why does religion preach abstinence? All great religious leaders abstained from sex?

Question

does sex hold you back from doing well in this world?

Answer 1

I must have gone to the wrong church because I've never heard anyone encourage sex, even after marriage. And to answer that question, I suppose it is because sex was made to create life, not for pleasure. Sex does not hold you back, in fact it's quite wonderful. The only way I can see it holding you back is if you contract some deadly STD or have 10 children you can't pay for ;o)

Answer 2

Abstinence is the teaching that you should wait until you are MARRIED to have sex. After that, sex is fine. While there have been religious leaders who never married, and so abstained from sex, many did marry and had relations with their spouses.

In the Bible, the apostle Paul (in 1 Corithians 7) talked about the issue. He said that a person who remained single was freer to dedicate him/herself completely to the work of God because they did not have a spouse or children to worry about.

But at the same time, if someone choose to marry that was fine too. As the sex drive is very strong, not everyone can willing remain single, so it is better to marry than to be so consumed with desire that it leads to sin.

If they did marry, they were to have regular sex with each other so that they would not be tempted to cheat.

Paul himself was not married, but others of the disciples (he mentions Peter by name) were, and their wives traveled with them and helped in their ministries.

So your answer is - abstinence is before marriage. And you can be a great religious leader whether you are married or not.

Answer 3

Inasmuch as abstinence signifies abstaining from food, the Bible narrative points to the first instance wherein such a course of conduct was imposed by law (Genesis 2:16-17). The obvious purpose of this mandate was to lead the moral head of the human race to recognize the necessary dependence of creature upon Creator. The hour which witnessed the transgression of this law marked an increase in the debt which the creature owed the Creator. Adam's disobedience rendered all men criminal, and liable to the necessity of appeasing God's justice. To meet this new exigency nature dictated the necessity of penance; positive legislation determined the ways and means whereby this natural obligation would best be concreted. The chief results of this determination are positive statutes concerning fasting and abstinence. Laws relating to fasting are principally intended to define what pertains to the quantity of food allowed on days of fasting, while those regulating abstinence, what refers to the quality of viands. In some instances both obligations coincide; thus, the Fridays of Lent are days of fasting and abstinence. In other instances the law of abstinence alone binds the faithful; thus ordinary Fridays are simply days of abstinence. The purpose of this article is to trace the history of ecclesiastical legislation regarding the law of abstinence, as well as to examine the motives which underlie this legislation.

By the way I do believe in some people sex does hold them from doing well in this world.

Answer 4

speaking only for Christianity ... it doesn't teach total sexual abstinence, only abstinence before marriage. After marriage frequent sex within one's marriage is encouraged.

1 Corinthians 7:5 "Do not deprive each other [of sex] except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control" ...

Also, take a look at 'Song of Solomon' ... some will argue it's an allegory of Christ's love for the church, but our church & many others do not. It is a picture of sexuality between a husband & his wife.

Answer 5

Islam does not preach abstinence from Sex?
but it preaches us to abstainence from lust, temptation which can lead you to evil.

like rape, sex out side mirrage, prostitution

It incourages husband and wife to have sex.
in Quran it is mention that husband is garment for his wife and wife is garment for husband

it incourages men to get married if they are capable or to fast as much as possible to keep away from lust
and
it incourages women not to reject the proposal from a virtuous men with excuses like
she wants to go for higher study before mirrage
or she has some other plans or .....

Answer 6

Some religions encourage sex. Islam for example encourages sex within marriage. The prophet had multiple wives.

Answer 7

if you are busy enjoying the flesh how can you be spending enough time praying, tithing, and spreading the word. only when a catholic pope that hated women and was likely gay, came to power, did priests stop having wives. somewhere in the middleages. now i dont know about other religions, but christians seem to think its dirty.

Answer 8

If you have a healthy sex life, you're less uptight and worried about metaphysical and religious questions.

(Joking...)

Answer 9

This is done to concentrate otherwise they cannot follow the truth.All leaders were not normal people.

Answer 10

I think if all were truthful with themselves and read the Bible they would see that Peter was married. Jesus healed his mother-in-law. Please reconsider this. Jesus said, Upon this rock I shall build my church. Does that mean Peter quit being married to his wife, NO.