it effects everyone simply because it has shaped the way humans have lived for centuries...
for instance, who here would look down upon a woman who had sex freely with whoever she liked whenever she liked, and showed no sense of shame...?
most of you i'm sure.
why?
because, you would say, its 'wrong' , 'she has no respect for herself', she is damaged, immoral, etc etc
these are views upheld by most for no other reason than society says so...
other mammals dont have this view of sex, and in particular the double standards.
religion has taught us and inbred into us, even subconsciously, a deepseated feeling that sex is wrong, bad and immoral, and people who dont feel this way have usually either been brought up in a very free spirited way or made a concerted effort to go against it...and even then it is always 'there'
religion afftects us indirectly in many ways whether we like it or not.