As a child, I remember feeling confused about how to reconcile my religious beliefs with my sexual desires. I was raised in a conservative Christian household where sex before marriage was considered a sin, but I also had strong emotional and physical attraction towards others. This conflict led me to develop strategies for managing my feelings and urges, such as prayer, confession, and self-control.
These efforts eventually became exhausting and led to my dissociation from sensations related to sex, dating, and love. My faith community reinforced this dissociation by emphasizing that true love comes from God, not from earthly pleasures like romance and passion.
I came to believe that sexual desire was an obstacle to spiritual growth and distracted from my relationship with Christ. As a result, I developed a sense of shame and guilt around my sexuality, which made it difficult to connect emotionally with anyone else.
But why do religions promote moral codes that encourage dissociation from sensation? One theory is that they seek to control behavior and protect society from harmful or immoral actions. By suppressing natural impulses, people are less likely to engage in activities that could lead to unwanted pregnancies, diseases, or social disruption.
Some Christian denominations teach abstinence until marriage, while Islamic traditions prohibit any form of nonmarital sexual contact. These rules may seem harsh, but their aim is to preserve the sanctity of family bonds and ensure that individuals remain committed to each other for life.
Another explanation is that religious morality helps create boundaries between sacred and secular realms. In many cultures, religion defines what is considered holy and unholy, and this distinction can extend to personal relationships.
Orthodox Judaism promotes modesty and separation of genders to maintain purity and avoid temptation. Similarly, Hinduism has strict rules regarding caste and gender roles, which can limit intimacy within certain groups. By drawing clear lines between different spheres of existence, religions help believers focus on their spiritual lives rather than material ones.
Religious morals may reinforce existing cultural norms and power structures. In patriarchal societies, women's bodies and desires have been historically seen as dangerous or subordinate to men's needs. Religious teachings often reflect these views, emphasizing male dominance and female submission. This creates a sense of shame around female pleasure and autonomy, leading some women to repress their feelings entirely. At the same time, it can also encourage men to view themselves as superior and entitled to sex and domination.
Religious morality plays an important role in shaping how we think about sexuality and relationships. While it can provide stability and guidance, it also creates challenges for those who struggle with feelings of desire and connection. As we continue to explore our own beliefs and values, it's essential to examine the ways in which they impact our experiences and choices. May God bless us all on our journey towards truth and understanding.