A study conducted among Muslim youth revealed that 78% have experienced sexual violence such as unwanted touching, kissing, or sexual assault. This can be attributed to several factors including family upbringing, culture, peer influence, media exposure, and religion. Religion is particularly crucial because it teaches adherents what is right and wrong in life and provides them with guidelines for living morally upright lives.
It is important to note that religious silence around sexuality does not necessarily mean there are no norms governing sexual conduct. Rather, it means that these norms are implicit rather than explicit, requiring interpretation and application in real-life situations.
In Islam, for instance, sexuality is seen as an innate part of human nature but is also highly regulated. The Quran states "your spouses are your garment," suggesting that sex is meant to bring couples closer together.
It also prohibits extramarital relationships, premarital sex, same-sex relationships, and rape. These rules guide Muslim societies' moral behavior towards sex, intimacy, and relationships. But since these laws are often unspoken, they are open to interpretation by individuals and communities.
Some interpretations allow polygamy while others do not. Some communities deem nudity immoral while others find it normal. As a result, Muslim youth may struggle to make sense of their sexual experiences.
Christianity teaches that sex is sacred between two married partners who love each other mutually and exclusively. It emphasizes the importance of abstaining from premarital or extra-marital sexual activity and encourages spouses to show respect and affection during intercourse.
There are different understandings of this teaching within different denominations. Some churches promote celibacy before marriage, while others allow contraception and premarital sex. This can lead to confusion among young Christians trying to follow the scripture.
Religious silence around sexuality functions as moral pedagogy because it teaches adherents to read between the lines of religious texts to understand what constitutes acceptable sexual conduct. This process requires careful analysis and interpretation of verses in light of personal circumstances and contexts. It also allows for flexibility based on individual beliefs, cultural practices, and lived realities.
Religious silence around sexuality does not prevent people from understanding morality but rather challenges them to seek guidance from religious sources to live according to God's will.