"Since sexual immorality affects the human person in such an intimate, bodily way, it is abominable, a sacrilegious desecration of the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Other sins are outside the body, but sexual sins are especially perverse because they are within."
The above quote from a book is from a book titled Catholic Sexual Ethics: A Summary, Explanation, and Defense and written by Joseph M. Boyle, and yes the quote is harsh and stinging indictment of contemporary Millennial sexuality. My article this week as the second part of my series of Catholic dating and sexuality, is going to tackle the topic of how the hook-up culture aligns with Catholic social teaching. In other words, I aim this week to expose some major flaws with how many Millennials attempt to process and understand romance and intimacy.
Sexuality Isn't Just Physical
Guess what everybody, I have a secret to let you in on. Sexuality and how we experience it as individual is not just linked to our physical experiences. Unfortunately many people in our modern culture of dating would tell you differently, they want to tell you a dangerous lie. They want to tell you the lie that engaging in sexuality and intimacy with another person can be consciously limited to a physical realm. They want to tell you that we can choose to experience only the physical pleasures of sex and disregard its inherent spiritual and emotional connections.
When in reality the truth is something so much more beautiful and rewarding then the shallow lie that is embodied in the hook-up culture. The reason that sexual sins are so sternly chastised by the Church, especially in statements like the one I quoted as the intro for this article, is because that human sexuality is intimately tied to the human spirit! Our spirit is our essence as a person and is tied to every intimate interaction that we have with people. The highest form of interaction with another person is engaging in acts involving sexuality, in essence engaging in sex means that we form one of the highest spiritual, physical, and emotional bond possible between two human beings.
No It Isn't Easy - That's The Point
I know that reading my above statements it sounds or at least maybe appears that the illusion shared with us about sexuality sounds pretty straightforward. And in theory it really is a concept that is backed up by a shared human experience of trial and error. Or, you may read my thoughts and think, "Great! Thanks for sounding like my parents and ever single Pam Stenzel video I had to watch in high school!"
Both of those responses or something in between is what I typically expect when someone reads an article like this. What you my peers see is an indictment of your actions and an act of judgement on my part. That is not what I'm writing this article for, because I have made the mistakes that I talk about in this article series. I am writing this article series to give you a warning from my own experience. I want you to be able to learn from my mistakes and live a happier and healthier life! I'm also the one here to tell you that it is not and easy thing to follow the guidelines of sexuality that the Church requires, but following them will be one of the most rewarding experiences you will undertake in your lifetime!
So yes take it from my own experience that it can be easy to try and wish away the spiritual and emotional part of human sexuality, however its just not possible. God made us hardwired a certain way and formed us to experience the beautiful and amazing gift that is human sexuality. What's even better is that he gave us a lot of tips on how to enjoy it as well, I'll taking a peek at some of those tips next week!
