There's far too many theories about this, some plausible and some nothing short of ridiculous. Why do you personally think most of the major world religions (some exception made for Judaism and Hinduism) have developed this obsession for celibacy?
While the very earliest archeological evidence have shown that sexuality and faith have often gone hand in hand (just look at some of those mother goddess statues they dug up in Turkey!) there came a stage where people seem to have switched for want of a better term to "sex is bad". I don't doubt Christian and Islamic influences brought it onwards onto a whole new scale but even before then we have the Vestal Virgins of Rome, Buddhism (exception to Tantra), the Oracle at Delphi (a 40 year old virgin woman), the priesthoods of Artemis and even more extreme that of Cybele (who ordered the full castration of her male clergy).
I know most of my examples are Hellenistic, but I admit I'm rather ignorant of eastern culture. Why do the religious seem to fear sexuality? They often seem to emphasize the role of father/motherhood and yet at the same time despise what makes that happen.
Any thoughts are welcomed.
While the very earliest archeological evidence have shown that sexuality and faith have often gone hand in hand (just look at some of those mother goddess statues they dug up in Turkey!) there came a stage where people seem to have switched for want of a better term to "sex is bad". I don't doubt Christian and Islamic influences brought it onwards onto a whole new scale but even before then we have the Vestal Virgins of Rome, Buddhism (exception to Tantra), the Oracle at Delphi (a 40 year old virgin woman), the priesthoods of Artemis and even more extreme that of Cybele (who ordered the full castration of her male clergy).
I know most of my examples are Hellenistic, but I admit I'm rather ignorant of eastern culture. Why do the religious seem to fear sexuality? They often seem to emphasize the role of father/motherhood and yet at the same time despise what makes that happen.
Any thoughts are welcomed.
