The question is how religion impacts sexuality. It can be divided into three main categories: religious rules, religious customs, and religious rituals.
Rules are the most direct way that religion influences sexual behavior. Religions generally forbid certain behaviors such as adultery, incest, homosexuality, premarital sex, fornication, masturbation, and bestiality. These rules have been around for thousands of years and they still exist today.
There is some variation between religions when it comes to sexual practices.
Islam prohibits all forms of non-heterosexual behavior except anal intercourse between men while Hinduism permits same-sex acts if they are done discreetly or without penetration. Judaism allows gay marriage but does not recognize transgender people while Christianity condemns both.
Customs are less explicit than rules but they play an important role in shaping social norms. They include things like modesty codes which dictate what kind of clothing women should wear in public, who they should interact with outside their home, etc. In some cultures, female genitals must be covered by a burka whereas in others it's acceptable to show them off. Many societies also frown upon public displays of affection between couples (e.g., holding hands).
Rituals involve activities such as fasting during Ramadan or Lent, going to temple on Sundays, taking vows at weddings, etc. They often have nothing to do directly with sexuality but can affect private erotic imagination indirectly because they change the way people think about themselves and their relationships with others.
Many Catholics believe that birth control is sinful so they may feel guilty about using it even though they don't necessarily equate it with having sex itself. Similarly, Muslims may view sex as something shameful due to its association with sin so they might struggle with intimacy issues later on in life.
Religion shapes our understanding of sex through three main channels: rules, customs, and rituals. It makes us question ourselves and our desires constantly which leads to self-censorship when we try to express those feelings privately or act on them physically. This can lead to difficulties in forming meaningful connections because people are afraid of being judged for breaking religious taboos even if they aren't involved in any actual physical activity. As a result, some religious communities end up suppressing their members' natural impulses while other ones force them into secrecy and isolation.
How does religious community surveillance affect private erotic imagination and interpersonal intimacy?
Research indicates that people who belong to highly surveilled religious communities tend to have reduced ability for creative and imaginative thinking about sexuality and erotica compared to those in less surveilled communities. This can lead to decreased satisfaction with personal relationships as well as reduced intimacy and overall sense of self-worth.