The way people schedule their sexual life has been studied from many perspectives.
Researchers have examined whether different religions lead to different sexual habits, how religion affects marriage quality, or how religiosity influences attitudes towards sex. In general, it seems that religious individuals are more likely to plan their sex lives than non-religious ones, and this may be due to the fact that they perceive it as an obligation rather than pleasure. On the other hand, there is also evidence that religious beliefs can enhance romantic relationships, perhaps because they promote trust and commitment. So, does the regularity of sex make it less spontaneous and playful? This is what this article will try to answer.
Let's define the terms involved in the question. Spontaneity refers to a lack of planning or preparation before doing something. Playfulness implies the enjoyment of fun activities. It means enjoying lighthearted interactions and being open to novelty. Thus, these concepts are related but distinct; while one may be planned, the other is not. Sexual spontaneity involves doing sex without thinking about it, while playfulness might require some prior conversation. Let's explore them further.
For most people, sex is associated with intimacy and connection, and thus, it requires time and effort to develop those feelings. One would need at least to know each other for several weeks or months before having casual sex. That is why many couples wait until after a certain amount of time to have sex, which makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. From a psychological point of view, however, sex tends to become routine if done too often, so it becomes more difficult to experience arousal unless the couple varies the environment (e.g., by traveling). Yet, spontaneity seems to be part of sexual satisfaction as well. Therefore, there must be a balance between the two - routine sex and spontaneous encounters.
Religious individuals tend to plan their lives, including their sex life. They schedule it for specific days and times because they believe that is God's will. In addition, they may have strict guidelines on when and where to do it. This can lead to less variety in sexual positions and scenarios than non-religious people.
Anal sex is forbidden in many religions, while others restrict its frequency or duration. So, religious partners may find themselves repeating the same activities over and over again, losing playfulness along the way. On the other hand, regular sex can also foster closeness and trust, which could enhance playfulness later on.
Not all religions are the same in this regard. Some emphasize abstinence outside marriage but allow anything within it; others prohibit only premarital sex but no intercourse at all. The former might encourage spontaneous acts inside marriage since they know they will have sex sooner or later anyway. The latter would require more planning and scheduling. Moreover, some religions promote frequent sex to increase the chance of conception, which could lead to less spontaneity.
Having sex regularly tends to reduce spontaneity and creativity if one does not vary the scenario.
It can also enhance intimacy and connection, which increases playfulness in the long run. Religious beliefs affect this by promoting or discouraging particular behaviors and attitudes towards sex.