Is Sex Sacred?

[Technosoul]

I just thought up a new topic for debate... is sex sacred?

I seems like it is just a animalistic urge to motivate a speicies to reproduce. But our religions want to make it something sacred or something that needs to be blessed by a ritural of marrage and so forth in order to meet moral standards.

And poets and those who sing songs like to inject a concept of romance which takes it out of the scope of pure animal behavorism.

What do you think? Should sex be viewed as a sacred act, is romance a good standard to define mating? Are we hiding the truth about our natural nature as animals in a cloak of darkness? Or should sex really be a spiritual experience?

[Jack]

In my book (soon to be released as an alternative to the Bible, titled, "Jack said it so it must be so", or "The Bable"), the sex act itself is pure instinct, one we share with most all life forms on the planet. The "romantic" aspects of sex are human inventions based on our emotions.

[Domino]

I think sex can certainly be enjoyed as a purely bestial behavior, but that rendering it sacred can allow for a deeper enjoyment. Either way, s'good.

If you feel that the sacred restrains you, that may be bad. However, in this context, it is only a matter of perspective to judge if the sacred binds or supports.

If the sections of a barrel want to be a barrel, they are thankful for the hoops. If they want to be boards, they resent the hoops. Both barrels and boards are good, and hoops are only bad when they're improperly used.

[wyoguy]

Sex.....? It's been so long since I've had it, I don't see how I could help it being a spiritual experience.

[DeCipher]

I think that whether or not sex should be considered sacred depends upon the circumstances.

Sex is certainly special, in that one is able to come together with another being to create an entirely new being. If a species is dying off, the only true way to save the species would be to reproduce. In that case sex would be at the very least something special, life-saving as well life-giving, to the species.
But if a species has a surplus of individuals, then sex would be more naturally a means of pleasure. In that way one would be more incline to indulge in any type of sexual pleasure that one desired, instead of the strict heterosexual relationships one must use in order to reproduce.

But one factor that can be added in is that humans are able to bypass the act of sex altogether in order to reproduce, therefore would be more likely to take the latter course of indulgement.

[Kuldeep]

I am with Jack as far sex is concerned. making it sacred, spritual or special...etc all such adjectives attached to sex is nothing but outcome of human societal developments of cutures and customs and religions.

Sex is purely an inhernt urge to have a pleasure and satisfaction of mind, just like any other urge such as filling or emptying body.

[Walrus]

I find the idea of sex being sacred absurd; it is simply a biological function essential for our survival, much like eating, drinking, defecating and urinating. Sex is driven by instinct and the desire for pleasure; only humans consciously indulge in sex to reproduce.

[RealRockingham]

Its as sacred as anything else, put it that way. If anything were to be considered sacred, I'd rank it higher then anything save life itself.

[Barnicals]

Sex. Love it. There are a few ways I see it.

One is the pure instinctive nature of it, borne (excuse the pun) of the human desire to populate. It's a similar situation with using high fat, salt, and sugar foods as gratification. Man wants it because it feels good.

However, I think that Sex isn't an aspect of love itself, rather an expression of it. Hence the term "making Love".

I think that the degree of emotion felt between a man and a woman when they make love could be considered divine, as there are few better feelings, in my opinion. I don't think however that it should be made sacred, as that only inhibits who should and should not feel. I also think that laws are good to restrict age of consentual sex though.

[SoylentGreen]

You mean sacred as in "Of or relating to religious objects, rites, or practices."?
Then definitely no. But of course trying to manipulate sex is a basic desire of church and religion. So much easier to control people if you can regiment their practices.

[Okieslims]

I just thought up a new topic for debate... is sex sacred? I seems like it is just a animalistic urge to motivate a speicies to reproduce. But our religions want to make it something sacred or something that needs to be blessed by a ritural of marrage and so forth in order to meet moral standards. And poets and those who sing songs like to inject a concept of romance which takes it out of the scope of pure animal behavorism. What do you think? Should sex be viewed as a sacred act, is romance a good standard to define mating? Are we hiding the truth about our natural nature as animals in a cloak of darkness? Or should sex really be a spiritual experience?

Interesting topic Techno.
Sex is not sacred. However, it is not simply bestial either as many have suggested. As a species, we have
a greater mental capacity than any other known beast. One definition of the word sacred is: Regarded with reverence. It is in our nature
to create things and ideas to revere. In some cultures, sex is revered as a result. The fact that sex is revered in certain cultures may, in fact, increase
the experience or importance of the act of sex. Furthermore, the socially accepted definition of what actually constitutes as sex is everexpanding. Intercourse is now
just one piece of the puzzle.

[Jack]

Just because your girlfriend keeps yelling, "Oh god...oh my god" during sex does not imply the act itself is sacred. That's not to say your methods may not be divine. I'm not qualified to make that call.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Is this about sex, body pleasure, love making, procreation or sacred sex?

Each is completly different, a view not shared by many

Agree with techno re sex as being distorted by the majority of popular religions, hell thy don't like folks to have fun

[SoylentGreen]

IMO it's because the theists keep pushing their neurotic and primitive superstitious beliefs about sex, like it is sacred, which is basically done because religion is an attempt to control all aspects of life .

[nerdvincent]

Why sex is taboo? Why nudity is prohibited? WHY?
Time to really separate religion, laws and morality.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Jack In my book (soon to be released as an alternative to the Bible, titled, "Jack said it so it must be so", or "The Bable"), the sex act itself is pure instinct, one we share with most all life forms on the planet. The "romantic" aspects of sex are human inventions based on our emotions.

Jack in a book. I started three books but never finished them.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Jack Just because your girlfriend keeps yelling, "Oh god...oh my god" during sex does not imply the act itself is sacred. That's not to say your methods may not be divine. I'm not qualified to make that call.

I have one idea you might repley too and the high that can be attained during a sexual act, for some people. That high is simular to other highs that people can attain via a religious ritural or a drug used to experience something metaphysical. Romance can have a simular effect as smoking pot so that you feel like you are walking on air, and romance can basically alter your mind. Although one could say that those experiences caused by religious riturals and aids are also not really sacred but are also fantasy. And often people fell that sex must be supported by fantasy and a wild imagination, which might be defined as sacred in the other simular activities are sacred.

So what about the "Natural High" related to sex and romance, is it an original version of the later sacred experiences?

[SoylentGreen]

TechnosoulAnd often people fell that sex must be supported by fantasy and a wild imagination, which might be defined as sacred in the other simular activities are sacred.

And yet every definition I come across for sacred does, in no way, include the words "fantasy and a wild imagination",

If you are attempting to change the meaning of the word then please state clearly what exactly is the definition of sacred.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: SoylentGreen And yet every definition I come across for sacred does, in no way, include the words "fantasy and a wild imagination", If you are attempting to change the meaning of the word then please state clearly what exactly is the definition of sacred.

Sacred is something we value a great deal for it's moral context or as a metaphysical authority. Such as "sacred trust". Having sex would involve a certain amount of trust in that other person (if one acts logically) I would think. Not concerning evey kind of sex, as with a positute for example. But if you are trust in someone for a personal relationship that you expect will last a life time and will result in your desire to have kids and and a family, then what would be a kind of sacred trust, and when such trust is broken then a person's life can fall apart. And the bridge between your self and your name being passed on into the next generation (via kids) is also at stake, an inalienable right we can all expect to be honored in a most sacred manner.

Now in a science book on evolution such mental opinions might be viewed as just "made up fantasy". A product of imagination and not based on the realities of animal impulses. According to science sex is nothing moral or religious about such bonding on a emotional level. The idea that whatever god has joined together, no man should seperate, would be viewed as some sort of outdated supersition. Just hump in the street like the doggies and be on your way, no strings attached.

And so we have a natural motivation which is caused by harmones taking on a whole new metaphysical aspect, call it fantasy or just an aspect of human emotions and phychological insecurities, whatever?
It exsists as an important part of our culture, marrages. On the other hand a wolf, unlike a dog, mates for life and will express emotions when their mate is killed or comes up missing.

Which, looking at both sides of the coin, might bring doubt to the concepts that the motive for a life long marrage are really just a religious concept, or for that matter sacred.

But the idea that our emotions are somehow indicators of the exsistance of something sacred is of interest and perhaps debatable. And the motives for sex, sacred or natural, is partly due to our (repeated) mental fantasy about that sexual relationship that would fullfill our dreams.

As in the song "dream lover where are you, dream lover oh so true"....
And if a encounter does not live up to our fastasy the way we imagine it then disappointment and our expected heaven becomes our doomsday hell.

Anyway, I did not pre-set any rules for this debate. Do with it as you wish.

[rez]

Quote by: Technosoul I just thought up a new topic for debate... is sex sacred? I seems like it is just a animalistic urge to motivate a speicies to reproduce. But our religions want to make it something sacred or something that needs to be blessed by a ritural of marrage and so forth in order to meet moral standards. And poets and those who sing songs like to inject a concept of romance which takes it out of the scope of pure animal behavorism. What do you think? Should sex be viewed as a sacred act, is romance a good standard to define mating? Are we hiding the truth about our natural nature as animals in a cloak of darkness? Or should sex really be a spiritual experience?

Sex is "viewed" as a sacred act, but is it actually practiced that way? Nope. Still animal instinct involved.

Romance is a great mechanism to attrack sex. Romance is a meme.

We are not hiding the truth, we are simply becoming more of a civilized animal.

Sex is what you make of it. Without sex, there would be no evolution.