Sex and Relationships

1. dualistic approach; intellectual life is superior; physical needs prevent our soul moving on; sex is not holy; sexual passions are a lack of control

1. physical pleasure leads to enjoyment; sexual pleasure should be pursued

Annotations:

• Genesis - God told adam and eve  to go forth and multiply - sex is for procreation

1. Ancient Hebrews - book song of songs expressed the erotic attraction of two people
2. saw wife as a purchase and property of husband; reason why adultery was considered wrong was that man would not be certain children were his

   Annotations:

   • this is why women were expected to be virgins before marriage 

1. Jesus
   1. left the issues open as did not mention it much
   2. whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery

      Annotations:

      • wording can mean multiple things  challenging the views of the woman as a man's property  focuses more on equality than sexual relationships divorce falls short of the ideal 
2. Paul

   Annotations:

   • valued celibacy (not having sexual relations) and believed that christ was to return soon and that the world would end
   1. sexual activity should be kept within marriage
   2. marriage was for people with no self control
   3. would sometimes write that all are equal but other times wrote about how women should obey their husbands
3. Augustine
   1. quite liberal; sex was a necessary evil for procreation
   2. sexual desire is a constant reminder of man's rebellion against God but that we can't control this desire

1. what about sado-masochism?

1. emphasises a loving relationship rather than marriage
2. extramarital sex is inevitable - need to recognise that the relationship has broken down and move on

1. ignores homosexual relationships