Sexual excess in marriage weakens the brain by gratification of animal passions. Animal propensities are strengthened by the disgusting habit of secret vice. Moral pollution causes the shipwreck of our race. Those who gratify the lust of the flesh cannot be Christians. Sensuality withers the desire for holiness. These horrendous preachings still color our perception of sex. Are we corrupted if we start too early or enjoy it too much? This simplistic overemphasis on sex detracts from more basic concepts such as intimacy, mutuality, accountability, and trust. Sexual appetite has little to do with the degree of commitment, although a total commitment does include sex.
Rather than dictating social change, the church is a part of
the culture, sharing its contradictions and vicissitudes.Today
there is greater diversity and change within church and synagogue
than there is in psychiatry. Hellfire is preached in the
tent while the Paulist Press tells Catholics of a new morality
in which adultery should be judged according to the principle
of "creative growth toward integration." A. N. Franzblau
describes the Catholic Church as still imposing the severest
of sexual restraints on its faithful. Celibacy for religious
orders, rigid prohibition of divorce and abortion, and restrictions
on interfaith marriage persist.
Masturbation is officially
regarded as sinful. Yet the Catholic Church of today is
far less austere than the Catholic Church of yesteryear.
Judaism endorses a more positive attitude. The Talmud
promotes all forms of sex play between husband and wife
and encourages wives to use cosmetics and ornaments to
maintain their sexual attractiveness in both youth and old
age. "Enjoy life with the wife that thou lovest" (Ecclesiastes)
epitomizes the Jewish view of marriage and sex. Sex can be
robust and openly joyous. In other areas, however, Jews may
be as strict as Catholics. Abortion and intermarriage are
strongly opposed, and masturbation is discouraged. But contraception
is allowed. Even though Jews are far more lenient
about divorce than Catholics, the divorce rate among Jews is
quite low. The encouragement of sexual expression is not
associated with the disruption of the family.
Frangible indicates that as religions mature, they tend to
approximate one another. All religious groups are now more
relaxed regarding sexual expressions such as masturbation.
There is an awareness of the breadth and importance of eroticism.
The Christian sector is currently committed to sexuality
as an integral part of the human condition. Religions are
increasingly realistic, without forfeiting the emphasis on the
integrity of the family. Heightened erotic enjoyment is not
incompatible with most religious principles, nor with monogamy.
The church continues to provide much needed structure
and direction throughout all stages of growth. Religion not
only defines acceptable behavior, but provides role modeling,
values, and exercises through which a child can identify himself
as a valuable person. The church provides consistency
and strength of purpose in a rapidly changing, increasingly
ambiguous society.
Religions of tomorrow will be more sophisticated and realistic.
Sex will decline in importance, to take its place among
other essential values that contribute to the integrity and
stability of the family. Sex and intimacy will no longer be
confused, and religious leaders will devise methods of shaping
both so that they may eventually be used to strengthen
the marital bond. The harsh, punitive, guilt-ridden approach
to sex will fade. Sex will be seen as inappropriate at certain
times rather than sinful or dirty. Masturbation and sex play
will be accepted as healthy parts of childhood. The concept of
oneness with God will be extended to describe, on a lesser
scale, the ability to fuse with another of God's products.
Mary Calderone reviews the changes in sex education in
the schools over the past thirty-five years. Sex education
remains the hottest item in the school curriculum. The joke
about the little boy who requests a practical demonstration
from his sex education teacher illustrates this controversy.
Talking about sex may overstimulate youngsters. They may
start to experiment, or begin coitus too soon. A class on sex
may give them tacit permission.