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Sexual morality varies greatly over time and between cultures. A society's Sexual Norm s — standards of sexual conduct — can be linked to Religious beliefs, or social and environmental conditions. Sexuality and reproduction are fundamental elements in human interaction and society worldwide. Accordingly, most religions have seen a need to address the question of a "proper" role for sexuality in human interactions. Different religions have different codes of sexual morality, which regulate Sexual Activity or assign normative values to certain sexually charged actions or thoughts. OVERVIEW The views of religions and religious believers range widely, from holding that sex and the flesh are evil to the belief that sex is the highest expression of the divine. Views on sexuality may not even be shared among adherents of a particular sect. Some religions distinguish between sexual activities that are practiced for biological reproduction (sometimes allowed only when in formal marital status and at a Certain Age ), and other activities practiced for sexual pleasure as Immoral . Although a popular hypothesis holds that a high degree of societal religiosity correlates with lower rates of non-monogamous sexual activity, a 2005 summary of various studies found that rates of Sexually Transmitted Disease s, Abortion , and Early Adolescent Pregnancy are in fact lower in secular societies. 1 ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS AND SEXUALITY Different-sex sexuality, and specifically procreation, is currently viewed as the ideal by some members of the Abrahamic Religion s. They sanction monogamous and committed different-sex relationships within Marriage . The Jewish Hebrew Bible prohibits Adultery and different-sex intercourse during the period of Niddah or Menses . Judaism and sexuality See Also: Tzniut Niddah Yichud Negiah Jewish views of homosexuality Traditional Judaism prohibits sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage, maintains biblical strictures on relations within marriage including observance of Niddah , a prohibition on relations on a period including the menstrual period, and Tzniut , requirements of modest dress and behavior. Traditional Judaism views adultery, incest, and male homosexuality as grave sins. See Jewish Views Of Homosexuality . Judaism permits relatively free divorce, with Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism requiring a Religious Divorce ceremony for a divorce to be religiously recognized. More liberal branches of Judaism have adapted perspectives more consistent with contemporary general secular culture. As a core aspect of Jewish law is the love of the body, sex in general is not viewed in a negative way since it is possibly the greatest way possible to love one's body. Levels of modesty required according to Orthodox Judaism See Also: Tzniut There are several levels to the observance of physical and personal modesty (''tzniut'') according to Orthodox Judaism as derived from various sources in '' Halakha ''. Observance of these rules varies from aspirational to mandatory to routine across the spectrum of Orthodox stricture and observance.
Orthodox Judaism also maintains a strong prohibition on interfaith sexual relations and marriage. |
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