Religious discipline defines success and failure differently than secular beliefs do. In general, religions emphasize asceticism, renunciation, humility, service to others, and selflessness as essential virtues for a fulfilling life. Sexual pleasure is seen as one of many temptations that can distract people from spiritual goals. Religious texts are often vague about what constitutes appropriate sexual behavior, but they typically warn against lustful thoughts, adultery, and pornography. The ultimate goal of religious discipline is to control desires through self-control rather than external rules.
Islamic law forbids premarital sex, while Hinduism teaches celibacy as the highest state. Christianity encourages chastity until marriage and fidelity thereafter, while Judaism promotes fertility within marriage. Buddhist monks follow strict codes of celibacy. From this perspective, successful sexual activity requires moderation and restraint. Even within marriages, sexual excesses are considered unholy.
In terms of failure, religious disciplines condemn certain behaviors as sinful or unethical. These include rape, incest, bestiality, pederasty, and prostitution. Many religions also view homosexual acts as immoral and unnatural. Transgender identities are rarely discussed in traditional texts, but some modern interpretations allow for fluid gender roles. Nonconsensual relationships are viewed as exploitative and abusive, regardless of gender. Divorce is discouraged unless necessary for safety or infidelity. Some communities even punish adulterers with physical violence or exile. By these standards, success means conforming to accepted norms, while failure means violating them.
Religious beliefs have changed over time. Modern Christians accept contraception and divorce more readily than their predecessors did. Secular ideas about free will and personal choice challenge religious doctrines that see God's will as all-powerful. Individualistic cultures encourage personal fulfillment through self-expression and pleasure. New interpretations of scripture emphasize compassion and kindness rather than judgmental righteousness. For many people today, religious discipline does not define the boundaries of acceptable behavior so much as it reinforces existing social and cultural expectations.
How does religious discipline redefine success and failure in sexual life?
Religious discipline often defines success as obedience to moral and spiritual laws that regulate behavior, including sexual conduct. In this context, success is achieved when an individual adheres to the prescribed rules of their faith regarding sex, such as abstinence before marriage or fidelity within marriage. On the other hand, failure is defined by transgressing these norms, which may result in social sanctions or divine punishment.