Sexuality is one of the most powerful elements that affects humans' lives because it determines human reproduction, love, socialization, gender roles, attitudes towards life, happiness, success, power, and even morality. Sexuality can also be used to interpret religion, spirituality, and prophetic messages. This essay examines how sexuality functions as a moral indicator in prophecies, focusing primarily on Abrahamic religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism. It will examine specific examples from each religion and compare them with similarities between religions in order to understand their common ground.
Religion has always had a significant impact on people's sexual behavior, including what they consider right and wrong concerning sex and gender relations. Religious texts have been used to justify some sexual behaviors while forbidding others based on divine commands that are supposedly immutable. The concept of sin is closely linked to sexuality in these religions since they believe that God gave certain laws regarding human conduct, which include premarital sex and adultery. Therefore, religious writings emphasize that sins related to sexuality result in punishment by God, whether through illnesses or death. In this regard, the Quran states that "the adulterers and fornicators shall have their own place in hell" (4:25). Such teachings influence people's beliefs about acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Polygamy and homosexuality were once considered taboo but became legalized in some countries after pressure from churches. Similarly, intercourse during menstruation was deemed impure until recently when it changed with new scientific discoveries.
Sexuality is also used as evidence in religious prophecy because it is associated with power and dominance.
Prophets claim that people who do not follow their moral standards will be punished with sexual impotence, while those who repent will receive rewards such as fertility and sexual prowess. Prophet Muhammad predicted that women would bear children without the need for men, indicating that those who embrace Islamic values will enjoy fecundity. He also promised virgins in paradise as a reward for piety. Similarly, the Bible says that righteous people will have children like fruitful vineyards and fields (Psalm 128:3), while sinners will face childlessness (Deuteronomy 28:47-48). This suggests that sexuality can determine one's morality based on how they treat others.
Sexuality functions as a means of testing faith. Religious texts state that God tests believers by tempting them with evil desires, including lust, which is regarded as one of the seven deadly sins. The Quran describes this temptation as "a trial" that tests believers' faithfulness to Allah's commands (7:26-27). In Christianity, God often uses sexually immoral behaviors to test people's commitment to Himself, and Jesus warns that unrepentant adulterers will be excluded from heaven (Matthew 5:27-28). This explains why some churches emphasize abstinence until marriage and condemn premarital sex. It also implies that religious beliefs are linked to sexual behavior since they influence people's choices regarding relationships, intimacy, and self-control.
Religious prophecies view sexuality as an indicator of spiritual progress.
Mormons believe that those who remain celibate until marriage have higher moral standards than those who engage in casual sex or cohabitation before marriage. They argue that celibacy helps people develop spiritually because it allows them to focus on serving God rather than pursuing worldly pleasures such as love and pleasure. Therefore, prophets like Joseph Smith predicted that men would multiply their seed through polygamy if they were worthy enough to receive divine blessings. Similarly, Judaism considers fertility a sign of favor from God, while infertility is seen as punishment for sinful actions. Thus, sexuality can determine whether one is blessed with children or not, indicating one's level of piety.
Sexuality serves as evidence in religious prophecy by demonstrating how God rewards righteousness and punishes sin. It also indicates the power dynamics between genders, how faithful believers treat each other, and how committed they are to God. As a result, these religions encourage certain behaviors such as celibacy, monogamy, chastity, and modesty while discouraging others such as promiscuity, homosexuality, and adultery.
There are similarities between various faiths regarding sexuality, which show that human sexuality is universal despite cultural differences.