Religion as a harmful social institution

I'd like to take a moment and reflect on the effects that institutions have in shaping public perception of sexual orientation and sex culture in the United States in general.


Newman focuses his discussion of socialization and institutions on three main major cultural institutions: education, religion, and mass media. Each one plays a significant role in shaping how Americans think about sex, gender, and sexual orientation. Education plays a role by giving students heteronormative sex education that often stresses abstinence and disease prevention rather than discussing sexual pleasure, the intricacies of relationships, and non-traditional sexual expression. Religion plays a role by stressing monogamous, heterosexual relationships and generally being extremely sex-negative until you are married. Finally, mass media inundates citizens with hyper-sexualized, misogynist, and heteronormative images that show everyone what "normal" sexual behavior should be.


In light of these trends, the data is not surprising. Newman points out how people are more likely to hold sexist views on gender roles and engage in gender-related activities if they watch lots of TV. One aspect of these institutions shaping our views on sexuality and sexual behavior that Newman unfortunately does not discuss is the destructive quality that religion has in the public perception of homosexuality, transgendered people, and anyone with sexual morals outside of their naive, conservative perspective of sex. As a gay man and an atheist, I can't help but wonder about the civil rights progress gays and lesbians might have already achieved if it weren't for religious people denying rights like marriage and adoption to loving gay couples. I can't help but wonder if the shaming of sexually active women would be less if religion didn't tell women that they are supposed to be sexually modest and submissive to their husbands. I can't help but wonder if the teenage birth rate and sexually transmitted disease rate would be lower if religious people weren't foisting ineffective abstinence-only health education programs on the public.


Overall I find many of the deepest and most harmful problems regarding the treatment of women, homosexuals, and anyone else not following the "sexual norms" of American culture stem from the poisonous effects of religion in America.