How do religious traditions teach individuals to distrust bodily knowledge?
Religious traditions have often been seen as opposed to science and modern technology.
Many people are unaware that they also promote distrust of bodily knowledge. This is because religion teaches that humans cannot fully trust their bodies, as they believe it can be misleading, unreliable, and dangerous.
Christianity believes that human nature is corrupt, and sinfulness leads to lustful thoughts and desires which may lead to temptations such as adultery and promiscuity. Islam also discourages physical pleasure and teaches that sexual gratification should be limited to marriage. In addition, Hinduism emphasizes celibacy for those who want to attain spiritual enlightenment. The Buddhist tradition teaches that desire itself is an obstacle to enlightenment and that one should strive to overcome it.
Sexual repression
One way in which religious traditions teach individuals to distrust bodily knowledge is through sexual repression. Many religions forbid or strongly discourage premarital sex and view it as a sin, while others see it as simply undesirable.
Orthodox Jews teach that sexual relations outside of marriage are forbidden, and some Muslims consider them haram (prohibited). Mormons believe that extramarital sex is wrong unless done with permission from God. Some Buddhists think that sexual activity creates karma, which brings bad consequences in this life and the next.
Distrust of intuition
Religious traditions teach that bodily knowledge can sometimes be deceiving and that people should not follow their instincts when it comes to intimate relationships. This distrust extends beyond just sex but includes other areas of life where physical sensations play a role, such as eating food or making decisions about what clothing to wear. Hindus have been known to use chastity belts on women to prevent any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage. Christianity teaches that temptation can lead to damnation if acted upon. Catholicism believes that unnatural desires are caused by Satan's influence on humans, so following those impulses will result in eternal punishment. Islamic scholars say that women should cover themselves fully to avoid provocation and protect their modesty.
Fear of the unknown
Religious traditions teach that the body itself is mysterious and unknowable because it can be prone to illnesses and death. They warn against exploring one's physical boundaries too deeply for fear of discovering something dangerous or disturbing.
Judaism says that death is an undeniable part of life, so there is no need to explore mortality through scientific research. Catholicism discourages medical advancements such as organ transplants because they believe them to be sinful acts against God's will. Buddhists also caution against becoming too attached to the body or material possessions since they can cause suffering.
Religious traditions teach individuals to distrust bodily knowledge due to its potentially misleading nature and dangers associated with exploring it further than necessary. By rejecting physical pleasures and ignoring intuition, these traditions attempt to control human behavior while still allowing them some degree of freedom within marriage.
This approach often leads to repressed feelings and a lack of self-awareness when it comes to intimacy and relationships.
How do religious traditions teach individuals to distrust bodily knowledge?
Many religious traditions emphasize that the body is a temporary vessel for the soul, with its desires and pleasures being fleeting and sinful temptations. Therefore, religious teachings often encourage people to ignore bodily sensations and rely on spiritual guidance instead of trusting their instincts. Some religions even teach that physical pleasure is a sign of evil or Satanic influence.