Christian Teaching About Sex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vtFiQseXko

Scripture•There are 2 general principles that we

can deduce from Scripture regarding sex:

1. Sexuality is part of God’s “good”

creation.

2. Like all dimensions of our humanness,

sexuality can be corrupted and become

sinful.

Sexuality is part of God’s “good” creation.

• The Scriptures tell us

our bodies are

“temples of the Holy

Spirit”

• Our love making and

life giving sexual

expressions are

essential to our

existence.

God’s Good Creation

• Sex is a gift that is

meant to be used

lovingly and

creatively

• To be linked to

concern for others

and community life

(the common good)

Sexuality can become corrupted

•The Bible warns us

about idolatry:

being consumed

with one thing and

treating it as if it

were more

important than God.

Corruption

• We need to be critical

of our actions,

motives and our

society’s values

• We can misuse and

abuse it, turning it

into a destructive

force

“How do we live as sexual

being?”

“How do we exercise mastery

over our sexuality?”

Virtue•A disposition, or a pattern of behavior, by

which an individual willingly and

consistently chooses to act in a morally

good way.

•On-going patterns of moral behavior that

develop through our free and intentional

choices.

Virtue• When we always tell

the truth, we develop

the virtue of honesty,

• When we consistently

give others what is

due them, we develop

the virtue of justice

etc.

Temperance

Chastity

Temperance

• (Self-control).

• Is the virtue that brings reason to

bear on what are called the

affective emotions.

Affective Emotions What moves us to desire certain bodily

needs that are important fro the

maintenance of the individual person

(food, drink, sex)

Affective Emotions•Affective emotions are neither bad

nor good in themselves. We all

posses these emotions and desires.

•Temperance allows us to control

these emotions.

Chastity•The CCC states that chastity is “the

successful integration of sexuality within the

person and thus the inner unity of a person

in his/her bodily and spiritual being.”

• It is the virtue by which sexuality becomes

personal and interpersonal, becomes truly

and fully human.

Chastity Chastity leads us to

treat others as persons

and not merely as

bodies

This integration leads to

a sexuality that values

and respects the dignity

of the self and the other

as persons

Chastity• Chaste human

sexuality is both self-

giving and life giving

• It involves the full gift

of oneself to another.

• And this opens up the

possibility of creation

of new life

Sexual intercourse should be the sign and the fruit of a

relationship that is permanent, exclusive, faithful, and sealed

by public declaration of the couple’s love for each other.

We are talking about the kind of love that rooted in respect for

the other as a person and in willingness to be with this person

for “better or for worse, in sickness and in health etc. etc., and

it’s the kind of love found only in marriage.