Have you ever considered why people use the term “affairs” in referring to their marital unfaithfulness? By using the term ‘affair’, the action is turned into a business transaction. The term removes emotional baggage and guilt often associated with ‘infidelity’, ‘unfaithfulness’, and ‘sleeping around’. The increased use of the term is related to people trying to make their actions acceptable.
To me, it is a case of trying to come to grips with their actions. When person commits and act that violates their core moral beliefs, there will be guilt. This guilt does not go away by blaming the church or televangelists, because it comes from violating ones internal code.
There is also the rationalizing that occurs in terms of making a case that the infidel ‘deserves’ to have an affair. They make a case to themselves that they deserve to have fun and that it is a ‘forgiveable’ sin. They use phrases like “Jesus understands”, “or “God does not want me to be miserable”. Such self-talk is akin to psyching themselves out in a way that allows them to commit such acts.
