Family

The question of birth control has created much debate in the Western world. This question is related to the basic view of sex. On the one one hand, if you relate sex to the origina sin and equate it with evil, and allow sexual intercourse only for th...

The question of birth control has created much deb...

The opinions of our mujtahids vary on the permissibility of anal intercourse. This variance in fatwas is because of the difference in the ahadith we have on this issue. There is a hadith, for example, from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq quoting the Prophet tha...

The opinions of our mujtahids vary on the permissi...

As far as the methods of mutual stimulation in foreplay are connected, the shari'ah allows the husband and the wife to see, kiss, touch, smell and stimulate any part of each other's body. Therefore, oral sex, as it is known in this part of the world ...

As far as the methods of mutual stimulation in for...

Before I start writing anything about sexual techniques, it is necessary to stay that there exist no rules and laws either in foreplay or in intercourse. The only laws and rules are the ones reached by the lovers by mutual, and often unspoken, unders...

Before I start writing anything about sexual techn...

It is important to realize that in Islamic texts the idea of marriage is not divorced from sex, nor is it confined to sex for the purpose of procreation. The legal term for marriage is "nikah" which literally means sexual intercourse. Marriage per se...

It is important to realize that in Islamic texts t...

Although Christianity is commonly thought to be a religion based on Jesus Christ's teachings, I use the word "Christianity" in this book for the teachings of the Church establishment. I am justified in doing so because the Bible has rcorded nothing f...

Although Christianity is commonly thought to be a ...

In Islamic system, the issue of sexual morality comes under the shari'ah, the laws of Islam. Therefore it seems appropriate to explain the sources of the shari'ah from our point of view. The sources of the Islamic laws are two thing: the Qur'an and t...

In Islamic system, the issue of sexual morality co...

The third reason given above does not necessarily means that I am in total agreement with the way sex education is handled in the Western school systems. I have no problem with the basic ideas that children should be educated about sex. However, I di...

The third reason given above does not necessarily ...

by Ron L. Deal Improving your relationship with stepchildren is one of the greatest challenges of forming a stepfamily. Use the following suggestions to help you to be intentional about slowly building your relationships: 1. Do not expect that you o...

by Ron L. Deal Improving your relationship with st...

by Ron L. Deal Children in blended families often experience multiple losses: from the death of a parent or death of their family through divorce, to the economic changes of living in a single parent home, to the emotional loyalty conflicts they face...

by Ron L. Deal Children in blended families often ...

by Ron L. Deal “How tall is it?” I ignorantly asked a Kenyan missionary. “Mount Kilimanjaro is over 19,000 feet tall,” he smiled. “It’s big!” No kidding, I thought. I could see the outline of the tallest mountain in Africa from my third-floor Nairob...

by Ron L. Deal “How tall is it?” I ignorantly aske...

by Ron L. Deal Emotional attachment, trust, and love are what open the door to influence in parenting. Once that is established, an adult—foster parent, grandparent, adoptive parent, or stepparent—can lead and discipline a child. Said another way, th...

by Ron L. Deal Emotional attachment, trust, and lo...

by Ron L. Deal After a recent webinar for stepparents I was struck by the number of participants whose unsolicited feedback went something like this: “Thanks for the information tonight. I feel encouraged—I think I can keep going because I have hope ...

by Ron L. Deal After a recent webinar for steppare...

by Ron L. Deal "Thanks for recognizing that we're not the church's dirty little problem." John was spiritually paralyzed by his past. "I just never thought I could go back to church again, after the divorce and all. And to top it off, I went and got ...

by Ron L. Deal "Thanks for recognizing that we're ...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey How can you best create a loving relationship between brothers who are three years apart in age? Barbara: We have really worked hard on this with our two boys, who are very different. Their interests are different, their...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey How can you best crea...

by Randy Stinson Before the industrial revolution, it was common for men to spend much of their day in the company of their sons — either on the family farm or in the family business. In those settings, dads could teach their sons practical lessons a...

by Randy Stinson Before the industrial revolution,...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey Does my presence as a father really make a difference in my son's life? Dennis: Yes it does. In fact, a father's involvement in the family is a key social issue today. It's a much bigger deal than, for example, the natio...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey Does my presence as a...

by Kay Wills Wyma Driving down Preston Road, I was dutifully transporting children to school with my then-14-year-old son sitting shotgun, when I learned how this kid defines the American Dream. As is typical of this particular area in Dallas, we we...

by Kay Wills Wyma Driving down Preston Road, I wa...

by Sabrina Beasley My sister-in-law Jerra wanted to teach her daughter, Natalie, to say, “yes, Ma’am” and “no Ma’am” when speaking to adults, but for some reason Jerra couldn't get her to stop saying “yep” and “nope.” When it came down to disciplinar...

by Sabrina Beasley My sister-in-law Jerra wanted t...

by Susan Yates Several years ago, we began construction on a new church building. In the beginning, the workmen dug a big pit in the ground and then they began to pour footings. Footings are cement piers upon which the entire building rests. They are...

by Susan Yates Several years ago, we began constru...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey We will never forget that incredible moment when our daughter Ashley was born. The doctor cleaned her up and handed her to us. Dennis recalls that he wanted to blurt out, “Thanks for the gift, but where are the instructio...

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey We will never forget ...