1 / 13

Sexuality and Relationships

Sexuality and Relationships. The CHURCH’s Teaching on Human Sexuality HRE2O1 – Christ and Culture. The Gift of Human Sexuality. According to the book of Genesis, God created all human beings in His divine image , male and female.

ginata
Download Presentation

Sexuality and Relationships

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Sexuality and Relationships The CHURCH’s Teaching on Human Sexuality HRE2O1 – Christ and Culture

  2. The Gift of Human Sexuality • According to the book of Genesis, God created all human beings in His divine image, male and female. • Human sexuality is a precious part of God’s plan – it is a gift from God, to be treasured and respected. • In our calling to be hands and feet of Christ, we are given the vocation to love and to be loved. • Our sexuality is a core dimension of our experience of relating to one another  God wants us to use our sexuality in relating to one another.

  3. What’s the Purpose? • According to the Catholic Church, sexual activity has 2 equal purposes: • UNITIVEThe expression and sharing of love between married persons in a committed and life long relationship. Lovemaking is an expression of vulnerability and intimacy – it demands deep commitment and love for it to be true. • PROCREATIVE The creation of the gift of new life (a.k.a makingbabies!). • Sexual intercourse is meant to express a man and woman’s sharing of their most intimate selves.

  4. When is Sexual Activity OK? • According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,sexual intercourse is intended only within a committed married relationship. (Catechism 2350, 2353) • Sexual intercourse is reserved for marriage because it embodies the total sharing of a whole committed life together. • Genital sex before marriage is considered sinful (this includes any sexual activity while people are engaged). • Sexual activity by married persons with someone other than their spouse is considered sinful.

  5. Why Does the Church Say This? • Our sexuality is meant to bring us out of ourselves and to help us to selflessly connect with another person in a very deepandmeaningfulway. • Engaging in sex without a deep and lastingcommitment or for the sake of personal pleasure is a misuse of a precious gift from God. • According to God’s will, sex is part of nature which is ordered for the good of spouses and the creation of children. • To engage in sex purely for personal pleasure is to use another human being as an object. This is a selfish act and is therefore wrong.

  6. “Why Wait?” • Our sexuality is a unique and special “gift” from God. When we don’t protect that gift or use it properly, it becomes degraded in value. • Sexual activity is a choice – we are NOT animals at the mercy of our hormones. We are thinking, feeling human beings capable of self-control. • Engaging in sexual activity is a choice that always has life-changing consequences (e.g., unexpected pregnancy, STI’s). • Practicing chastity is a way to avoid unnecessary consequences.

  7. Chastity- What is it? • CHASTITY is being in control of our physical and emotional sexual urges. • Chastity is the process of self-mastery and self-control so that we may be truly free. • All Christians are called to live lives of chastity at EVERY stage of their life.

  8. Why is Chastity Important? • CHASTITY is a sign of love and respect. It shows love for God by following His commandments against committing adultery and coveting your neighbour’s spouse. • It shows love and respect for a person's future spouse by waiting to share the special bond of sex with only them. • Making the commitment to stay chaste before marriage proves that someone can be trustedtobefaithful after marriage.

  9. Requirements for Adolescents • Today’s adolescents are challenged to mature in a culture that is far more complex, fast-paced, and dangerous. • Teenagers consider sex a right or a rite of passage, but it must be reserved for within the context of marriage. • Use the example of Jesus Christ – he was single, chaste and, at the same time, a person who knew the joys of intimacy as well as the anguish of loneliness.

  10. Adolescents . . . continued • In most cases, pre-marital sex does not fit the conditions for acceptable sexual activity – it is neither unitive nor procreative! • Problems that arise from pre-martial sex: • Relationship misunderstandings • Feelings of being used or betrayed • Trauma of unexpected pregnancies • The church urges SEXUAL ABSTINENCE before marriage.

  11. The Homosexuality Question • The Church affirms that having homosexual feelings/being homosexual is NOT a sin (nor freely chosen). • Homosexual people are equal, loved children of God. They should be treated with the same respect and dignity as all of God’s children. • The Church teaches, however, that homosexual activity is morally not acceptable because it is neither unitive nor procreative. • Homosexual persons are called to the vocation of chastity and avoiding sexual activity.

  12. Other Concerns: • Masturbation/Oral Sex  Considered immoral because it is selfish and singly-pleasuring. It trains people to be selfish with their sexuality. It is the opposite of mutual, self-giving love. • Pornography  Presents human sexuality in a degrading and impersonal way. It makes people into objects of lustful and unloving sexual gratification. It changes expectations and standards of perfection.

  13. Other Concerns: • HIV/AIDS  It is incorrect to associate HIV/AIDS with homosexuality. Moreover, it is wrong to speak of HIV (or any illness) as God punishing anyone. • Sexual Abuse/Rape Sexual abuse of any kind is a personal and societal tragedy. The Church (and all Catholics) condemns the use of children, women or other persons a sexual objects.

More Related