Why do religions focus on sex?

[Bozo Erectus]

It seems like all religions are obsessed with sex. Most of the issues that religions confront are sex related. Whether its same sex marriage, contraception, homosexuality, the role of women in society, abortion etc. This isnt a new development, religions have always focused on sex. Why do you think that is? I have some theories but Im more interested in hearing what you think about it.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I'm not sure it's fair to say that religions in general are obsessed with sex, but if they are, the reason's likely no more complex than that most believers are humans, and humans are highly preoccupied with sex.

 

[gorn]

Sex is one of the most important facets of life. It would be a rather incomplete religion to ignore it.

Actually, I believe many religions have more rules about food than sex.

 

[Comraddict]

Because it is perfect way to control people who believe in 2000+ yrs old lie.
When they already belive in that lie, you can sell them more.

 

[Akka]

Most religions have their roots in making human different than others animals.
It's a practically universal metaphysical point. The need to be "more" than the rest of creation.

Sex being something very "animal" in its nature, nothing surprising it's being stomped on by many religions.

 

[Maj]

Probably has something to do with it being the greatest temptation that won't kill you if disobeyed (as opposed to hunger, thirst and pain).

 

[Norlamand]

Who doesn't?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Of course individuals focus on sex. But why do religious organization find them so irresistable? If it was merely because individuals do, then ALL organizations would be obsessed with sex.

 

[Godwynn]

Religions are and will always be obsessed with sex. They will hate homosexuality, and contraceptives (spelling?). What better why to increase the size of your religion by telling them they will spend an eternity being tortured next to a bonfire if they like someone else of the same sex.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe in God, I just don't follow my leaders blindly.

 

[WillJ]

Originally posted by Akka
Most religions have their roots in making human different than others animals.
It's a practically universal metaphysical point. The need to be "more" than the rest of creation.

Sex being something very "animal" in its nature, nothing surprising it's being stomped on by many religions.

Yep, same reason why many religions have controls on foods.

Edit: Not that I think this is obviously and undeniably the reason, just that it's a sensible hypothesis.

 

[Evie]

It depend on the religion really.

Judaism probably for the reason cited above of separating humans from animal. Islam I have no idea.

Christianism, IMHO is for an even simpler reason - they want people to strive toward eternal pleasure in heaven. If there's some free, easy way to get plenty of pleasure down here instead, their religion lose much in the way of impact. Thus, sex for pleasure means an eternity of torture in their religion.

 

[Shadylookin]

they want you to not be gay and wait till your married to have sex so they can have all the little boys to themselves yes i'll probably burn in hell for that joke, but it's not as if i wasn't anyway.

 

[cgannon64]

Because Sex is probably the most tempting of all things on this earth, behind power.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Because sexual attraction is a greater power than the human brain

Religions want faith to be supreme; thus, anything that combats with faith for influence in the human mind must be destroyed. That's why so many religions are ascetic.

Also, religions want lots of little followers just look at Islam, early Mormonism, Catholicism, various Protestant sects, etc.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

By the way, this is the perfect place for that famous dialogue in Python's Meaning of Life:

MR. HARRY BLACKITT:
Look at them, bloody Catholics, filling the bloody world up with bloody people they can't afford to bloody feed.
MRS. BLACKITT:
What are we dear?
MR. BLACKITT:
Protestant, and fiercely proud of it.
MRS. BLACKITT:
Hmm. Well, why do they have so many children?
MR. BLACKITT:
Because... every time they have sexual intercourse, they have to have a baby.
MRS. BLACKITT:
But it's the same with us, Harry.
MR. BLACKITT:
What do you mean?
MRS. BLACKITT:
Well, I mean, we've got two children, and we've had sexual intercourse twice.

 

[Achinz]

Some religions seem to celebrate sex eg Tantric Buddhism.

 

[Speedo]

Why do religions focus on sex?

They don't. Try actually finding out what they're about.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by Pontiuth Pilate
By the way, this is the perfect place for that famous dialogue in Python's Meaning of Life:

MR. HARRY BLACKITT:
Look at them, bloody Catholics, filling the bloody world up with bloody people they can't afford to bloody feed.
MRS. BLACKITT:
What are we dear?
MR. BLACKITT:
Protestant, and fiercely proud of it.
MRS. BLACKITT:
Hmm. Well, why do they have so many children?
MR. BLACKITT:
Because... every time they have sexual intercourse, they have to have a baby.
MRS. BLACKITT:
But it's the same with us, Harry.
MR. BLACKITT:
What do you mean?
MRS. BLACKITT:
Well, I mean, we've got two children, and we've had sexual intercourse twice.

I love that conversation.

"I could go out right now and buy a French tickler and stand before my God and be PROUD!"
"Will you?"
"Well of course not..."

 

[kulade]

Why do religions focus on sex!?! Why do athests focus on sex?

 

[Marla_Singer]

Each society needs to elaborate rules of conducts between people so that we avoid as much as possible conflicts. Sexual relationships are one of the important relationships between human beings and to establish rules to avoid conflicts about that topic is something that happens naturally. However, those rules are mainly cultural and not necessarily in the frame of a religion.

On the other hand, religions claim they've understood everything about life. They have all answers : what it is about, how does it work, and, of course, how people should behave. As a result, they say also their words about sex, however, the importance of sex is very different from a religion to another.

The religions that are the most obsessed about sex are Christiannism, Judaism and Islam. The three religions are based on the Torah or the Ancient Testament. If you look at that book, you'll realize sex is everywhere !