New religious movements that are sectarian and world-rejecting always attach great importance to teachings and regulations about sexual patterns, marriage, ascetic and radical lifestyles. Likewise, since their emergence in the 1970s, the Nigerian Charismatic movements, through their numerous published pamphlets, Bible studies, magazines, etc. have built up teachings about sexual patterns and marriage for their members as part of the pietistic character of the movements. Charismatics believe that sexuality and matrimony have much bearing on spiritual commitments. The grounds for such a new style of living include the perceived crisis in social and family life in the society, and the need to maintain doctrinal purity as converts join the movements.
Many marriage regulations have been easily enforceable because there are similarities between the Charismatics' moral codes and African traditional religious values. For example, marriage and the family are the bedrock of kinship and it is therefore the most significant feature of African society. Thus, the bulwark for the Charismatics' teachings is the concern of Africans for social networks, communal living and orderliness in the society 1997 Academic Press Limited