How does religious obedience influence erotic confidence or inhibition?
The term "religious" refers to practices that involve beliefs in deities or supernatural forces. Religions typically have rules and guidelines for how people should live their lives, including what they can do or cannot do in terms of behavior, clothing, food, drink, socializing, and more. These are often seen as ways of being obedient to God or gods, following instructions from a higher power. The term "confidence" refers to feeling self-assured and secure, especially about one's abilities or qualities. It means believing in oneself and having faith in one's own capabilities. "Inhibition", meanwhile, is when someone feels shy or hesitant, holding back from doing something because it makes them feel nervous or embarrassed. It involves restraining impulses, desires, feelings, or actions.
Religion can be seen as a source of both sexual confidence and inhibition, depending on how it is practiced and applied. Some religions forbid certain types of sex altogether, while others allow it but limit who you can have sex with, what kinds of sexual acts are acceptable, and where and when you can engage in such activities.
Some Christian denominations teach that sex is solely for procreation within marriage between a man and woman. Any other form of sex - even if consensual - is considered sinful. This teaching may lead followers to feel ashamed of non-procreative sex acts, which could result in decreased erotic confidence. On the other hand, it could also result in increased erotic inhibition, since followers will avoid any type of sex outside of their belief system.
Islamic law, on the other hand, allows only vaginal intercourse between married couples, but other forms of intimacy - including foreplay and masturbation - are permissible as long as they do not involve penetration. This may lead to greater erotic confidence among Muslims, as they know they are allowed to explore different ways to express their affection towards each other without fear of judgment or punishment.
Islam also has strict rules about modesty, which may inhibit some people's sexual expression by requiring them to cover themselves fully at all times.
Hinduism has no explicit rules regarding sex, but many Hindus believe in karma and reincarnation. In this view, good deeds are rewarded with a better rebirth, while bad deeds result in less desirable lives. Having too much sex or getting too close to someone before marriage may be seen as immoral, leading to an unhappy future life. It may therefore decrease erotic confidence, since people may worry that engaging in such activities will negatively impact their next life.
Buddhism teaches that lust and desire are negative emotions that lead to suffering, so monks and nuns must renounce these feelings and pursue chastity. They cannot have romantic relationships or even touch one another, except for limited physical contact like a hug. This means there is little room for intimacy, let alone eroticism.
Buddhists can still enjoy "pure" sex acts within marriage, where the focus is on pleasure rather than passion. This may increase their confidence in their ability to fulfill their partner's needs, without having to worry about feelings of attachment or entanglement.
Judaism has complex laws around marriage and family life, including restrictions on who you can marry and when you should start a family. These customs can limit a person's erotic confidence if they feel unable to explore different types of partners or relationships due to social norms or religious expectations. On the other hand, some Jewish communities value education and scholarship, which could lead to increased knowledge and expertise in sexual matters, increasing a person's confidence in their abilities.
Many religions emphasize modesty and purity, which can both encourage inhibition and confidence depending on how it is practiced.
Orthodox Jews wear modest clothing that covers most of the body, while also being encouraged to study religious texts and pray regularly. Wearing modest clothes may make people feel more confident in their appearance, since they don't feel pressure to conform to modern fashion trends. At the same time, restricting one's movements and interactions with others - such as only talking to members of the opposite sex during certain times of day - can lead to greater inhibition, since people are not free to express themselves fully.
Religion can influence erotic confidence and inhibition by setting boundaries on what kinds of behaviors are allowed or forbidden. Some religious practices may create shame or guilt around non-procreative sex acts, resulting in decreased self-esteem and inhibited expression. Other teachings may increase confidence in specific skills or techniques, but still require adherence to strict rules about clothing and behavior outside of the bedroom.
There is no universal answer for how religious obedience affects eroticism, as it depends on many factors including personal experiences, cultural context, and individual belief systems.