Sex
- Culture Failure
It seems
to me, attitudes towards sex reflect the chasms which separate
different individuals and different groups of people today. Sexual behaviour often
reflects culture failure--the failure of one generation to transmit
its rules, and the reasons behind those rules, to the next
generation.
In the past, sex was one of those things God and the men who worked for Him tried to control, especially in women. "You may only have sex with people I approve of, and after seeking and receiving my blessing."
After many people abandoned their faith in God (usually cited as after World War I when millions of lives were sacrificed in His name), society began to question its blind faith in those leaders talking to God. In despair and feeling "lost," individuals often rebelled against the old ways. Many chose coupling/intercourse as a form of self-medication. These senses--of sex as reaction, sex as rebellion, sex as a path towards healing--are still present, although perhaps less acknowledged.
Thankfully, there seems to be less emphasis on sex as a reason to get married. You do hear fewer people saying "let's make babies." The excuses du jour seem to be "because sex is fun" and "because it feels good."
I feel as if I should be including words like "love," "communication," "pleasure" in here, but I don't want my outdated romantic notions to show. I do see somewhat less emphasis on the assumed coupling of sex and love. Sex no longer = love. Love no longer has to lead to sex. I do denounce the idea of sex as a power game. Remember that old wives' wisdom: Who's going to buy the cow if you give away the milk for free?
PS Cow/cattle imagery is important in EMBERS.
In the past, sex was one of those things God and the men who worked for Him tried to control, especially in women. "You may only have sex with people I approve of, and after seeking and receiving my blessing."
After many people abandoned their faith in God (usually cited as after World War I when millions of lives were sacrificed in His name), society began to question its blind faith in those leaders talking to God. In despair and feeling "lost," individuals often rebelled against the old ways. Many chose coupling/intercourse as a form of self-medication. These senses--of sex as reaction, sex as rebellion, sex as a path towards healing--are still present, although perhaps less acknowledged.
Thankfully, there seems to be less emphasis on sex as a reason to get married. You do hear fewer people saying "let's make babies." The excuses du jour seem to be "because sex is fun" and "because it feels good."
I feel as if I should be including words like "love," "communication," "pleasure" in here, but I don't want my outdated romantic notions to show. I do see somewhat less emphasis on the assumed coupling of sex and love. Sex no longer = love. Love no longer has to lead to sex. I do denounce the idea of sex as a power game. Remember that old wives' wisdom: Who's going to buy the cow if you give away the milk for free?
PS Cow/cattle imagery is important in EMBERS.
Comments
Post a Comment