Sex and religion are inevitably and intricately linked. There are few realms of human experience other than sex in which religion has greater reach and influence. The role of religion, of any faith, to prohibit, regulate, condemn, and reward, is unavoidably prominent in questions of sex—namely with whom, when, how, and why. In Sex and Religion, Dag Øistein Endsjø examines the myriad and complex religious attitudes towards sex in cultures throughout the world. Endsjø reflects on some of the most significantly problematic areas in the relationship between sex and religion—from sex before or outside of marriage to homosexuality. Through many examples from world religions, he outlines what people mean by sex in a religious context, with whom it's permissible to have sex, how sex can be a directly religious experience, and what consequences there are for deviance, for both the individual and society. As Endsjø explains, while Buddhist monks call attention to gay sex as a holy mystery, the Christian church questions a homosexual's place in the church. Some religions may believe that promiscuity leads to hurricanes and nuclear war, and in others God condemns interracial marriage. Sex and Religion reveals there is nothing natural or self-evident about the ways in which various religions prescribe or proscribe and bless or condemn different types of sexuality. Whether sex becomes sacred or abhorrent depends entirely on how a religion defines it. Sex and Religion is a fascinating investigation of mores, meanings, rituals, and rules in many faiths around the globe, and will be of interest to anyone curious about the intersection of these fundamental aspects of human history and experience.

Sex og religion

Dag Øistein Endsjø; [English translation by Peter Graves]

Endsj©ı, Dag ©istein, 1968-

Endsjø, Dag Ølstein

London: Reaktion

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

London, England, 2011

Illustrated, PS, 2011

"First published in 2009 by Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, under the title Sex og religion : fra jomfruball til hellig homosex"--Title page verso.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-321) and index.
Translated from the Norwegian.

Sex. There Is Probably No Other Realm Of Human Experience In Which Religious Thinking And Control Has Had Such Vast Reach And Powerful Influence. Faiths Of Every Sort Have Always Held Strong Beliefs About Different Forms Of Sexual Conduct. But There Is Nothing Natural Or Self-evident About The Ways In Which Various Religions Prescribe Or Proscribe And Bless Or Condemn Different Forms Of Sexuality. Whether Something Is Sacred Or Abhorrent Depends Entirely On How A Religion Defines It. Sex And Religion Is A Detailed Guide To The Ways In Which Faiths Have Sought To Repress Or Celebrate As Well As Codify Almost Every Kind Of Sexual Relationship And Act. Is Sex Before Or Outside Marriage Wrong Or Admissible? Should Priests Have Sex? Can Sex Be A Religious Experience? Is Interracial Marriage Against God's Will? Does Mutual Masturbation Count As Sex? Then There Are The Questions Concerning Everything From Polygamy And Contraceptives To Fellatio And Sex In Heaven ... This Book Reflects On These And Other Contentious Areas In The Ongoing Interrelationship Of Sex And Religion. It Explains What People Meant And Mean By Sex In A Religious Context, With Whom It Has Been Or Is Permissible To Have Sex, And What Consequences There Have Been And Are Today For Deviant And Correct Sex, For Both The Individual And Society. The Variety Of Religious Codes Is Extraordinary. Where One Faith Makes Much Of The Fact That Promiscuity Will Lead To Hurricanes And Nuclear War, There Is Another That Has A God Who Condemns Sexual Abstinence. A Truly Fascinating Investigation Of Mores And Meanings, Rituals And Rules In Religions Around The Globe, This Book Will Be Of Interest To Anyone Curious About The Intersection Of These Fundamental Aspects Of Human History And Experience.--jacket. Defining Sex And Religion -- No Sex, Thank You -- Solitary Sex -- The Blessings And Curses Of Heterosexuality -- Homosexuality : Expected, Compulsory, Condemned -- Religio-sexual Racism And Religious Discrimination -- Sex Beyond The Mortal Sphere -- Because You're Worth It -- Sacred Sex, Ritual Sex -- Religio-sexual Priorities. Dag Øistein Endsjø ; [english Translation By Peter Graves]. First Published In 2009 By Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, Under The Title Sex Og Religion : Fra Jomfruball Til Hellig Homosex--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 299-321) And Index.

"Sex. There is probably no other realm of human experience in which religious thinking and control has had such vast reach and powerful influence. Faiths of every sort have always held strong beliefs about different forms of sexual conduct. But there is nothing natural or self-evident about the ways in which various religions prescribe or proscribe and bless or condemn different forms of sexuality. Whether something is sacred or abhorrent depends entirely on how a religion defines it. Sex and Religion is a detailed guide to the ways in which faiths have sought to repress or celebrate as well as codify almost every kind of sexual relationship and act. Is sex before or outside marriage wrong or admissible? Should priests have sex? Can sex be a religious experience? Is interracial marriage against God's will? Does mutual masturbation count as sex? Then there are the questions concerning everything from polygamy and contraceptives to fellatio and sex in heaven ... This book reflects on these and other contentious areas in the ongoing interrelationship of sex and religion. It explains what people meant and mean by sex in a religious context, with whom it has been or is permissible to have sex, and what consequences there have been and are today for deviant and correct sex, for both the individual and society. The variety of religious codes is extraordinary. Where one faith makes much of the fact that promiscuity will lead to hurricanes and nuclear war, there is another that has a god who condemns sexual abstinence. A truly fascinating investigation of mores and meanings, rituals and rules in religions around the globe, this book will be of interest to anyone curious about the intersection of these fundamental aspects of human history and experience"--Provided by publisher

"Sex. There is probably no other realm of human experience in which religious thinking and control has had such vast reach and powerful influence. Faiths of every sort have always held strong beliefs about different forms of sexual conduct. But there is nothing natural or self-evident about the ways in which various religions prescribe or proscribe and bless or condemn different forms of sexuality. Whether something is sacred or abhorrent depends entirely on how a religion defines it. Sex and Religion is a detailed guide to the ways in which faiths have sought to repress or celebrate as well as codify almost every kind of sexual relationship and act. Is sex before or outside marriage wrong or admissible? Should priests have sex? Can sex be a religious experience? Is interracial marriage against God's will? Does mutual masturbation count as sex? Then there are the questions concerning everything from polygamy and contraceptives to fellatio and sex in heaven... This book reflects on these and other contentious areas in the ongoing interrelationship of sex and religion. It explains what people meant and mean by sex in a religious context, with whom it has been or is permissible to have sex, and what consequences there have been and are today for deviant and correct sex, for both the individual and society. The variety of religious codes is extraordinary. Where one faith makes much of the fact that promiscuity will lead to hurricanes and nuclear war, there is another that has a god who condemns sexual abstinence. A truly fascinating investigation of mores and meanings, rituals and rules in religions around the globe, this book will be of interest to anyone curious about the intersection of these fundamental aspects of human history and experience."--Dust jacket

333 p. : 23 cm
"First published in 2009 by Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, under the title Sex og religion : fra jomfruball til hellig homosex"--T.p. verso
Includes bibliographical references (p. 299-321) and index

2024-07-01