I think it is basically a control issue. People who allow themselves to indulge in earthly pleasures are probably harder to contain.
That sounds negative but it probably isn't in its entirety. Anything done to excess is bad for you and some pleasures probably are best avoided. I have heard, for example, that taking heroin is like having an 8 hour orgasm. That may be true but there are obvious side affects associated with becoming a heroin addict. The same thing applies to all the other hard drugs, alcohol included - so it isn't just the illegality that is the problem.
Further, if you do aspire to be a culture that values marriage then encouraging the ideal of fidelity probably does help in keeping families together - although to a somewhat limited degree in our culture judging by the preponderance of infidelity and divorce.
Having said all of that - as an atheist who has been with his wife 30 years come January, faithfully, I remain to be convinced that religion actually has much of a role to play.
That sounds negative but it probably isn't in its entirety. Anything done to excess is bad for you and some pleasures probably are best avoided. I have heard, for example, that taking heroin is like having an 8 hour orgasm. That may be true but there are obvious side affects associated with becoming a heroin addict. The same thing applies to all the other hard drugs, alcohol included - so it isn't just the illegality that is the problem.
Further, if you do aspire to be a culture that values marriage then encouraging the ideal of fidelity probably does help in keeping families together - although to a somewhat limited degree in our culture judging by the preponderance of infidelity and divorce.
Having said all of that - as an atheist who has been with his wife 30 years come January, faithfully, I remain to be convinced that religion actually has much of a role to play.
