Is sex sacred?

[foray]

Sex and music are still for me places where you glimpse God. --Bono

foray

[CannibalisticArtist]

why does Bono diss sex like that?

[Achtung Bubba]

Two questions:

1. Do you mean "Is sex always sacred?" or "Is sex sometimes sacred?"

2. What do you mean by "sacred"? Set apart solely for religious worship? Worthy of religious devotion itself? Or what?

[foray]

Can sex be sacred? And by sacred, I mean transcending the primal, animal aspect of it.

"Set apart solely for religious worship" -- haha

foray

[U2002revolution!]

blah! nothing is sacred

[Stories for Boys]

yes

we are above animals for certain reasons...

[Achtung Bubba]

Ah. I would have phrased it, "Can human sex be spiritual?"

At any rate, I vote an emphatic "yes." It not only can be spiritual, but I suspect human sex is always spiritual, that it has an aspect that transcends mere animal reactions.

That's not to say that the spiritual aspect is always a good thing; I believe pride to be a sin, and it is most certainly a spiritual sin. At its best, sex is the most intimate connection shared by two souls, perfect symbiosis in which the one uplifts the other. At its worst, it is still the connecting of souls, but it is a connection in which one dominates the other (rape, in the most violent case; selfish seduction in the most devious case).

At its best, it lives up to the single word, "union." At its worst, "conquest."

Bono's right: like music, though it we can glimpse God. And through it, we can also see the devil.

I'd rather not dwell on the songs that are sexual in the worst sense of the word (STP's "Sex Type Thing" comes immediately to mind), but consider some of U2's most sexual songs:

Promenade
Your Blue Room
In a Little While

(The first two are obvious: I believe IALW's bass line gives it away.)

It's hard to describe exactly how these songs uplift the soul - and equally hard to imagine the joy of my wedding night with the girl I love. Instead of trying, I'll will quote The Shawshank Redemption, when Red heard "The Marriage of Figaro" from within the prison walls:

I have no idea to this day what them two Italian ladies were singin' about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I like to think they were singin' about something so beautiful it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it.

[Anthony]

It can be as spiritual as you want it to be.
It can be as carnal as you want it to be.

I think it all depends on who you're doing it with and how you feel about each other. Bono's statement is one I'd agree with, bu argue if I said; well, what if they're doing it because she's drunk and desperate? That doesn't sound like looking into the eyes of God to me.

However, the quote I HAVE heard is that 'to fall in love is to look into the face of God'. That, I do agree with wholeheartedly.

Sex and love don't always go together.

Ant.

[FallingStar]

I think sex is supposed to be sacred, but for many it is often not, though....like rape is also sex, but in no case sacred at all - and some other cases as well......

[foray]

This is research for something I'm working on.

Interesting responses so far. It'd be more interesting to hear from some Marrieds.

foray

[Angela Harlem]

Research huh? You know you can get books to help you....Ok, Ok, sorry, but someone had to make a joke. ok, well no one HAD to...

Aherm.

Sex can be many things fors. It serves 2 purposes and can be fulfilled in so many different ways. We, I believe strive to make it something more than just animal instincts, we get romantic notions etc, we aim for a higher plane etc. Some people I guess are like this majority of the time with sex and we call it making lurve. I dont believe though that we all live our lives like a Mills and Boon romance novel. There aren't always shooting stars and fireworks. We dont have a flower filled field to romp in, we dont make beautiful love for hours under the bright moonlight on a beach, we dont have hot unhibited sex on a washing machine without getting twigs sticking into us or sand in places sand shouldn't be.
I guess what I mean (before my fatigue makes me type things I shouldn't) is we have ideas on what it should be, and sometimes we match that. But lets look at reality sex. Most of the time its at the end of the day when we are dog tired, we may feel in the mood so we squeeze it in before falling alseep for the night. We envisage scenarios that match your question of sex being sacred. It may seem like I'm going off topic a bit, but bear with me a sec. You asked about marrieds. I think in most relationships, and I think this is where there is little difference between marriage and long term relationships, you reach a point where all the preconceived romantic ideals are not so common in practice. Sex is something you have on some kind of regularity that matches your circumstances. Its not a new thing anymore, you are so comfortable with your other half, you know their desires, their wants, the whole bag. You can anticipate what will happen. But in all its familiarity, its regularity, its lack of newness and fireworks, it is a beautiful thing. It is on another level, but in what it becomes it is sacred. Its a connection of a deeper kind. It is one more beautiful experience shared, adding another piece of completeness to your lives as a unit. I guess in a nutshell, its not just the act anymore, but the whole caper around it. The actual act is beautiful sure, but so is the comfort, the familiarity, the recognition. It is sacred. It is special. Spiritual, sure, if thats what you would prefer to call it.
I've raved on. Prolly gone off topic. Sex is something I'm swearing off. Last time I had it I got pregnant. I dont think I'm qualified to answer.
Hmm.

[cass]

well thanks foray...u have given me a place to say this. I am reluctant to start topics so ..ty

I have been listening to the radio ..again. What sounded like the nicest man from Colorado is in Australia at the moment. He will be lecturing at Sydney University on Thursday night. He has written a book, his second, called "Resurrecting Sex". I plan to look for it, he sounded so on the ball. He said it is the kind of book he wished someone had written for him to access when he was younger. I have no idea if it is any good but he used words like compassion and generosity, emotional gridlock, validation and spoke with such warmth and humour. I think his name is Dr David Schnauss (spelling, anyone heard of him?) I'll find it somewhere.

he actually used the words compassion and generosity( gosh he was interesting!!) in connection to the difference between humans and animals... and about self-development, fascinating.


PS: I saw ANOTHER documentary last night. about Roy Orbison "Uncle Roy"

so I have a new signature...

[The Wanderer]

can the George Micheal's tune be the theme song to this thread?

[foray]

Thanks for the replies so far. I must say, I agree with the Marrieds spot on. Personally, I feel that one cannot truly answer this question without having been in a long-term relationship that involves sex. To say that sex is "always sacred" is naive.

Another question: Can the 'first time' be a spiritual experience, or is it always lust? (think Romeo and Juliet)

foray

[Vorsprung]

Of course it's pure animal activity. We're animals remember. Boosted by some very basic instincts, a hormonal overdose and other chemical reactions, that make you feel lovey dovey, horny, romantic, together, one, in love, loving, attractive, unattractive or whatever you feel when having sex, it stays very natural and very animal and the idea behind is just the same as with many/most other animals. Passing on your genes and giving them the best possible opportunity to do well. Now, you don't think about that when having sex (at least I hope so), yo just do it 'cause it feels great (again, I hope so), but the reason for it being great is in no way magical or sacred, or you'll have to define nature itself as sacred.

[brettig]

Originally posted by Vorsprung
or you'll have to define nature itself as sacred.

I think I do define nature as sacred

[adamswildhoney]

I dont know if sex is sacred. I think that it is more then just an animal instinct for humans, after all humans are I think the only animal that have sex for pleasure. I think that sex is just special.

[FallingStar]

Originally posted by adamswildhoney
....after all humans are I think the only animal that have sex for pleasure.

I don't know if this following is right, but some weeks ago I read somewhere on the net that humans and dolphins would be the only creatures who have sex for pleasure........ But I don't know if this is true.

[Peaseblossom]

For me, anyway- sex is something only to be shared with someone you care about a great deal, and understands the magnitude of the act. It's a very big deal with me.

It's generally pretty great, but has the potential to be a moving, spiritual connection between two people.

[mad1]

dunno about sacredity...I know Id like to sacrafice Salomes Ball.