Sexual violence is one of the most serious social problems that have been plaguing human societies for centuries. It manifests itself in various forms, such as rape, incest, child molestation, domestic violence, and marital rape. All these forms of sexual violence are considered immoral and unethical acts that violate the right of an individual to bodily integrity.
Despite the prevalence of this issue, religious institutions have prohibited some forms of sexual violence within marriage. This has led to the emergence of different schools of thought about whether religious prohibitions on sexual violence are justifiable or not. In this article, I will explore the moral, spiritual, and psychological reasoning underpinning religious restrictions on sexual violence within marriage.
The moral arguments for restricting sexual violence within marriage stem from the fact that it is against natural law. Natural law refers to the moral principles that govern the conduct of mankind and are binding on all individuals irrespective of their race, religion, culture, gender, or class. According to natural law theory, all people must follow certain rules in order to live harmoniously together. These laws include honesty, respect, kindness, compassion, justice, self-control, and chastity. Sexual violence goes against these laws because it causes pain, injury, and trauma to its victims. By definition, a victim is someone who cannot consent to being harmed physically or mentally. Therefore, sex without explicit consent is tantamount to assault, which is unjust and wrong.
Spiritually, sexual violence goes against the principle of love, which is one of the most important virtues in many religions. Love is defined as a feeling of strong affection towards another person that arises out of mutual understanding and respect. It involves giving without expecting anything in return. In Christianity, for instance, love is manifested in the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ when he died for humanity's sins. The Bible defines love as patient, kind, humble, faithful, and forgiving (1 Corinthians 13:4). Sexual violence within marriage violates these attributes since it hurts, degrades, and abuses partners who are supposed to be loved unconditionally. When sexual violence occurs within marriage, one partner exploits the other for his or her gratification without regard to their emotional needs or feelings. This is unloving behavior and is spiritually condemnable.
Psychologically, sexual violence causes severe mental distress and trauma to the victim. Trauma is defined as an intense emotional reaction to a terrible event that has occurred in the past but continues to affect an individual's present state of mind. A victim may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, flashbacks, nightmares, and guilt. These psychological effects can manifest themselves in various ways such as suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, withdrawal, isolation, and aggression. To some extent, sex without explicit consent also harms the perpetrator because it makes him/her feel guilty about hurting someone they claim to love. Perpetrators often suffer from anxiety and low self-esteem due to their shameful acts. This explains why religious institutions prohibit sexual violence within marriage because it is detrimental to both parties involved.
Religious restrictions on sexual violence within marriage stem from moral, spiritual, and psychological reasoning. They aim to protect the sanctity of marriage by preventing individuals from using it as a platform to satisfy their lustful desires. By doing so, religions seek to maintain harmony between partners by avoiding conflict, pain, and distress. Although these restrictions may appear restrictive, they promote the well-being of married couples by fostering trust, intimacy, mutual respect, and understanding. Therefore, we should support religious institutions in their efforts to curb sexual violence within marriage since it benefits everyone involved.
What moral, spiritual, and psychological reasoning underlies religious prohibitions of sexual violence within marriage?
Sexual violence is often associated with power imbalances between men and women, as well as cultural beliefs about gender roles and expectations. In some cultures, religion can be used to justify this behavior by emphasizing the subordinate status of women and their role as objects for male pleasure. Religious teachings may also suggest that sex should only occur within the context of marriage to maintain morality and purity, which can lead to feelings of guilt and shame if not adhered to.