Why do almost all religions try to control sexuality?

Question

Patriarcal religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) expend a lot of effort trying to mandate human sexual behavior. Especially female sexual behavior. Granted, I'm proceeding from a point of opinion on this so if you disagree, please tell me why. Otherwise, please try to help me understand the reason for this ultimately unworkable stance.

Answer 1

There are a few different reasons for it.

Prior to the advent of effective birth control, the primary reason for societal control over where people put their naughty bits was to ensure that every baby that was produced had at least a chance of being taken care of. The same impetus was also behind the ritualized marriage ceremonies that bound a couple together and made them both responsible for the offspring of that union.

The other part is the deeply ingrained, often unreasonable, but very real fear that men have that women might cheat on them. They often fear this because they usually know, deep down, that they're not really worthy of the women they are with, but the manifestation of that fear is an attempt to control the woman and ensure she's not making naughty time with some other guy.

Both the fear, and the societal responsibility aspects of the development of religious control over reproduction are magnified when you also factor in the inheritance of possessions, titles, and even knowledge. The male of the partnership wants to be sure that the youngling he's handing down his accomplishments to is really his own offspring.

Plus, there is the additional factor that if you have no religious taboos on sexual activities, then there is no kinky sex. Kinky sex is often more fun than vanilla sex, because breaking the taboo is part of the excitement.

Religion was the primary mode of societal control in most societies, and so it is logical that most of these societal control methods came through the religious channel.

Answer 2

In the case of Christianity, the commandments concerning sexual behavior were intended to prevent a lot of the suffering that goes on because of premarital/extramarital sex, even to this day. Things like unplanned pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, broken hearts after being dumped by a lover, and a lot of other problems would be non-existent.

And when you look at the list of sexually related problems, it's the woman who suffers the most. She's the one who has to deal with the unplanned pregnancy, the sorrow of being deserted by someone that she gave herself to and thought would love her, and all the other griefs associated with sex outside of marriage if people obeyed His rules.

God didn't issue the commandments to have one partner and to remain faithful to that person because He's a big green meanie. Those rules were meant to protect the most vulnerable parties in any relationship -- a woman and her children.

Answer 3

One of the greatest fears of the ancient world was that your son was not your own. When women behaved sexually, it made men nervous because of this. It was also seen as a requirement in this ancient culture to marry, because a child out of wedlock was a disgrace, and there was next to no contraception.

Also, I think that there's a bit of sexual frustration going on in those religions. Sex shouldn't be inherently evil, or shameful. It's the only way to continue the human race, after all. Also, it feels pretty good, and doesn't really hurt anyone.

Answer 4

Because sex moves the same energy as religion. A spiritual awakening feels like a sexual awakening. We are all multi-dimentional beings and the religious will be threatened by the fact that people could reach those heights through a non-religious way. True sexuality doesn't promote promiscuity any more than religion does. Both can open the channel.

Answer 5

One of the things that separates us from the animals is that we control our sexual urges. After watching "Cheaters" or "Maury Povich" on TV, I realize that a lot of people would rather act like a bunch of animals.

Read "Brave New World" from Huxley sometime to get an insight as to what a society with an anything-goes outlook on unmitigated sexual behavior would be like.

Go on thinking that religion oppresses women, or whatever, but the reality is that it uplifts the human condition.

Answer 6

All I have is what I do or don't do. The other Christians try to focus on who's having sex with who, I really don't care. What I try to do is present the Gospel. That's what I can do. Not to end sin, because how could any human do that, I am yet a sinner myself.

So in essence, I attempt not playing the hypocrite.

Answer 7

well, historically you have to remember childhood was shorter. It's one thing to tell a pre-pubescent child not to have sex, quite another to tell a 17 year old (who...2000 years prior would have been married at that same age). It's because the religions stagnate at the stage of development of writing - when their scriptures were cast in stone - that they cling to such ideas.

There are probably other environmental factors that distinguish Abrahamic religion's sexual mores from those of Dharmic religions. That I haven't completely thought through though.

Answer 8

same in Buddhism. if you attention is turned outward toward you worldly base interests you'll never look deeply enough inward to see what's really going on. very very few saints or mystics of any religion have any interest in sexual things (or material things)because they've transcended those . downtown Judaism,Christianity and Islam efforts are based on controlling morality but without the wisdom of knowing why.

Answer 9

It is because the Bible teaches that sex before marriage is a sin.
It is because the Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage is a sin.

The OT was a little harsher on the women, but they are treated about the same in the NT which is the New Covenant.

If sex is for procreation, they why so many abortions.

The truth is there is not better marriage relationship than a faithful one.

grace2u

Answer 10

Sexuality is really the powerful position of women. Men know that. Who's the great majority in power? MEN! Why because they are very weak for sex, it would not be good if women ruled the world. Man cannot let that happen so under certain unspoken governments, man has made rules in effort to control sexuality not as much for them but for women. Right? See how under every religion a woman is a whore if she loose her virginity but a man is not to be judge by having many womens. The game of malicious defamation to control.