Sexuality

• It is true to say that society changes all the time in the UK. Fifty years ago, it was illegal to be gay and there was widespread persecution of homosexuals. Where as today, a variety of different sexualities are accepted and most young people do not see an issue (whether they themselves assign themselves to a 'newer' sexuality or not). Fifty years ago, almost everyone got married and divorce was rare; now fewer than half of us marry and half of those get divorced. As society changes, our attitudes to sex change although religions tend to keep a more consistent attitude over time, because it Is based on beliefs and teachings.
• For this module, you need to be aware of both secular (what society says/does) and religious attitudes.
• Heterosexual


  An attraction or engagement of sexual behaviour between people of the opposite sex or gender.
• Homosexual


  An attraction or engagement of sexual behaviour between people of the same sex or gender. Men who are romantically or sexually attracted to other men are called gay. Women who are sexually attracted to other women can be called gay as well but are usually called lesbians.
• Bisexual


  An attraction or engagement of sexual behaviours to both male and female
• Pansexual


  Attracted to people of all genders. They refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their attraction to others.
• Asexual


  Does not experience attraction to other people
• Demisexual


  Rarely or seldom attracted to other people. Sexual attraction is usually based on a pre-existing emotional bond.
• Fluid


  Sexuality can change over time. The term fluid gives language to that experience and space for people to explore their changing sexuality
• Queer


  Although formally considered a derogatory term, many people in the LBTQ+ community have reclaimed the word as a broad umbrella term for anyone who isn't specifically cisgender or heterosexual
• Many religious traditions celebrate sexuality as a gift from God. The starting point for a Christian understanding of human sexuality is the belief that all humans are made in 'the image of God'.
• The story of Eve being created from Adam's rib shows how males and females are intimately connected to each other. Genesis ultimately suggests that man and woman unite to become complete.
• This teaching is important because it refers to the responsibility Christians have for what they do with their body and how they treat it. The teaching has a strong implication for a Christian's sexuality.
• The Roman Catholic belief is that when a man and woman connect to each other in a sexual way, it is the most intimate physical expression of their total union. For this reason, the Roman Catholic Church teaches in Familiaris consortio that this union is sacred and is a key element in marriage.
• Christian attitudes towards sex have varied greatly, but a constant question that has guided these approaches has been the relationship between sex and childbearing.
• St Augustine (354-430) taught that sex was only to be used for procreation, and that recreational, or lustful, sex was to be avoided; a view which was echoed nearly a thousand years later by Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274).
• These views were dominant for much of Christian history.
• St. Augustine believed If one choses to engage in sexual intercourse primarily for the sake of pleasure, regardless of whether procreation is possible, that you are giving into the sin of lust. Augustine's reasoning here is that sin basically consists in adverting one's attention away from God.
• The avoidance of the sin of lust led to the promotion of celibacy as an ideal, especially for the clergy, with marriage as a concession to contain desire and to provide a context for the bearing and rearing of children. Some Christian traditions such as Roman Catholicism continue to teach that procreation is the primary purpose for sex and marriage.
• Natural Law


  An ethical theory developed by Thomas Aquinas, based on the belief that there is a natural order to the world and that natural order has been designed by God. This natural law is found within human nature as well as humanity's search for genuine happiness and fulfilment.
• Five Primary Precepts


  • Preservation of Life
  • Continuation of the species
  • Education of children
  • To live in society
  • Worship of God
• Many Hindus believe that sensual pleasure is one of the four legitimate goals to be sought in life. Kama includes sexual pleasure and sex is considered a good thing to be enjoyed, but within certain boundaries. Self-control is an important aspect of Hindu teachings.
• During the second ashrama (Householder stage), sexual activity in a loving and committed relationship is actually encouraged. This is because having children is viewed as an important part of life and also because kama is a valid aim in life. Many Hindus would only seek sexual pleasure and other forms of kama within the guidelines of dharma and ahimsa. Sexual activity should not involve harming others physically, emotionally or through neglect, e.g. by putting kama before caring for your children.
• Within these 'boundaries', sexual pleasure is celebrated in some Hindu teachings. The Kama Sutra is a respected guide to physical pleasure, based upon the concept of love and mutual respect. It also includes guidance on respect, tenderness and care for the partner, so that there is emotional and spiritual pleasure given and gained, not just physical.
• Lingam


  An abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary murti or devotional image in Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva. The Shiva Linga represents the phallus, male sexual organ, and the emblem of the generative power in nature.
• Yoni


  The feminine counterpart to the Lingam. Together, they symbolize the merging of the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, and the union of the feminine and the masculine that recreates all of existence.
• Maha Shivaratri is a festival dedicated to the marriage of Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati. It is typically held in February, and lasts all day and night. It is a day of austerity rather being the day of joy and merriment. Religious observance typically involves fasting all day and night, night long vigil while chanting, and bathing the Shiva Lingam with water, milk and honey.
• The Catholic church teaches that only married couples should have sex, and the most important reason to have sex is to procreate. There should be a chance of pregnancy within every sexual act, which is why masturbation and homosexual sex are forbidden by the Catholic church. Any sex other than between man and wife, is considered wrong. Sex before marriage is called fornication and is regarded as a sin.
• Only in marriage do we find God's blessing upon the act of sexual love, or what is better termed marital love. This physical expression of love in marriage is a sacred sign of a husband and wife's covenant of life and love that they share in union with God.
• Through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, God blesses the couple joined in this sacred bond and generously bestows grace so that they may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity.
• Fornication


  Sex before marriage, which is considered a sin by the Catholic church.
• 21st century culture has seen a rise in cohabitation and premarital sex. Cohabitation is generally used to describe the relationship between unmarried couples who live together as husband and wife. According to this definition, cohabitation is more a testing ground for marriage, or a step on the way to marriage, much like dating and engagement.
• The subject of cohabitation or sex before marriage is not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament. The main text in the Old Testament offering regulation of sexual activity is in Leviticus 18: Sexual activity is prohibited with close relations, with a women during menstruation, with someone else's wife, with other men, or with animals. But there is no explicit prohibition of sex before marriage. The best explanation of this is simply that it wasn't necessary. In ancient cultures, with no reliable method of contraception and with women dependent on their husbands for financial provision and social standing, sex could not be detached from marriage.
• This has led some Christians to accept sex before marriage in a relationship which is leading to marriage, seeing it as an expression of love. The Church of England, for example, accepts cohabitation as a step towards marriage. According to Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York and the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, many modern couples want to "test the milk before they buy the cow".
• For Twice-born men (the upper Castes) life is split into four ashramas or stages of life. Sexual relationships are only meant to happen in the second stage, the householder stage, which is that of a married man. For the other three stages, men should remain celibate. This therefore means that premarital sex goes against Hindu beliefs. Sex is seen as a gift from Brahman, and must be treated with care and respect.
• Hindu marriages traditionally recognized only maidens as qualified for marriages. Virginity of the bride in traditional Hindu marriages is not just a moral or social imperative, but a spiritual one also. During the marriage ceremony, the bride has to be gifted to the gods before she can be married to the bridegroom. Upon receiving the virgin bride as a gift, the gods give her away in turn as their gift to the groom in good trust, and the groom has to promise them in the presence of celestial witnesses that he will look after well until his last breath. Maidenhood of the bride is vital to the agreement because gods will not accept the bride if she is already taken by another or gifted to another. Hence, Vedic beliefs make virginal purity a divine necessity in Hindu marriage tradition.
• About 50 or 100 years ago gender segregation in public gatherings was the norm in society. In public places there used to be separate seating arrangements for both sexes, including on trains, buses, in restaurants and in theatres/cinemas. It not only minimized their interaction but the possibility of secret affairs and premarital sex. Those who freely mingled with the opposite sex in public attracted negative attention and even censure. Since Hindu tradition suggested that the bride and the bridegroom should not see each other until their fixed marriage, dating was unheard of. Since arranged marriages were the norm, such behaviour was encouraged by parents and elders. The segregation which was almost universal in India, except perhaps in some metropolitan cities, minimized the possibility of premarital sex and the consequential problem arising from it.
• Now the young people of today have many avenues to communicate through mobile phones and social networks without being obvious and without being noticed by their parents. As a result, premarital sex in Hindu society is now said to be a growing problem, and more evident among the urban youth who are also most irreligious. In the rural areas, parents still have some control over their children, and segregation of sexes and traditional lifestyles can still be seen in many places.
• During the Student stage, twice-born boys would learn from a Guru or teacher and must abstain from sexual activities. The rules of celibacy and chastity prescribed by the Vedas precluded any possibility of premarital sex among the children of upper castes. In fact, boys faced even stricter regulations than the girls before their marriage and during their education, which precluded any possibility on their part to indulge in premarital sex or sexual misconduct. The phase itself was called the phase of celibacy. The Vedas prescribe several rules to keep students segregated from the opposite sex and help them focus upon their education which was vital to their future survival and continuation of family tradition.
• Twice-born only refers to the top three Castes: Brahmin, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. Sexual mores of India are determined largely by social structure, caste rules, and the caste status of the individuals. The scope for premarital sex was virtually absent in Twice-born castes.