Book Reviews: Sex, Sexuality, Pornography, Erotica, Nudity

People's two favorite topics and how they intersect through history. How does religion influence sexuality?

That religious conservatives would oppose pornography is no surprise, as graphic sexual expression is contrary to many religions' sexual morality. That feminists would also oppose pornography, joining with the same religious conservatives who would relegate women to inferior social roles, was quite a surprise - but that's what happened during the 1990s.

The question about whether people have a right to create and view pornography or if porn is an obscenity that should be banned has been debated for several decades now. There was a time when pornography was quickly censored on the basis of traditional assumptions about sex and sexuality...

Sex is fun. Sex is pleasurable. This is obvious, right? These sorts of things don't need to be said, right? Well, perhaps they do. Everyone realizes that sex is fun and pleasurable (though some seem to wish that it weren't), but the prevailing belief is that sex really only exists for procreation and that pleasure is merely a byproduct. What if...

There are few sins with which people are so well acquainted as the sin of lust. But should lust get such a negative reputation and be treated as something dirty and nasty? Might lust be a good thing?

Sex sells - at least, that is the general perception that most people have. But is it true? And, if it is true, how and why does "sex sell" - everything from lingerie to soap to coal? What is it about sex and sensuality that they attract our attention, hold our interest, and actually get us to buy the associated products?

Should the government have the power to regulate private sexual conduct - and if so, how far should that power reach? Why would the government even be interested in regulating such conduct - what would be the purpose, and what would be the consequences?

Are words bad because of some intrinsic naughty quality, or due to the moral significance some people choose to attach to them? The answer to this tells us a lot about not only ourselves, but also how we are to deal with our own language. Dooling explains how words are imbued with strong emotional significance and, because of that, are viewed as being "bad" and are "banned."

Is there a connection between the Bible and eroticism or sexuality? Most believe that there is, but also that this connection is (almost) entirely negative in nature. Such a conclusion is not hard to understand - the Bible has, after all, long been used as a source of inspiration for grounds for repressing people's sexual and erotic impulses.

To some, monogamous relationships - particularly in the context of marriage - are the natural state of human beings and the foundation of civilization. Others, however, find the idea of a single mate to be boring and oppressive, prefering instead to seek multiple partners and varied experiences. Which perspective is most accurate - are people...

Questions about sexuality are fundamental to the health and welfare of Christian communities - the problem is, few Christians seem to realize this. Sexuality has become the proverbial elephant sitting in the room: no one can help but see it, but no one wants to acknowledge it, either. This, however, is part of what leads to scandals, abuse and worse. How should Christians deal with this?

Philosophy is a serious and often difficult topic, yet just as often it is made out to be more difficult than it actually is. The basic point of philosophy is, at least much of the time, to think reflexively and critically about those things which matter most in our lives. It's about fundamental questions without easy and pat answers. Studying philosophy shouldn't be a pursuit just for students...