Meta description: Explore five widely discussed religious “loopholes”—from the Mormon soaking rumor and Catholic ideas about virginity to Shabbat practices, temporary marriage in Shia Islam, and Amish Rumspringa.

Religious rules are sometimes interpreted in ways outsiders call “loopholes.” But practices differ widely between communities, and viral stories can blur the line between religious teaching, individual behavior, and internet myth. Here are five examples often discussed online, with context to help separate the claims from the broader beliefs.

1. Mormon Soaking: Viral Meme or Common Practice?

Soaking is an urban legend and cultural phenomenon associated with some young members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Latter-day Saints or Mormons). It is a method allegedly used to bypass the strict religious prohibition against premarital sex.
Here is exactly how the practice is described:

• The Setup: A couple engages in vaginal penetration but stops immediately once insertion is complete.
• The Rule: The couple remains completely still. According to the internal logic of the practice, it is the thrusting motion that constitutes “having sex” and violates the Law of Chastity. Simply remaining still inside one another is viewed by participants as a loophole.
• The “Jump Hump” or Bed Jumping: Because staying completely still defeats the physical purpose of the act, a third party—usually a friend or roommate—is brought into the room. This third person jumps on the bed or shakes the mattress. The external motion causes passive friction and movement between the couple without either partner actively thrusting.

A historical story sometimes mentioned alongside the meme concerns Albert Carrington, a 19th-century Latter-day Saint leader who was excommunicated after admitting to adultery. Online retellings often compare his defense with the modern “soaking” rumor, though they are not the same event or practice.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches chastity outside marriage; the internet’s framing of “soaking” should not be mistaken for an official religious loophole.

2. Judaism: Eruvs and Shabbat Elevators

In Orthodox Judaism, Jewish law (Halakha) strictly forbids “working” on the Sabbath (Shabbat), which includes a prohibition against carrying any item—even keys, a wallet, or a baby stroller—from a private domain (like a home) into a public domain (like a street).

• The Eruv: To navigate this, communities construct an Eruv. This is a symbolic boundary made of poles and nearly invisible wire (often fishing line) that encircles an entire neighborhood or city. By combining this boundary with a shared deposit of community food (usually matzah), the entire area within the wire is legally reclassified under Jewish law as one single, shared “private courtyard”. This allows observant Jews to carry keys or push strollers on the Sabbath. Opinions on platforms like Reddit are mixed; while critics view it as sidestepping the spirit of the law, proponents argue it is a legitimate, scholarly way to adapt rules to changing urban environments.
• Shabbat Elevators: Because pushing an electrical button is considered igniting a fire (forbidden on Shabbat), many modern buildings and hotels in Israel feature elevators that run continuously. They automatically stop on every single floor, allowing passengers to ride without ever pressing a button.

3. Shia Islam: Nikah Mut’ah, or Temporary Marriage

Islamic law strictly prohibits premarital sex and dating in the Western sense. However, in Shia Islam, there is a legal framework known as Nikah Mut’ah (temporary marriage).

• The Loophole: A man and an unmarried woman can sign a contract specifying a fixed duration for a marriage—which can range from several years to just a few hours—in exchange for a specified dowry.
• The Outcome: During the contracted time, the couple can legally interact, hold hands, or engage in sexual relations without committing the sin of zina (fornication). Once the time expires, the marriage automatically dissolves without requiring a divorce. While heavily criticized by Sunni Muslims as a workaround for casual dating, it remains a recognized legal practice in some Shia communities.

4. Catholicism, Virginity, and the “Poophole Loophole”

Within certain strict Christian and Catholic subcultures, youth culture has popularized a colloquial workaround to preserve traditional virginity.

The Outcome: Users on Reddit note that some individuals use this narrow definition to technically maintain their technical “virgin status” before marriage while still participating in alternative sexual acts. Like soaking, this is an informal cultural workaround that mainstream church theologians do not officially condone.

The Loophole: Because religious purity culture heavily defines “losing one’s virginity” strictly by vaginal intercourse, some teenagers and young adults choose to engage in anal or oral sex instead.

5. Amish Rumspringa: What Happens Before Baptism?

The Amish are famous for their rejection of modern technology and strict adherence to church rules. However, their rules only legally apply to individuals who have been baptized into the church.

• The Loophole: During a period called Rumspringa (around age 16), Amish youth are allowed to experience the outside world. Because they are not yet baptized, the strict community rules do not apply to them. They can wear modern clothes, drive cars, use smartphones, and attend parties.
• The Outcome: This temporary suspension of rules allows them to make a fully conscious, voluntary choice to return to the community and accept baptism, or leave the Amish way of life forever

What These Stories Have in Common

These examples are often packaged online as religious “loopholes,” but that label can oversimplify them. Some are established religious practices with detailed rules; others are viral rumors or informal cultural interpretations. Understanding the difference makes for a more accurate—and more interesting—conversation about religion, sexuality, and tradition.