Sex and Religion: Teachings and Taboos in the History of World Faiths
- ISBN-10
- 1861899882
- ISBN-13
- 9781861899880
- Category
- Religion
- Pages
- 333
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2012-01-01
- Publisher
- Reaktion Books
- Author
- Dag Ølstein Endsjø
Description
Sex and religion are inevitably and intricately linked. There are few realms of human experience other than sex in which religion has greater reach and influence. The role of religion, of any faith, to prohibit, regulate, condemn, and reward, is unavoidably prominent in questions of sex—namely with whom, when, how, and why. In Sex and Religion, Dag Øistein Endsjø examines the myriad and complex religious attitudes towards sex in cultures throughout the world. Endsjø reflects on some of the most significantly problematic areas in the relationship between sex and religion—from sex before or outside of marriage to homosexuality. Through many examples from world religions, he outlines what people mean by sex in a religious context, with whom it’s permissible to have sex, how sex can be a directly religious experience, and what consequences there are for deviance, for both the individual and society. As Endsjø explains, while Buddhist monks call attention to gay sex as a holy mystery, the Christian church questions a homosexual’s place in the church. Some religions may believe that promiscuity leads to hurricanes and nuclear war, and in others God condemns interracial marriage. Sex and Religion reveals there is nothing natural or self-evident about the ways in which various religions prescribe or proscribe and bless or condemn different types of sexuality. Whether sex becomes sacred or abhorrent depends entirely on how a religion defines it. Sex and Religion is a fascinating investigation of mores, meanings, rituals, and rules in many faiths around the globe, and will be of interest to anyone curious about the intersection of these fundamental aspects of human history and experience.
Get the book
Other editions
Similar books
-
An American Carpenter's Story: One baby boomers life changing spiritual journey
By William DarrochAfter just a year or so, my father saw several lots for sale in the small village of Timberlake, Ohio, just thirty minutes from Cleveland.
-
Fear of the Other: No Fear in Love
By Bishop William H. Willimon“Barack Obama,” “Hillary Clinton,” “Britney Spears,” and “Justin Timberlake” found their places somewhat to the left of the really, really good “Teresa” and ...
-
Running With The Horses: Living The Gospel
By William Mitchell... Gregory Pritchard, Robert Clarke and Donald Wester of philosophy; from the religion faculty, James Timberlake, Rowena Strickland, Dan Holcomb, ...
-
Darkness is as Light
By EDITH ADHIAMBO, ANDREA BAILEY, CHRISTINA BAKERwalked over the frost-brittled grass, my long skirt swishing it dryly. I'd come to weep below the willows, to let the sound of the stream carry my lament ...
-
Women in New Religions
By Laura VanceFrost, Gavin, and Yvonne Frost. The Good Witch's Bible. 7th ed. ... Gordon, Lynn D., ed. Gender and Higher Education in the Progressive Era.
-
The Making of a Mature Disciple
By Kenneth S. ToddKenneth S. Todd. Reasons. to. Obey. God. Let's discuss four reasons why we should obey God. The first two deal with how we personally deal with God.
-
Being God's Man by Pursuing Friendships
By Stephen Arterburn, Kenneth L. Luck, Todd WendorffGod's word is clear about the importance of godly friendships. This edition shows men how valuable those friendships are to spiritual growth.
-
English Ministry Crisis in Chinese Canadian Churches: Towards the Retention of English-Speaking Adults from Chinese Canadian Churches through Associated Parallel...
By Matthew Richard Sheldon ToddIn 2011, Thom S. Rainer published some research project results in a volume ... projecting the top challenging issue they deal with in bicultural settings ...
-
Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-Profit
By John Pearson" Based on Pearson's 48-hour Management Buckets Workshop Experience, Mastering the Management Buckets offers detailed implementation tools, including 99 practical takeaways that a leader could implement immediately, plus nine management ...
-
Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-Profit
By John Pearson" Based on Pearson's 48-hour Management Buckets Workshop Experience, Mastering the Management Buckets offers detailed implementation tools, including 99 practical takeaways that a leader could implement immediately, plus nine management ...