Religion is a set of beliefs that people follow in order to guide their behavior and live a life according to moral principles. It provides rules for how humans should behave towards each other and has an impact on many aspects of human existence including sex and sexuality. Religion influences what society considers to be acceptable or unacceptable when it comes to sexuality, and this includes who can engage in it and under what circumstances.
Some religions forbid sex before marriage while others allow it within certain bounds. Some religions also have strict guidelines about premarital sex, homosexuality, promiscuity, adultery, masturbation, pornography, and contraception, among other things.
The Bible states that God created man and woman for each other, so they should live together as husband and wife (Genesis 2:18). This means that a married couple should only have sex with each other and not with anyone else outside of marriage. The Quran also says that marriage is halal (allowed) but zina (sexual intercourse outside of marriage) is haram (forbidden). In Islam, men are allowed up to four wives while women cannot have more than one husband at once. These religious laws affect the perception of morality regarding sexual initiation because they specify when and where sex is permissible.
In Judaism, sex between a married couple is considered holy and encouraged, while all forms of non-procreative sex are considered immoral. The Torah prohibits adultery, incest, bestiality, and homosexuality. Christianity views sex as sacred and believes that it should only occur within the context of marriage between a man and woman. It condemns homosexuality, polygamy, prostitution, and pornography. Buddhism does not promote any particular sexual ethic; however, many believe that sexual activity should be regulated by monogamy. Hinduism has no explicit rules about sexual behavior or procreation; therefore, people can engage in whatever type of sexual activity they like.
There are restrictions on who you can marry based on caste, religion, and family status.
Religion influences how people perceive sex because it sets boundaries for acceptable behaviors.
If a person believes that premarital sex is wrong according to their faith, then they may feel guilty or shameful after having sex before marriage. This can impact their future relationships with partners since they might feel uncomfortable initiating intimacy. Similarly, some religions do not allow contraception which means that couples must rely on abstinence outside of marriage or face the consequences of unplanned pregnancy.