Sexual Harmony and Religious Doctrine
Sexual harmony is an integral part of marital bliss. It is what makes a relationship between husband and wife fulfilling and enjoyable.
It can be challenging to achieve because each person has different preferences, desires, needs, and expectations regarding their sexual lives. Some factors that affect this include age, health, past experiences, emotional baggage, family dynamics, culture, religion, etc. Religions play a significant role in shaping people's perceptions of sexual harmony. They provide guidelines on how couples should interact during intercourse, which leads to negotiation, pleasure equality, and erotic satisfaction. This paper will discuss the influence of religious doctrines on sexual harmony in marriage, focusing on negotiation, pleasure equality, and erotic satisfaction.
Negotiation
Religion shapes people's views on sexuality through teachings about gender roles and responsibilities in bed.
Some religions believe that men are sexually dominant and women submissive. Therefore, they have rules on how husbands and wives should behave in bed to avoid displeasure. The Bible says that "the man must satisfy his wife's physical need for intimacy," while the woman must submit herself to her husband (Ephesians 5:33). This teaching means that men decide what happens in bed, including when and where to have sex. On the other hand, women follow the direction of their partners. As a result, there may not be much negotiation since women have limited freedom or authority over their bodies. They are expected to accept whatever their husbands offer, regardless of their desire. Moreover, Islamic laws dictate that a married couple can only engage in missionary position, which is not always pleasurable for both parties. There is no room for negotiation because each partner follows the prescribed way of having sex.
Pleasure Equality
Sexual harmony requires that both partners feel satisfied with the act, leading to a fulfilling experience.
This goal is difficult to achieve in marriages shaped by religion due to disparities in sexual gratification. Some religions encourage women to maintain purity before marriage and remain virgins until they get hitched.
They frown upon masturbation, pornography, and contraception. These practices deprive women of pleasurable exploration, causing them to lack confidence or skills during intercourse. Men, on the other hand, may engage in casual sex, masturbation, and pornography before getting into a relationship. They have more experience, knowledge, and skills than their wives, making it challenging to satisfy them equally in bed.
Christianity believes that foreplay is wrong unless it leads to intercourse. Therefore, couples cannot explore different positions, techniques, and styles outside the norm, affecting erotic satisfaction.
Erotic Satisfaction
Religious doctrines also influence erotic satisfaction by restricting intimacy between spouses. Some cultures believe that sex should happen behind closed doors, without witnesses, and avoid certain body parts like breasts and buttocks. This restriction limits physical expression, which is essential for arousal and excitement. The Catholic Church teaches that couples must not engage in any form of sex except missionary position, leaving little room for creativity or pleasure. In Islam, men are encouraged to be passionate during intercourse, while women keep quiet and submit to their partners' desires. All these factors make it difficult for couples to achieve erotic satisfaction since there are limited opportunities for stimulation and communication.
Religious doctrines shape perceptions of sexual harmony in marriage by influencing negotiation, pleasure equality, and erotic satisfaction. These factors lead to imbalances in bed, limiting both partners' fulfillment and enjoyment.
Some people overcome this challenge by practicing non-conformist beliefs or ignoring religious teachings on sexuality. Others find happiness despite the restrictions through honest conversations about their needs and expectations with each other.
Sexual harmony requires openness, communication, mutual respect, understanding, and willingness to compromise regardless of cultural and religious differences.
How do religious doctrines shape perceptions of sexual harmony in marriage and influence negotiation, pleasure equality, and erotic satisfaction?
Religious teachings have traditionally been used as guides for individuals and couples seeking to establish a harmonious relationship based on biblical principles, which often include the idea that men and women should embrace their respective roles within the context of marriage and enjoy satisfying physical intimacy while remaining chaste outside it.