Why was bathing discouraged for so long by religious establishment?

Bathing was often discouraged by religious establishments due to the belief that physical cleanliness could promote moral laxity and distract from spiritual pursuits. Many religious leaders associated excessive focus on the body with vanity and sinfulness, leading to a preference for asceticism and simplicity. Additionally, in some cultures, bathing was linked to pagan rituals, which further fueled its condemnation. This perspective persisted until the Enlightenment and the rise of hygiene as a public health concern.