The question of whether and how to practice monogamy is one that has been debated for centuries among human beings and across cultures. Different religions have had different approaches to this issue, and the way they handle it influences both the sexual lives of their adherents and the ways those adherents interact with each other within marriage. It is important to understand these issues from a historical perspective, since they can reveal much about the cultural values and expectations that shape modern attitudes toward marital fidelity.
The biblical story of King David and Bathsheba tells the tale of an extramarital affair between a powerful king and his subject, which led to the death of her husband and their child; while the Qur'an teaches that a man may take up to four wives if he chooses, so long as he treats them equally.
In many religious traditions, there are specific rules or guidelines regarding what types of relationships are acceptable and under what circumstances.
In Islam, Muslims believe that sex outside of marriage is forbidden and punishable by law. This means that even when individuals feel desire towards someone who is not their spouse, they must resist that urge unless they want to risk legal repercussions. Similarly, in some Christian denominations such as the Catholic Church, priests vow celibacy until they marry or remain single throughout their lives, which means that they do not have access to any kind of physical intimacy at all. Both of these examples demonstrate the power of doctrine to influence behavior, but also show how those belief systems can sometimes create negative consequences for people.
Some religions view monogamy as ideal but allow for occasional exceptions, such as polygyny (having multiple wives) or polyandry (having multiple husbands). In Hinduism, for example, the concept of artha-kama refers to the idea that men should pursue both material wealth and pleasure within marriage, which often leads to a situation where women have multiple partners. While this might seem like a recipe for disaster, it is actually seen as a way for everyone involved to get their needs met without breaking any laws or social norms.
Some cultures have developed ways of dealing with sexual jealousy that go beyond simple prohibition; instead, they focus on understanding why someone might be tempted to stray from their partner and addressing those underlying issues rather than simply condemning them.
It's important to remember that religious teachings are just one aspect of human experience; individual circumstances will always play an important role in shaping relationships and influencing personal decisions about fidelity. It may help to consider these ideas alongside other factors such as socioeconomic class or gender roles when exploring how marital fidelity works out in practice. What is clear, though, is that religious doctrines can have a significant impact on our lives – even if we don't always agree with them!
How do religious doctrines of marital fidelity influence sexual desire, jealousy, and relational negotiation?
The article "Sexual Attitudes, Beliefs, Desire Discrepancies, and Infidelity Among Religious Couples" by Pargament et al. (2018) aimed to explore how religious doctrines of marital fidelity shape the sexual desires, feelings of jealousy, and relational negotiations of spouses in interfaith relationships.