The Bible's position on sex is clear. It tells believers that intercourse between husband and wife is good and pleasurable, but it also warns against sexual immorality. Sexual desire can lead to lustful thoughts, actions, and emotions that are against God's will.
Sex is an important part of marriage, so believers must practice self-control and avoid extramarital sex and pornography. In Islam, sex outside of marriage is forbidden, even for married people. Muslims believe that sex is a private matter between spouses and should be kept within marriage.
Some Islamic scholars say that physical beauty is a distraction from spiritual matters and can lead to sinful desires. In Hinduism, sexual pleasure is considered an illusion created by Maya, the goddess of delusion. Therefore, believers should focus on enlightenment rather than indulging their senses. Judaism views sex as sacred and holy, but only within marriage. Jews believe that sexual relationships create intimacy, trust, and love, which are essential elements of marriage. Some Christians believe that sex is inherently evil or sinful, while others view it as natural and pleasurable. Buddhists teach that sexual desire is one of the three roots of suffering and should be avoided altogether. But other Buddhist sects allow monks to marry if they feel that celibacy would hinder their meditation.
Christianity often condemns same-sex relations because they go against the Bible's teaching on procreation.
Many Christians recognize that gay people cannot help who they are attracted to and seek to help them change through therapy or prayer. Islam considers homosexuality a major sin, punishable by death in some countries. Hindus generally do not condemn homosexuality, but some have criticized it as unnatural or a product of Western influence. Jewish law does not specifically address LGBTQ+ issues, but most rabbis consider same-sex intercourse forbidden due to its non-procreative nature. Buddhism sees gender as socially constructed and rejects binary concepts like male/female. Some Buddhist teachers accept transgender identities as valid expressions of enlightenment.
How do religious teachings influence the perception of sexual attraction as virtuous or sinful?
Religious teachings play a significant role in shaping people's attitudes towards sexuality and sexual attraction. In many religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, sex is viewed as a sacred act that should only be practiced within marriage for procreation. Thus, any form of premarital or extramarital sex is considered sinful and immoral.