Sexuality – Religions Society

Sexuality is a topic on which have been already written volumes of books, about which we can discuss through different prisms, so will sexuality in this text processed through some common features.

To even be able to talk about sexuality, it is necessary to define what is sexual intercourse. All we use to mean by sexually is penetration. However, ask yourself what your value system mean by sexual intercourse.

Research shows that 80% of anal sex considered sexual relations, but only 40% of oral sex is placed in a sexual relationship. Given the foregoing, it is clear why many controversies arise when discussing sexuality and it is therefore difficult to provide for unique definition of sexual relations.

Sexuality is made up of all the stimuli, emotions and experiences that leads a person to physical sexual arousal, and thereby contribute to increasing sexual desire and / or behavior. The majority of leading experts from this field agree that it is not only about the instinctive, physiological and physical phenomena.Human sexuality is very complex psychological and sociological phenomenon.

Recently sexuality attracted increasing attention, which are particularly contributed to changes in social norms, the influence of feminism, the rise of sexually transmitted diseases, among which occupied a significant place HIV / AIDS and increase care for reproductive health. Sexual intercourse has long tabooed, is reserved for the intimate area of each individual and we will find it difficult to talk openly about sexual intercourse, and not to mention the specific difficulties that arise during the relationship.Why this is so, we can observe several major influences that we are exposed from the very childhood.

Religion and sexuality

Religion is a big influence on each individual. Religion aims to define the moral rules in a sexual relationship. According to the religious concepts of sexual intercourse is the sole objective of the extension types. Any other form of sexual relationship represents the amoral behavior. So it is understandable why homosexuality, sex during menstruation, contraception and sexual relationships for pleasure as impermissible in the religious sense and in violation of the moral (religious) norms. I personally consider the religious type of lifelong repressed sexuality to be the most destructive kind of self abnegation.

Society and Sexuality

A society in which every individual grows up also determines what is a sexual relationship and what it should be. The Company aims to develop standards, rules and norms. Norms are shared by the people in “normal” and deviant-”abnormal”, depending on whether the norms and standards of society or not. Every company is subject to change throughout its history, including the Victorian era, “immoral” woman was identified as one that experienced an orgasm, and today women seeking help for the inability of reaching orgasm. It should be emphasized that the sexual norms of relative and subject to change and vary from society to society. Violation of these norms can lead to different social reactions. What is sexual conformity in a society, the second may be a sexual deviation, the “violator” of norms may experience different destinies in a way that the behavior may be condemned as immoral, such as crime and disease. Sexual behavior and attitudes related to sexual life were strongly shaped by the culture in which we live, and determined the influence of parental education, the influence of peer groups, schools, books, magazines. Sociological studies show significant cross-cultural differences in gender, sexuality and sexual relationships.

Cross-cultural differences

Polygamy in the Islamic world and in ancient time of India is not prohibited, but only for men (a man can have four wives simultaneously, and in practice to decide only the second marriage to men who are financially afford it). With polygamy, the Qur’an mentions temporary marriage for pleasure. Divorce is accepted in some Islamic countries.

After the arrival of Mao Tse-Tung came to power in China comes to big changes – the repression of sexual conduct with the aim of directing all human forces in the “revolution”. 1980th The manual was published by the government authorized that to 74 by explaining the essential “sexual knowledge” (eg, recommendations for frequency of sexual relations between young couples).

In China, the government’s primary concern is control of population growth, which automatically affects all aspects of relationships and marriages in China.

In ancient Greece the love is seen through the dualistic concept: the spiritual love of agape (the highest form, spiritual, altruistic love), and a natural love of eros (erotic love, the love that comes from physical attraction).

Pre-Christian philosophers and Christian era, taught the values of life are excluded sexuality. With the advent of Christianity, there is the ascetic view of sex and other pleasures.

The Protestant Reformation made the first change in the views, sexual relations not only serve the purpose of reproduction but also for pleasure.

Research shows differences in the frequency of sexual intercourse. Gebhart 1971 states that in Western societies a few times a week (two to five times), while members of the tribe Lapcha five to ten times, but during one night. (sounds good isn’t it):)

Days of the New Guinea have sex once every two years.

Different cultures in different ways to perceive and extramarital sexual relations.

Aboriginal extramarital sexual experience as a welcome experience for the husband and wife, because it kills the boredom and routine, and thus increases the mutual ties.

Tribe Marques from Polynesia, certain Eskimo tribes do not have anything against extramarital sex, believe that offering sexual services to guests-chance part of the behavior of a good host.

For some communities extramarital sexual activity are acceptable for men.

Culture has also impact in terms of sexuality of children and premarital sex.

In some vedic hindu religion and most sub cultures,it is allowed sexual intercourse solely (not other aspects of sex) once a month in a presumed fertile day of a woman between a married couple,and after a sacred ritual. Sex is consider sacred solely if for purpose of begetting a religious children, otherwise considered a sin. Sex for pleasure only in Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition is considered illicit, and thus a sin.

A large number of tribes on the islands of the South Pacific, particularly approves child sexuality (eg, one of the children’s games is a common masturbation).

Chewa Tribe (Africa), early sexual life among young people consider to be essential for future fertility and he also approved. Lepcha tribe (southeastern part of the Himalayas) believe that the girl should be sexually active earlier (most girls at 11 or 12 years sexually active).

However, the tribes Kwon (New Guinea) forbidden for boys to be caught with an erection, so that boys of this tribe go so far as to learn how to pee without having to touch the hands of the penis.

In Middle Eastern cultures (the majority of the Islamic religion), disclosure of any part of the female body is strictly prohibited. In Malaysia, if it is on TV a man and woman (both clothed) show themselves in a room longer than 3 seconds, it implies that they had sexual intercourse. Showing these scenes is prohibited, except in the case of the married couple.

Laws and sexuality

Do not forget the laws that attempt to answer the question what is normal and what is deviant behavior. Of course, the laws vary among cultures. The laws have two objectives, namely the prohibition and protection; goals are linked: the need to ban most “wrong” behavior in order to protect “weaker” members of society.

Finally we can summarize: the area of human sexuality is extremely complex phenomenon which can not be viewed separately from the culture in which we live and which exist certain rules of conduct. The concept of sexuality is subject to change in so far as changing norms, attitudes and behavior of society. Social impacts on human sexual behavior can be approached on several levels:

Macro-level – the impact of society as a whole, powerful social institutions:

Religion – clear shapes and forms of sexual behavior, setting standards, (eg, attitude toward premarital sex and illegitimate, homosexuality,masturbation, sex for pleasure…etc.)

economic conditions – the nature and structure of the economy affects the human sexuality

family – the socialization processes

Medical – doctors determine what is healthy and good for us

legal system – the law determines the standard (what is required by law only correct) mechanisms of social control.

Subcultural level – social background, class or ethnic group, (unwritten, but not negligible, rules and norms that influence behavior)

Interpersonal level – socialization processes, the relationship with your partner.

Individual level – denied by the personal thoughts and desires, sexual orientation and sexual scripts that we learned.

If we are believers in God,or members of some social community group where sex solely for pleasure is prohibited, should we embrace our sex desires and enjoy with our partner anyway knowing that we are not doing any harm to others or ourselves with it? Or should we artificially repress our sexuality due to the given norms?

To bring this to an end: it remains that sexual energy is the strongest energy we posses in this world. I stand that it should be enjoyed, somehow it should be regulated, we should not suppress it, is not sinful because it is part of our body and mind, and as such can be used or abused like everything else in life.

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