Bible & Theology Course for the Laity, DVK, Bangalore

Full Reports on the Bible & Theology Course - 2004

Human Sexuality: An All-Embracing Reality

Sexuality is the fundamental component of personality, one of its modes of being, of communicating with others, of feeling, of expressing, and of living human love. In other words, it is an integral part of the development of the personality. One can never separate oneself from one's sexuality and an attempt to do so is extremely destructive. Human beings can never live as non-sexed beings. Disgust and rejection of sexuality is the denial of the fundamental structure of one's personality and the denial of a fundamental gift of God.

Sexuality is the core dimension of the human need to love and be loved. It is a loving gift of God. god invites every human person to live a sexually responsible life. It is from sexuality that a human being receives the characteristics that, on biological, psychological, and spiritual levels, make that person a man or woman, and condition his/her progress towards maturity and adaptation into society. Sexuality includes the qualities of sensitivity, understanding, intimacy, openness to others, compassion, and mutual support. Therefore, sexuality is a relational power and not merely a capacity for performing specific sexual acts.

For human beings, sexual instinct is and should be something more than a mere physical attraction. The distinctive dimension of human sexuality does not exhaust merely in the procreation like the animals. Corporeality or physical/material existence (not spiritual) is evidently a fundamental aspect of human sexuality. However, it is not the most important aspect. When the physical dimension of human sexuality predominates, there is a risk of reducing it into the mere animal dimension. In other words, human sexuality is by no means purely biological, but concerns the innermost being and all the dimensions of the human person.

The Catholic vision of sexuality teaches a way of sexual living that is liberating and genuinely good for human beings. The great gift of sexuality can be abused, sometimes intentionally and sometimes through immaturity and ignorance.

The study of human sexuality reveals the dignity of the multi-dimensional aspect of human sexuality. The sexuality of human beings is very much different from that of animals. The reasoning and affective faculty of human beings raise them far above the animal world. The basic differences are the following:

Animals Sexual activity is purely instinctive and compulsory. Sexual desire is governed by seasons.     Sexual activity is only meant to generate life. It is only a life-giving expression.   Animals are not conscious of the social consequences of their sexual behaviours.

Humans Humans are free to decide whether to use or not to use the sexual power. Genital activity is not compulsory. Sexual desire is governed by reason. Sex is a procreative and affective expression. It is a love-giving and life-giving expression.   Human beings should use their sexual power with responsibility.

In short, while sex in animals remains just a genital performance, human sexual activity implies an intimate physical, psychological, and spiritual relationship between a man and a woman who love each other, with the free mutual consent and with the full awareness of the possible consequences of their action.

Introduction   Biblical understanding   Song of songs   Catholic tradition
Sexual cells: Basics   All embracing reality   Complementarity & Wholeness
Conclusion   Human Sexuality Index

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