pedophilia, or
paedophilia, is a
psychiatric disorder in persons 16 years of age or older typically characterized by a primary or exclusive
sexual interest toward prepubescent children (generally age 11 years or younger, though specific diagnosis criteria for the disorder extends the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13 (from wikipedia)
what do you think about it?
is there any rules in your religion talk about it?
a child is not only a child because they are pre-pubescent
They could be 16 years old but still very young emotionally and therefore not ready to engage in a relationship with an adult.
I know some cultures believe that as a soon as a girl begins menstruation she is marriageable... but menstruation is not a sign that a girl suddenly becomes a woman. Im sure no one believes that a few hairs on the chest of a 15yr old boy means he has become a man.
The bible does have something to say about Pedophilia. At Deuteronomy 23:17, 18.
None of the daughters of Israel may become a temple prostitute, neither may anyone of the sons of Israel become a temple prostitute...it is something detestable.."
The word for a boy who becomes a temple prostitute 'catamite, and it means a boy kept for purposes of sexual perversion. There is also another word "pederast" which is one who practices anal intercourse, especially with a boy.
So the bible is clear that children are not to be used for sexual uses by adults...its against Gods law. Its also intersting that children were not considered adults until at least the age of 20yrs. It was not until a child turned 20 that they could enroll in Isreals army. And it was not until they turned 30 that they could become teachers of Gods law.
So obviously Gods view of when a child becomes an adult is far different to how some people view it today.