In the Catholic community, a discussion on sex begins with this well-meaning .
This statement is often seen as controversial, in that many want .
to avoid sex to preserve their purity. Sex is also viewed as an unpleasant added .
ingredient in marriage, an important part of the "union of body and soul."(p. 23) It is .
understandable that a frank discussion of sex makes many cringe as sex is inevitably .
linked with such social problems as rape, incest, pornography, and teenage pregnancy. .
Sex is a central part of our daily lives in that some of our best and worst moments involve .
sex. Our natural reactions to bodily functions leads to either creativity or destructiveness. .
Many Christians treat the body as a sacred temple that is good and holy, and therefore .
rationalize that sex must be good and holy as well. On the other hand, sex is sometimes .
used as an impetus for violent behavior; an instrument to degrade others and lower us in .
the eyes of those we abuse.
The purity of sex is often justified using literary devices. The Song of Songs is a .
lyrical poem that celebrates erotic love. Lines like "Let my beloved come into his garden; .
Let him taste its rarest fruits"(p. 24) can be interpreted as an amorous dialogue between a .
husband and his wife. The poem, on the surface, may at first be seen as a pornographic .
image, but when examined further, is actually a story of pure and innocent devotion. .
Similarly, Roland Murphy's The Jerome Biblical Commentary stresses the basic .
goodness that is found in sexual desire. Murphy notes that "the lover and beloved are .
simply enjoying each other's presence and affection." (p. 25) The poem further justifies .
the beneficial qualities of sex by linking human passion with the "flame of God's .
creation."(p. 25) Religious texts such as these are proof that sex can be seen in a pure and .
untainted light. Many members of the religious community are influenced by passages like these and are urging the Church to maintain a more liberal stance on sex and to .
