I'm reading a book by Osho - Sex Matters (from sex to superconsciousness). And yes, I know Rajneesh was a case of enlightenment gone astray, but he was indeed wise.
His theory on sex is that the world currently have the problem of sexual obsession and abuse, because of the prevalent religions being against sex, calling sex dirty and trying to hide it, while sex is the very origin of humankind, sex is the life force energy of all living beings. He also says that by suppressing sex, you get the reverse effect of rebellion and perversion because sex is not openly discussed and accepted as part of life.
look at mormon and roman catholic and southern baptist families and tell me religion deplores sex. religion is against sex between two people of the same sex and between people of opposite sexes that are not married. granted that logic is flawed but that is a more accurate description in my opinion. as flawed as that definition of sex is that is what almost all religions want and say is ok.
sex is so prevalent for three reasons it feels really good, it relieves stress, and biology demands it. so what can we do. and it is so perverse because some people like different things. i count myself among these perverse people. for whatever reasons
Exactly! Biology, or rather, natural force is the one mind, while religious superficiality and superfluity is the other mind. So the conflict exists between the two. The rule is that whenever you ignore or suppress a natural force it grows another head, the head of obsession.
I know. That changes nothing. You see, religion is a modern way of culture - it is culture made into a bussiness for profit, fame and power. The point is that culture, or rather, the rules of culture and civilisation is what is responsible for the obsession with sex - animals don't have this obsession, but humans do, because of culture/rules/religion/civilisation.
I would partially agree with this statement, but with serious reservations. You're right in pointing out that the three principle monotheistic religions are antagonistic, or, at least, harbor ambivalent feelings towards sex. This is because monotheism is an attempt of the mind/spirit to, in one form or another, transcend the body, an aspiration that puts it directly at odds with the compulsive sexual demands of the human animal. Religion is a purposeful distortion of man's natural state, but one that might be necessary to give man hope to live like a man, and not an ape.
Recognizing the problematic role of religion in repressing sexual desire, I would still argue against any kind of free expression of man's sexual impulses. In my opinion, people that argue for this way of life are unaware of the dark chasms that lurk underneath man's civilized veneer. Unfettered sex would literally make civilized life impossible. It is compulsive, socially divisive, and, ultimately, self-destructive.
Prudishness is stupid and parochial. Sexual modesty and self-restraint are not. Repression is the berock upon which social order rests.
__________________ And the good Saint Francis that said Little Sister Death, that never had a sister.
Gender: Male Location: Drifting off around the bend
Re: Osho
I would state that my religion, LDS(the Mormons), is not suppressive of sex between man and woman. They do look on sex outside of marriage as a sin, but we are not discussing marriage, we are discussing sexual expression I believe.
Sexual expression is repressed because religions typically do not state exact limits as to what is acceptable as far as discussion of sex outside of the bounds of marriage. The people then err on the side of caution with respect to sex.
I believe that open dialogue on the subject of sex is missing from society. I believe that the obsession with sex is due to a variety of things, but I think open dialogue by the conservative groups would decrease the curiosity/obsession found in many current cultures.
Also, sex is not a guaranteed reinforcer, or rather it is on a variable reinforcement schedule. You won't get it every time you are with a woman, but you will from time to time. Variable scheduled reinforcement results in a higher rate of behavior than other forms. Given the level of biological drive for sexual activity, it is not surprising to see a strong obsession with sex.
Another behavioral aspect of sexual activity that may play a role in sexual obsession is the "jackpot" phenomena. The "jackpot" phenomena is the fact that an early large reward will strengthen later rates of behavior. This occurs because typically individuals first experience, and perhaps a few of the subsequent encounters, with sex is stronger than later experience. This leads to an even more addict manner of behavior.
There is also the fact that orgasm varies in intensity from one experience to the next. This is a variable reinforcer quality that could impact rates of behavior in that the individual will attempt to achieve that high intensity experience because the next time may be a "good" one.
It may be that sexual obsession is unavoidable for many depending on the circumstances surrounding their initial sexual encounters. Arguments as to masturbation effects are irrelevant to the physiological response that may lead to obsession. Masturbation is self gratifying and is just another aspect of sexual experience.
These factors are somewhat clinical in appearance, but I believe that an open dialogue on the subject of sex would reduce the excitement achieved through verbal exchange of sex in a less controlled environment.
By obsession with sex, I don't mean the indulgence in the act, but an onsession in the sense of being troubled and guilted by sex in the sense that sexual activity is active, but people have bad feelings about it. Animals have no obsession with sex, because they do it without feeling bad about it, but many humans don't.
Gender: Male Location: Drifting off around the bend
I don't believe that people have guilt on average as to their sexual activity, perhaps in some very religiously repressed areas, but overall I don't see this type of feeling bad about the activity occurring. I am Mormon, and even in our culture in Utah there isn't this type of sense of guilt.
Ok, so maybe the portion of people with this antagonism with sex is decreasing. Maybe people are finally getting more open about sex...more open between the legs
KMC Community Forums
Aug 23rd, 2006 11:53 AM
