Natural sexual rhythms are those physical and psychological processes that drive people towards sexual activity. They include hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, which regulate libido and reproductive function; sensory cues like touch, sight, sound, smell, taste, and hearing; emotions such as love, lust, passion, affection, jealousy, possessiveness, fear, anger, guilt, shame, and pride; cognitive abilities like memory, attention, language, perception, reasoning, imagination, creativity, judgment, decision making, planning, problem solving, and fantasy; behavioral tendencies including pursuit, attraction, courtship, flirtation, seduction, arousal, orgasm, and post-coital satisfaction; cultural norms such as social rules, expectations, roles, scripts, and values; and situational influences such as privacy, location, time, space, technology, and substance use. Religious self-denial is an act or practice of restraint from one's own desires in order to adhere to religious beliefs or teachings. It can take many forms, such as fasting, prayer, charity, meditation, altruism, humility, devotion, service, asceticism, detachment, renunciation, mortification, celibacy, chastity, virginity, purity, and fidelity. These practices may be voluntary or imposed by society, family, community, church, or God.
Natural sexual rhythms are universal across cultures and time periods, while religious self-denial varies greatly between religions, subcultures, individuals, and situations. Many believers find a balance between these two forces by identifying which aspects of their lives they wish to prioritize: their faith or their erotic impulses. Some people believe that sexual pleasure should be enjoyed within the context of marriage and procreation, while others feel that all expressions of love are inherently sacred. Others still maintain that sex is a private matter that should not be regulated by anyone but oneself.
In Judaism, for example, there is no strict prohibition against sexual desire or lust itself, but masturbation and extramarital intercourse are considered sins. A married couple must engage in coitus only when the woman is fertile, otherwise it is forbidden.
Jewish law does not require frequent sex; couples may abstain from it entirely if they choose. In Islam, sex is seen as a normal human need, but it is restricted to wedlock and can only occur within certain times of the month. Homosexuality and premarital sex are strictly condemned, while adultery is punishable by death. Christians view sexual activity as a gift from God and a way of showing marital love. The Catholic Church teaches that sex should happen exclusively within marriage and only for reproduction.
Some devout believers use meditation and prayer to suppress natural urges, while others seek spiritual fulfillment through physical intimacy with their partner. For some, chastity before marriage is a prerequisite for true commitment and faithfulness afterward. Still others find joy in exploring their own bodies without shame or guilt, even if their religion dictates otherwise.
Reconciling these two forces requires honesty about one's desires, self-discipline, communication with partners, and an acceptance of both sides of oneself.