Matthew|5:28}}, expresses that adultery is committed in the heart by a man who looks with [[lust]] at a woman, and made no distinction about whether the woman was married or not.  

In {{bibleverse||Matthew|5:28}}, expresses that adultery is committed in the heart by a man who looks with [[lust]] at a woman, and made no distinction about whether the woman was married or not.  

The modern [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] expresses: "''Adultery'' refers to marital infidelity. When two partners, of whom at least one is married to another party, have sexual relations—even transient ones—they commit adultery."<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2380]</ref> It continues on to say that through adultery a person "does injury to the sign of the covenant which the marriage bond is, transgresses the rights of the other spouse, and undermines the institution of marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based." <ref>[http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2381]</ref>

The modern [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] expresses: "''Adultery'' refers to marital infidelity. When two partners, of whom at least one is married to another party, have sexual relations—even transient ones—they commit adultery." [http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2380] It continues on to say that through adultery a person "does injury to the sign of the covenant which the marriage bond is, transgresses the rights of the other spouse, and undermines the institution of marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based." [http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art6.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2381]

===Islam===

===Islam===

 

According to [[Islam]], adultery is a violation of a marital contract and one of the major sins. In Islam; adultery includes sexual intercourse by a married person, man or woman. Fornication and adultery are both included in the Arabic word '[[Zina]]'. As they belong primarily to the same category of crimes, entail the same social implications and have the same effects on the spiritual personality of a human being, both, in principle, have been given the same status by the Qur'an. The [[hadith]] states that the punishment of stoning to death is prescribed for a married person who commits adultery.

According to [[Islam]], adultery is a violation of a marital contract and one of the major sins. In Islam; adultery includes sexual intercourse by a married person, man or woman. Fornication and adultery are both included in the Arabic word '[[Zina]]'. As they belong primarily to the same category of crimes, entail the same social implications and have the same effects on the spiritual personality of a human being, both, in principle, have been given the same status by the Qur'an. The [[hadith]] states that the punishment of stoning to death is prescribed for a married person who commits adultery.

Although, marrying up to 4 wives and many more as "traveling" marriages which may last even 24 hours is not considered an adultery.

Although, marrying up to 4 wives and many more as "traveling" marriages which may last even 24 hours is not considered an adultery.

In [[Pakistan]], adultery has been criminalized by a law called the [[Hudood Ordinance]], which specifies a maximum penalty of [[death penalty|death]], although only [[imprisonment]] and [[corporal punishment]] have ever actually been used. The Ordinance has been particularly controversial because under it a woman making an accusation of [[rape]] must provide extremely strong evidence to avoid being charged under with adultery. The same kinds of laws have been in effect in some other Muslim countries, such as [[Saudi Arabia]]. However, in recent years high-profile rape cases in Pakistan have given the Hudood Ordinance more exposure than similar laws in other countries.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2005/07/13/nat2.htm Hudood laws open to change in Pakistan], July 2005</ref> Conviction is only possible with a minimum of four witnesses.

In [[Pakistan]], adultery has been criminalized by a law called the [[Hudood Ordinance]], which specifies a maximum penalty of [[death penalty|death]], although only [[imprisonment]] and [[corporal punishment]] have ever actually been used. The Ordinance has been particularly controversial because under it a woman making an accusation of [[rape]] must provide extremely strong evidence to avoid being charged under with adultery. The same kinds of laws have been in effect in some other Muslim countries, such as [[Saudi Arabia]]. However, in recent years high-profile rape cases in Pakistan have given the Hudood Ordinance more exposure than similar laws in other countries. [http://www.dawn.com/2005/07/13/nat2.htm Hudood laws open to change in Pakistan] Conviction is only possible with a minimum of four witnesses.

Adultery is a [[capital offence]], punishable by stoning, under Iran's [[Sharia|Islamic law]]. Nowadays, Iranian officials are banning stoning because of social objections.

Adultery is a [[capital offence]], punishable by stoning, under Iran's [[Sharia|Islamic law]]. Nowadays, Iranian officials are banning stoning because of social objections.