In the Blue Cabinet: Moravians, Marriage, and Sex

Abstract

Moravian ideas on sexuality have been studied in depth in recent years. Most of these studies, however, are written from a theological perspective and do not necessarily deal with questions as to how these ideas were implemented in Moravian communities, or how ordinary Moravians experienced the sexual practice propagated by their leaders. A careful reading of Moravian texts as well as of the writings of non-Moravians, combined with letters written by Moravians about their first sexual experiences, will help answer these questions. This article will give insight into what ordinary Moravians thought of the marital theology into which they were instructed and how they perceived the church's control over their sexual activities.