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Sex and Morality. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=O21N84NOelE. Objectives. Sexuality is more than physical; it is a drive towards fruitful union and reaching out to others Some Christian groups have viewed bodily existence negatively
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Sex and Morality http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O21N84NOelE
Objectives • Sexuality is more than physical; it is a drive towards fruitful union and reaching out to others • Some Christian groups have viewed bodily existence negatively • With its sacramental vision, the Catholic Church holds physical-sexual intimacy in high esteem. • As with all dimensions of the human person, sexuality is open to abuse. • Christian moral principles provide guidance for decision making in areas of sexual behavior.
Sexuality Male Female
Sexuality More than physical
Sexuality Is a drive that draws us out of ourselves and urges us towards union and reaching out to others.
Dualistic View of Sex • Two eternal principles: good – evil; light-darkness; body-soul; These are in permanent conflict • The world, a product of “the fall” is not good
Dualistic View • A negative perspective of sex. • Sex is associated with the body, not the soul • In this view, physical – sexual activity is simply animalistic behavior, giving ourselves to uncontrolled desires • Sex is a bodily drive that distracts us from developing our higher powers, our spirituality, and that keeps us from receiving God’s grace
Dualistic View • Self-control is the primary grace needed to control or overcome this necessary evil • To be used only for pro-creational purposes • Sexual pleasures smack of sinfulness akin to drunkenness and gluttony
Sacramental View of Sex • A more recent view and a more holistic perspective. • Does not view the physical as evil. • Portrays our bodies as sacred vessels to be distinguished but not separated from our total being
Sacramental View • “Sacramental” because it views the physical as a “doorway to the sacred” just as sacraments do • Our spirituality cannot be divorced from our sexuality • Our sexuality is a significant expression of our spirituality and is meant to be an instrument of grace
Sacramental View • God’s gift of sex is part of the beauty of creation urging us toward unity with others • Catholic tradition then, reminds us of the goodness of our bodies and of the sacredness of our bodily activity