User:Trent.char/sandbox

I’d like to add sources to the Religion and sexuality article that illustrate the Apostle Paul’s and St. Augustine’s influence on sex within Christianity. I also plan to add Biblical references to sex and sexuality. I think the article as whole could be better cited, and could also say more about the relationships non-Christian religious traditions have with sexuality.

A few sources:

Marshall, Jill E. “Community Is A Body: Sex, Marriage, And Methaphor In 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:7 And Ephesians 5:21-33.” Journal Of Biblical Literature 134.4 (2015): 833-847. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 30 Sept. 2016

Schweitzer, Steven James. “Biblical Perspectives On Sexuality.” Vision (Winnipeg, Man.) 9.2 (2008): 13-24. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 30 Sept. 2016

Biblical References to Sex and Sexuality

There are several references to sexuality in the Bible. It is important to note that biblical interpretation of scripture is varied throughout time and across traditions, and have consequently shaped Christian thought on sex.

Genesis

• Genesis 1:27 God creates both male and female in god’s image (imago Dei)
• Genesis 2:24 explains the role of marriage as a means by which humans are built to be in relationship with one another. This particular verse describes marital relationship as being between a man and a woman.

Songs of Solomon

• Erotic poems in the Old Testament. Describes two lovers engaging in intercourse. Sometimes interpreted as the relationship God has with God’s people, or the goodness of sex within marriage. Does not mention procreation.

The Gospels

• Jesus rarely addresses sexuality in scripture, except to encourage the cultural practice of marriage and denounce divorce and adultery (Mark 10:2–12,Matthew 9:3–10, Matthew 5:27–32, and Luke 16:18). In Matthew 5:27–28, Jesus defines adultery as not only acts of the body, but acts concerning the mind and spirit (lust).

Paul's Letters

• Much of Christian thought regarding sex and sexuality comes from the writing of the Apostle Paul. His apocalyptic worldview greatly influenced his beliefs on sex and marriage, believing that one’s bodily self can greatly inhibit one’s spiritual self. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul suggests that marriage is permissible for those who cannot curb their sexual desires, but encourages celibacy for both men and women.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9–13 Paul confronts sexual immorality and defines the role of sex as solely for procreation. In these passages Paul describes the sins that prevent one from entering the “Kingdom of God” including but not limited to idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, and thievery.
  • Most scholars suggest that the use of “homosexuality” in this verse is linked closer to the act pedophilia (particularly older men pursuing sex with young boys) that was practiced among Greeks at the time. The words Paul used to refer to this act can be more closely translated to male prostitutes. It has also been suggested that admonishing this practice was an attempt to separate Jewish culture from Greek culture.  

As noted above, interpretation of these texts within Christian tradition vary. While much of scripture has served to promote chastity, celibacy, and heterosexual marriages and denounce actions such as premarital sexual behavior and homosexuality, some denominations and groups including but not limited to Feminist, Queer, and Black Theologians have used these texts (and others) to further sex-positivity within a Christian context.

From Prof G.

I like the details you're adding here; it might be helpful to include some secondary sources on how these biblical texts/patristics are interpreted. For instance, Rosemary Radford Ruether's book Sexism and God-Talk or her chapter in the Cambridge Companion to Augustine. Gerdesk (talk) 00:08, 21 October 2016 (UTC)