Christianity and Sexuality: Treating the Body as Evil
D. J. Heasman writes in the July 1977 issue of Political Quarterly:
The attitude of Christians has all too often been as though the joy arising from physical ecstasy were itself unhealthy, and wicked. A persistent tendency in Christianity has been towards the Manichaean view that the body itself is evil; St. Augustine, for example, who held that the emotional excitement accompanying the conjugal act was evil not only in excess but in any the least degree. As Edwyn Bevan summed up this attitude, “had the Fall never occurred, man would have reproduced his kind precisely as he does now; only the act would have been one of calm and deliberate reason, as unemotional as the act by which I put out an arm to take a book down from a shelf”.
In Jesus’s own words, “if a man looks on a woman with a lustful eye, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. I have long argued that this expects too much and asserts too much: asserting an unhealthy attitude to sexuality, an attitude which has bedevilled the Christian tradition by encouraging people to reduce all morals to the connotation of sexual morals, in such a way as to regard denial, though they indulge, as superior to indulgence, even within marriage, thereby generating needless and unnatural guilt.
The point about reducing all morality to sexual morality is well taken: in America, the Christian Right acts as though there are no significant moral issues outside of questions relating to sexuality, like homosexuality and abortion. You almost never hear the Christian Right say anything about the ethical questions revolving around health insurance, wages, or other social issues. It's as if these topics don't involve serious ethical questions at all.
There may be something to be said for denial, at least at times, but placing denial so far above indulgence does appear to be a mistake — especially when those practicing denial also practice denial about how often they actually indulge. They are able to make themselves feel superior without doing anything to truly be superior. Why go through all the work when you can experience the benefits for free?
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Comments
Bible Christianity does not have an “extremely negative dipiction of sex”.
It simply has a pure one. The book of The Song of Solomon is an entire intimate love story between a man and his wife. God designed sex and commanded us to “be fruitful and multiply”.
The Bible strictly forbids Fornication (sexual activity outside of marriage) and Lust (a desire to commit fornication). Sex is permitted only after marriage.
Why? There are several reasons i’ll just name a few off the top of my head.
1) Because God calls fornication Sin.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
1 Cor. 6:13 “…Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”
1 Cor. 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”
James 1:15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
2) Because when you indulge in it it will make you poor.
Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
3) Because it is temporary.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
You have the “extemely negative depiction of sex” as I once did. This is not my judgement It is God’s as I clearly illustrated in the above Bible versus.
You have judged Christians and their Faith.
Maybe your asking how can I speak for God? It is because I once was a lost person who thought much like you did, but one day a person shared the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with me and I trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour. Now I am Saved from my sin and saved from God’s Judgment to Hell because of my sin.
I now know the God of the Bible and he lives in me and Him through me.
You don’t understand that because you don’t believe. I encourage you to read the book of Romans and the Gospel of John. Below is just a few versus that might help you understand.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.
Romans 1:16-2:11
Whether you believe it or not these are the very words of God.
Here, “pure” means that it is forbidden in all by particular circumstances, for particular reasons, and with particular people. This abundance of negatives is based upon the assumption that sex exists for reasons that are outside of us, our bodies, and our desires. That, in the end, is a negative depiction of sex.
Since you only quote assertions from the Bible, what you say reduces to nothing more than “The Bible requires this because the Bible requires it,” which is a circular argument. That’s a logical fallacy, by the way, and inadmissible as an argument for one’s position.
Since this depends upon premises just as question as the conclusion, you’ve provided the second major category of circular arguments known as Begging the Question - also a logical fallacy, by the way.
If I don’t understand because I don’t believe, then I won’t understand the quotes you provide. Thefore, you’re trying to inform me with material that, by your own admission, you don’t think I’ll understand. So what’s the point?
That’s just the least of the problems, though. It’s also wrong to insist that a person can only understand if you if first agree with you. This has things backwards because evades the responsibility of making yourself understood before you can expect anyone to agree with you and believe that you’re correct.
Lots of people have made that claim on behalf of their religious scriptures. Why should your claim be treated as any more credible than anyone else’s?
“2) Because when you indulge in it it will make you poor.
Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”
Then how do you explain Hugh Hefner (lover of pleasure), Ernest and Julio Gallo (lovers of wine), and the Bush Administration (lovers of oil)? You’re not going to find any of them at a soup kitchen!
I encourage you to read “The Top 10 Conversation Killers for Atheists”
Specifically #4
I’ve been a Christian for five and a half years, and while I actually did agree with some of what your article about Christians treating sex and the body as evil, and you are also right that things have gotten better in recent years, you are wrong about all Christians believing that sex and the body are evil. I’m one of the few Christians who know better than to believe such a cruel and inhumane thing. Most of my friends from my church, even my pastor and his wife, know better, too. My church is all about sexual pleasure in marriage, and it even encourages it, especially for those who are newly married. Unfortunately, what it does not allow is masturbation, even going so far as to discourage children and teenagers from exploring their bodies, which causes a lot of guilt and confusion in small children and a lot of shame, body hatred, and sexual promiscuity among teenagers. Even single adults who remain virgins and never get married aren’t allowed to explore masturbation, and yet, even we are expected to remain pure and chaste and avoid anything that could cause us lust in our hearts. And those virgins who eventually do get married, without knowing what gives them pleasure because they’re not allowed to get to know their bodies through masturbation, which would have taken the guesswork out of the spouse, who is, by the way, turned on by those who know their bodies and turned off by rigid prudes, are expected to always enjoy the pleasures of sex after marriage and always know how to give and receive pleasure. Go figure, huh? I love being a Christian, and I always will, but even I refuse to accept any doctrine on sex that lacks logic and common sense. So, you see? Not all Christians are bad. Most are pretty decent human beings who nly lack logic and common sense when it comes to sexual pleasure, but they don’t always believe that sex and the body are evil.
Then you are denying what most of the early church fathers taught. Why?
I totally agree with Austin Cline in regards to this article. Although I’m a Christian and a true believer of God, I have always disagreed with the way the church treats human sexuality and our bodies. While I support virginity until marriage (in an effort to avoid HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and other sexually transmitted diseases), I do not support abstinence-only sex education classes or Purity Pledges for teenagers and young adults because they’ve been proven not to work, and Christian sex education classes in churches will only forbid masturbation without offering an alternative in helping teenagers and young adults practice good self-control until marriage. Christian sex education classes will also make teenagers and young adults feel guilty and ashamed of their developing bodies and sexuality. How can anyone enjoy the pleasures of being married if you are forced to suppress your libido until you get married, and then have your libido suddenly appear like magic out of nowhere the night you are expected to consummate your wedding? You can’t, and I believe that it is one of the reasons the divorce rate is so high among Christian couples. And because masturbation is strictly forbidden even for married couples, it is a wonder adultery and pornography addiction is such a big problem in some Christian households. Women don’t know their own bodies because they aren’t allowed to explore masturbation and discover their own pleasure zones so that they can show their husbands how to give them pleasure during sex, and yet they are expected to communicate their sexual needs to their husbands. How can they do that if they have to wait for their husbands to discover their pleasure zones on their own because touching your own body is wrong? Children are still being punished for and discouraged from masturbating and exploring their own bodies, and yet no one seems to mind if Baby plays with his fingers and toes. It feels just as good for Baby to play with his fingers and toes as it does for him to play with his genitals, but because his genitals are his sexual parts, he is not allowed to touch them. They are treated as if they are not a part of him because, after all, they only belong to Mommy, Daddy, Doctor, and future husband or wife and not to Baby. Baby is now confused. He knows he was born with his genitals, and that he has free reign over every other part of his body, so he does not understand why his genitals are so bad and disgusting, since God created them and wants Baby to learn to appreciate what God gave him, right? Meanwhile, as Baby grows and becomes a teenager, suddenly puberty strikes, and all heck breaks loose. Not only can’t Boy or Girl have sex until he or she gets married, but masturbation is also still forbidden. And, oh yeah, you are now a walking hormone machine (mix in some testosterone if you are a boy), and you feel both guilty and ashamed because you can’t stop thinking about sex and hot-looking members of the opposite sex, but masturbation and sex fantasies are wrong. And don’t forget, you must control (suppress) your desires until marriage, but no alternative to masturbation and sex is ever offered to you, nor are you taught how to control your sexual impulses. You are left totally on your own on this one because no one wants to show you any proof claiming that masturbation is wrong or even tell which Scriptures in the Bible makes any mention or description of masturbation at all (even though some claim that there is mention, they will immediately claim not to remember should you ask). So, what do you do? What are you supposed to do? Well, Boy or Girl can either masturbate or have sex in secret and feel guilty about it for the rest of his or her life, or Boy or Girl can suppress his or her libido (or as infants and children, simply give up on exploring their bodies and enjoying their sexual curiosity altogether), only to suffer some serious problems in the bedroom later on in marriage. Either way, this is child abuse because of the possible sexual and psychological problems it can cause in the young child’s life, and it’s kind of funny (not ha-ha funny) that children are otherwise taught both at home and in Sunday School about God’s gift of Free Will, and yet, there is no Free Will when it comes to developing a healthy and reasonable attitude about sex and the body. If children and adults can learn about and explore the world around them, then how come they can’t learn about and explore their genitals? And why can’t a woman explore masturbation before she gets married so that she can communicate her sexual needs to her husband and show him how to pleasure her during sex? I mean, if God didn’t want us women to have an orgasm, wouldn’t He have made us unable to achieve one? And if He didn’t want us to touch our own genitals, wouldn’t He have made our arms so short that we couldn’t reach them? Great article, Austin!
#1 - Have you noticed when a non-religious, believer in logic responds to a question it’s concise, and usually a well constructed argument? The “believer” must irrepressibly proselytize? Do they truly believe they can frequent the “Atheist forum” and win converts? Please, concentrate on the destitute, the hungry, the downtrodden, the emotionally stricken, those with whom bribery is effective.
#2 - Would someone please enlighten me on the logic of a god which places a species on a planet with finite area, plans on them living eternally, and then urges them to continue procreating? Was this god planning on “the fall” before it occurred? Was this god planning on allowing this species the enjoyment of sexual activity then forbid it when a predetermined limit was reached? Wondering.
Joey has hit upon the fact that the Bible is NOT the written word of the christian god.
Man is an animal, similar to other animals in certain functions. If god didn’t want sexual activity to be a normal part of man’s life, he sure screwed up when he created man as he did!
No one has come to an understanding of sex because it is so explosive. Hormones rule. The Christian approach is almost always bogus and blockheaded, but I know of no other approaches which are much better.