A survey on sex, religion, and infidelity conducted by Euro RSCG Worldwide took a peek into the bedrooms of five countries--the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, and China--and found that more than anyone else, Americans' sexual behavior is very much influenced by their religious views.
A substantial 39 percent of Americans said they agreed that "my religious beliefs factor into my sexual behavior," while at the other extreme, a very meager 3 percent of French respondents agreed and an overwhelming 91 percent disagreed.
No other nation surveyed came close to the United States in terms of allowing religion into the bedroom. The nearest was the United Kingdom with 16 percent in agreement. In Germany, just 6 percent agree that religion influences sexual behavior.
"If the last few years have proved anything, it's that sex and religion are highly charged subjects that need to be handled with great care," said Ira Matathia, managing director of the New York office of Euro RSCG Worldwide, in a news release announcing the survey findings.
Perhaps the most surprising finding of all was that fully 15 percent of the Chinese respondents said that religion plays a role in their sex lives. Chinese authorities have long discouraged religion (and, for that matter, sex) so it's striking that even 15 percent acknowledged this was true for them.
Other findings about sex, religion, and infidelity:
The Chinese are by far the most likely to think that monogamy is the natural state for human beings: 70 percent of them agree, compared with 57 percent of Americans, 44 percent of the French, 42 percent of Brits, and 40 percent of Germans.
Almost 60 percent of Britons think it is normal for a 30-something to have had 10 or more different lovers over the course of his or her single years. This compares with 52 percent of Germans, 49 percent of Americans, 30 percent of French, and 17 percent of Chinese.
Oddly, 23 percent of the Chinese think that extramarital affairs in which no one gets hurt are acceptable. Compare this to 11 percent of Brits and 9 percent of Americans. (The French and German samples were more in alignment with China than with the United States or the United Kingdom.)
In all the countries except the United Kingdom, higher proportions of men than women are tolerant of extramarital affairs that cause pain to neither party.
2006-07-23 05:38:03 · 11 answers · asked by Doug B 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Your religious beliefs should affect every area of your life, not just sexual behavior. But just because you are religious, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the pleasures of sex with the one you love.
However, in this age of AIDS and all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases, I think it is wise to have only one partner, preferably your wife/husband. A monogamous relationship is best.
2006-07-23 05:49:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Religion often produces fear and guilt for a very natural act between two loving parties. Common sense tells us that when it is not loving; it is often an empty experience. I don't need religion to tell me this. It does serve as a moral compass. Certain acts involve victimization and cannot be tolerated...but anything that takes place between two consenting adults is no ones business.
Everyone is different. It has its proper place...and this is often where the water gets muddied up a bit. Sometimes, in their misguided attempts toward morality, they contribute to the problem by producing seriously repressed individuals who then seek outside pleasures deviating from the perceived norm. If it were to be kept in perspective and viewed in a more natural way...it would free one to be who they are without carrying a great burden of guilt or shame in who they are...and would be conducive to a more natural and healthier expression of it.
Most people partake in it...so why is it such a mystery? It is a physical expression, built into us for participation and is universal. It is biological, emotional, and spiritual in nature. Perhaps if we educate and address these aspects of it we would have less difficulty with it. Thank you for the information. It is very revealing.
2006-07-23 06:00:00 · answer #2 · answered by riverhawthorne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My belief system never has had anything to do with my sexuality. The biggest influence there was my father who told me to wait until I was ready and to not let anyone else define what was right for me.
2006-07-23 05:43:18 · answer #3 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion does not effect my sexual behavior.
2006-07-23 05:42:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my believer days, it definitely affected me. I constantly felt guilty and the thought of Jesus watching sometimes ruined it for me.
2006-07-23 05:42:34 · answer #5 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So? Statistics say OPNIONS. I don't care if most people find pre-martial sex OK, in my country almost 100% find it NOT OK!
2006-07-23 05:52:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a christian and I'm not going to have sex before marriage does that answer your question?
2006-07-23 05:43:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea. Religion might help you keep it in your pants!
http://www.mechanicsburgnewchurch.org
2006-07-23 05:42:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry could not be bothered to read the full question.
2006-07-23 05:43:08 · answer #9 · answered by angelo26 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm an atheist. i have no religious beliefs-- just morals. therefore, i do what i please, as long as i believe that it is right by me.
2006-07-23 05:41:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋