Why is Religion So Concerned with Sex?
13 Sexuality and many topics associated with it often form a large part of religious belief, or at least of their practice. 2Unfortunately, no matter how many times we discuss these issues, there are seldom any real answers. 3Most likely it comes down to the basic notion of power and control.
Maintaining Power over Women
4A large number of sexual references in religion are intended (or at least used) to place men in a position of control over women. 5The number of references in the Bible to men having unreasonable power over women are too great to list, which says a lot about the nature of the religion. 6But to stick to the topic of this chapter, we will only look at those of a sexual nature:
“If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father 50 shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. (Deuteronomy 22:28 – 29)
7There are almost too many elements in this verse to dissect here: a woman who is raped must marry her attacker, the attack can be measured in financial terms, compensation is due to her father, not to her. 8Clearly, there is no concern for the woman herself. 9Again, this is not practiced in this day and age. 1OIt has become another part of the Bible (and Torah) that Christians (and Jews) have chosen to overlook.
11In another commentary on the proper role of women, Peter declares:
“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, (1 Peter 3:1)
120ne possible reason for encouraging marriage is that it gives an opportunity to further assert dominance over women. 13If nothing else, this passage encourages men to tell their wives to submit to them or they re violating an order from God.
14The issue of banning birth control is a further example of subjugation, as it prevents a woman from taking ownership of her own body. 15Though this is a very contentious issue, mainly within the Catholic Church, there isn t much in the Bible about it. 16Ironically, many Catholic women do use birth control even though it is expressly forbidden in their Church s doctrine. 17That being said, it still continues to spur legal and political debates across the world.
Precious Virginity
18Why there was ever such a high value placed on virginity we will never know, but this concept goes beyond religion and is a dominant theme throughout many cultures of the world. 19Many religious rules and regulations differ between virgins and non-virgins. 2O0f course, since you are supposed to stay a virgin until marriage, it is presumed than any non-virgin is happily married. 21Either that or she is considered promiscuous. (22Note that it is always women s virginity that is the issue, not men s.)
23As long as virginity is held in such high (and pointless) regard, the attitude towards sex will remain restricted, particularly when it is outside of marriage. 24A woman s value should never be based upon how many men she does or doesn t sleep with.
Modesty
25Many religious texts are concerned with modesty, and present various rules and regulations about how believers (usually women) are to be covered up when in public.
26The main reasoning behind this is that women will tempt men because they have too much flesh exposed. 270f course, the blame is squarely placed at the feet of the woman. 28But doesn't this mean the problem is the men s lack of self-control rather than the women s choice of dress? 29Even by today s social standards, this argument is still contentious, though the level of acceptable modesty can vary from culture to culture. 301t also begs the question of why God would make women attractive if the intention was not for men to be drawn to them.
31The Bible wants women (but not men) to dress modestly:
“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes (1 Timothy 2:9)
32Unfortunately, the idea of modesty is extremely subjective and always open to interpretation. 33Different Christian sects have interpreted the above verse to varying degrees of severity, some even literally.
34When it comes to modesty, 1slam cannot be left out of the discussion. 35Muslim women are sometimes expected to dress in flowing robes that cover up the body, head and/or face, and in certain countries, even their hands and feet. 36Known as a hijab, it is usually worn by females beyond the age of puberty, in the presence of any non-related adult males. 37This is all meant to be in the name of modesty, but the reality is that the Quran makes the same generic statements that one would find in the Bible:
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what would ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers (....) (Sura 24:31)
38Whilst this is more detailed than the verse in the Bible, it is still open to interpretation. 39The use of a veil to cover up the entire body is one that has developed through tradition and culture rather than true religious practice, as not all countries and practicing Muslims observe this.
Allowable Relationships
“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:1 – 2)
40According to mainstream religious doctrine, if one is to have sex then it must be within the confines of marriage. 41To varying degrees, other sexual relationships are also forbidden. 42By placing strict limits on what should otherwise be a natural act between consenting individuals, religion maintains control over every aspect of the follower s life. 43Why else would God have a problem with two people having sex?
44Please note that the verse is explicit in referring to male/female relationships only. 45Same-sex couples are excluded. 46Homosexuality is considered an act that is punishable by death:
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)
47Statements against homosexuality are also to be found in the Quran:
“Lo! Ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk (Sura 7:81)
481t s likely that certain relationships were frowned upon for cultural reasons and written into various texts for this reason alone, rather than because any deity has an actual problem with them. 49There is no rational reason for prohibiting sex between consenting adults, when there is no harm to society. 50What adults do behind closed doors should be their business alone. 51And if God created us all in his image, then surely this is a natural act.
52There is a curious case to be found in the Bible (and Torah) that appears to go unpunished, so perhaps we are to accept that the act in itself was not a sin. 53Please note that both Christians and Muslims revere Lot as a righteous man of God. 54According to Christian mythology, Jesus is a descendant of Lot through David s great-grandmother, Ruth, who is descended from Lot s son, Moab. 551n reference to Sodom and Gomorrah, Simon Peter described him as a righteous man amongst the wicked . 56But perhaps they don t feel this way about his daughters:
“One day the older daughter said to the younger, ‘Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children as is the custom all over the earth. Let s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father. That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, ‘Last night I slept with my father. Let s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father. So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot s daughters became pregnant by their father. (Genesis 19:31 – 35)
Concubines and Multiple Wives
57With so many restrictions on sexuality, this stands out as an unusual point. 58Both the Bible and the Quran have repeated mentions about concubines, multiple wives and married men having children with servants. 591t s the one big exception to the marriage-only rules – and of course it only applies to men.
60Prophet Muhammad himself had anything from around 12 to 24 wives, although the exact number is not known. 611t is said that he married the youngest at five or six years old, consummating the marriage when she was only nine years old. (62Fortunately, there are laws against paedophilia these days!) 63The Bible reports, in 1 King 11, that Solomon officially had 700 wives and 300 concubines. 64He is also revered as a righteous man.
65Are these events to be taken as directives from God or simply to be ignored as being part of a different time? 661f the latter, then how can one justify keeping the other edicts about sexual relationships and marriage?
Celibate Priests
67We can t forget the debate on whether or not a priest should be allowed to have sex. 68Though this is a practice seen mainly amongst Catholics, there are other spiritual groups that hold to celibacy as a sacred calling. ( 69Buddhist monks, for example, also abstain from sex.) 70For the Catholics, it was a decision made by the leaders of the Church many hundreds of years after the death of Jesus. 71Some claim that the church started to restrict marriage as a way of keeping control of church property that was usually passed down to children upon death. 72This eventually led to the requirement of celibacy. 731t s not a Biblical mandate at all, but a remnant of a millennia-old power grab that no one has thought to reverse. 74Are the high incidences of paedophilia amongst the clergy the result of these archaic, out- of-touch rules? 751n which case, restricting sex has caused far more harm than good. 76Whatever the case, there are many that continue to suffer at the hands of abusers.
A Non-Mainstream Look
77This topic has covered the three monotheistic faiths almost exclusively, so a few words on other viewpoints need to be included.
78Buddhism and Hinduism are generally not that restrictive when it comes to sexuality and have few actual dogmatic problems with it. 79Buddhists try to diminish any attachment to material pleasures but sexuality is not explicitly regulated.
80Modern neo-Pagan religions embrace sexuality as a normal part of life and actively use the theme of fertility in many of their sacred beliefs and rituals. 81The same is true of certain mystical Taoist sects during the Han dynasty who are said to have practiced certain sexual techniques, known as HeQi, meaning Joining Energy . 82This supports the view of certain secret societies who believe that because a great amount of energy is produced at the point of orgasm, one s predominant thought at climax is likely to come true. 83In the Yoruba tradition, witches are generally described as having an insane appetite for sex. 84Unsurprisingly, most of those who are accused of being witches tend to be women. 85Fortunately, witch hunts are few and far between in modern times. 860ther than this, the tradition has little actual doctrine when it comes to sex.
87Some religions in the past even embraced sex. 88During the pagan festival of Saturnalia (in honour of the deity Saturn), as well as feasts, carnivals, gift-giving and gambling, orgies are said to have been engaged in.
Arbitrary Centrel
89There are no answers presented by religion, other than the need to exert further control over followers. 90By stipulating that natural acts such as sex, love and relationships be regulated by religion, the leaders of these organisations are able to establish a greater level of power and control over every aspect of the lives of followers.