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SEXUAL MORALS: THE CHRISTIAN CODE

Posted under Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction by admin

The Bible is a large and complex book, compiled from many different sources originating long ago. It is therefore subject to dispute about the exact meanings of many of the words originally used. It is possible, by out-of-context quotation and misquotation, to support almost any point of view. Biblical ‘authority’ has been used by some Christians to create a system of sexual tyranny, complete with punishments both in this world and the next. Historically this inspired fear amongst many largely illiterate populations who could not read the Bible for themselves. Even today some Christian moralists try to find ways of bringing individuals they see as sexual transgressors before the courts in the hope that the law can be used to punish them.

It is little wonder that the negative attitudes and moral self-righteousness lying behind such behaviour eventually appeared repellent to many. Some of the attitudes were so unrealistic and so extreme that they led to an equally extreme response on the opposite side. The extreme moralist and the extreme anti-moralist are but two sides of the same bad penny. The truth lies elsewhere and in Christian terms is based on unconditional acceptance of the full human sexual and other potential belonging to ourselves and to each other.

Individuals who find extremes unattractive and return to the Bible itself to see what it actually says find that it is not against sex. In the book of Genesis the Bible says, ‘The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.’ The Songs of Songs in the Old Testament contains some of the most beautiful and erotic love poetry ever written. Throughout the Bible there are positive comments about sex and in St Paul’s writings in particular there is a good deal of helpful advice. Paul sees marital love as an art which can be taught (just as many marital therapists do today). He suggests that both partners behave in such a way as to create a relationship of openness, sharing and caring, in which each is seen as part of the other. Paul recommends regular sex and also tells husbands to be as concerned about their wives’ sexual enjoyment as the wives are about that of their husbands. The Bible mentions the fun of sex and stresses that marriage is first and foremost for companionship and only secondarily for procreation. Nowhere does it forbid any form of sexual behaviour between a man and a woman who are married to each other, although over the centuries the Church has sought to regulate even sex between husband and wife.

Imagine what would have happened if the extremists in the early Church had not been so influential and a different path had been pursued. If, instead of the populace being treated like children to be terrified into obedience, sex had been regarded as something infinitely precious to be constantly enjoyed, and if masturbation had not been condemned, then today a situation could have existed in which individuals, and especially the young, might have listened and acted upon advice as to how to maximise sexual pleasure. At this point we would argue that the tenor of this whole book, and ‘traditional’ Christian advice can be reconciled into a pattern of behaviour which might well suit many individuals.

If positive attitudes instead of negative ones were instilled into the unconscious minds of children then most of them would enjoy the capacity for full sexual expression on achieving maturity. Youngsters brought up in such a way would stand a better chance of reaching true maturity and would thereby be more capable of supporting a mature relationship.

Emphasis on the point that intercourse is an inter-personal and not solely an inter-genital, activity would tend to reduce the Church-inspired preoccupation with genitality and direct attention towards a more ‘Christian’ concern with relationships. Advice to avoid full intercourse until marriage and then to confine it to marriage, which is, in essence, the Christian code, could then be put forward in its own right, not solely as a moral issue, but as an important option for everyone. It is interesting that the sexual freedom accepted by many in the West today does not seem to have led to any more happiness or personal fulfilment; in fact the opposite could be said to be the case.

This is not to say that a return to a repressive sexual code would be a good thing, but just that there is a middle path which may be inherently better for us.