Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Keywords

Christian sexuality, Gender issues, Human sexuality, Intimacy, Male-female relationships

Abstract

It is challenging for Christian pastors and counselors to discuss human sexuality in ways which do not alienate liberals on the left, conservatives on the right, or biologists in the middle. Feminists frequently see males as dominating or insensitive, and conservative Christians sometimes feed into this by emphasizing patriarchal models of marriage as if this were the biblical paradigm for all time. Evolutionary biologists view sexuality primarily as a means of propagating the species. Into this cacophony of strident voices the Christian seeks to inject a calm but clear message: Christian sexuality is primarily a search for intimacy. In a culture obsessed with sexuality as entertainment, the followers of Christ call others to view human sexuality not primarily in terms of eroticism, power, or procreation, but rather in terms of psychological intimacy. From a biblical perspective, becoming "one flesh," with one's mate also provides the occasion for becoming a co-creator with the eternal I AM. In addition to the procreational potential and orgasmic excitement provided by sexual intercourse, God intended for these encounters to be loaded with an abundance of psychological intimacy. Intimacy is the raison d'etre of sexual relationships. Intimacy provides sexuality with a quality that can mollify crises in the present life, and imbue sexuality with a splendor worthy of the next life as well. © 2002 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Journal Title

Pastoral Psychology

Volume

50

Issue

3

First Page

139

Last Page

146

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012939618598

First Department

Behavioral Sciences

Acknowledgements

Open access article retrieved April 5, 2021 from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1012939618598

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