Sexual desire is a natural human need that cannot be controlled and it can happen without any conscious decision making process.
Society has always viewed sexuality through a prism of morality and religion. Morals are values that dictate how an individual should behave according to his/her culture while religion is a set of beliefs that guide the way a person lives their life. In this regard, one might wonder whether these forces of morality and religion actually influence the sexual desires of individuals.
How does morality shape sexuality? One view is that morality seeks to regulate sexual behavior through the creation of rules and guidelines that govern what people can and cannot do sexually. This includes adultery, homosexuality, premarital sex, masturbation, and pornography, among others. The moralist perspective suggests that sex should occur within marriage between opposite genders as a means of procreating and maintaining societal stability. According to this viewpoint, anything else is immoral and leads to immorality.
It ignores the fact that sexual pleasure in itself is considered wrong and undesirable by many religions. In addition, some religious teachings forbid the use of contraceptives even when couples engage in consensual non-procreative sexual encounters. As such, they are forced to choose between obeying their religious beliefs or following their sexual desires.
The conflict between sexuality and morality becomes more intense with issues like polygamy. Polygamous marriages are often frowned upon in most cultures due to the high rates of divorce and family breakdown they cause.
Some societies allow it based on cultural norms that dictate how many wives a man can have. On the other hand, some religious traditions condemn any form of polygamy while others permit it under certain circumstances. In Islam for example, a man can marry up to four women but not without satisfying them all equally. If one feels neglected, she has the right to leave the union. It is clear then that religion plays a role in shaping sexual behavior but does not always guide individuals to make good choices.
Someone might engage in extramarital affairs out of lust, which goes against both morals and religion.
Religion also guides sexual practices through its emphasis on purity. Virginity before marriage is seen as a virtue in many faiths, especially Christianity and Islam. This means that premarital sex is viewed as sinful even though there may be little difference between the act before or after marriage. In this regard, individuals who wish to satisfy their sexual needs outside marriage feel conflicted since their desires do not align with their values and moral convictions. Similarly, those who engage in extramarital affairs must deal with feelings of guilt because they are breaking the rules of their religious teachings. As such, the alignment of sexual desire with moral beliefs requires people to adhere to strict rules about when, where, and how to express themselves sexually.
Sexual desires are inherent in human nature and are not easily controlled by external forces like morality and religion.
Societal norms influence how people choose to express their sexuality either by accepting or rejecting it. Individuals are forced to balance their desires with their morals and religion, causing some to suffer psychological discomfort due to guilt and self-reproach.
How do sexual desires align or conflict with moral or religious beliefs?
The alignment of sexual desires with moral or religious beliefs can vary greatly between individuals, cultures, and religions. Some people may find their sexual desires to be consistent with their personal morals and values, while others may experience a conflict between the two. This conflict can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and confusion, as well as potential social isolation and stigma from peers or family members who hold different beliefs.