Sex and religion not compatible, French believe

PARIS (RNS) - Islam is the more repressive mainstream religion and Buddhism the most tolerant when it comes to sex - or so many French believe.

A newly published survey found more than two-thirds of French believe Islam was "repressive" on sexual matters, and that pleasure had "no positive value" in the Muslim faith.

Among the 952 French surveyed about their views of sex and the major religions, some 43 percent believed the Roman Catholic church was repressive when it came to sexual matters. Those surveyed were split over whether the church considered sexual pleasure a "positive value."

Protestant churches were given mixed reviews. While half of those surveyed said they believed it was tolerant on sex, 37 percent believed the Protestant hierarchy did not necessarily consider sex in a positive light.