Sex, sexuality, relationships
have always been ideas and themes which interested people in every time,
culture, religion, society. Christianity can be quite open about it, but at
times we do see that it is very conservative in explaining sex, in
understanding it or in accepting it for its members, especially when this is
done outside of marriage. However, the fact that Christ performed his first
miracle at a wedding, even the fact that he was present at one signifies that God
accepts marriage and considers sexual relationship as a sacrament. Philip
Sherrard expands on this in his book Christianity
and Eros, where he writes:
‘The idea of the sexual relationship
as a sacrament is of course affirmed by the Christian Church. It is the
corner-stone of the Christian conception of marriage. It is understood that
Christ’s presence at the marriage in Cana and the fact that it was there that
he performed his first miracle implies that God not only approves of marriage
but also gives it his special blessing. If it is asked why such a dignity has
been conferred on marriage the answer generally given is that there are two
main reasons to account for it. The first is that it unites man and woman and
that this union has a sacred significance. Here the traditional authority is St
Paul. In the Epistle to the Ephesians (5.31-2), it is indicated that in marriage
man and woman become one flesh and that this great mystery corresponds to the
relationship between Christ and the Church. Marriage – the union of man and
woman – symbolises the union of Christ and the Church and so is sacred. The
second main reason for regarding marriage as sacred is that it is the
established institution for the procreation of children. God said to our forefathers:
‘Be fruitful and multiply’; and this is taken to mean that he wanted Adam and
Eve to have children and must therefore regard the procreation of children by
husband and wife as a holy procedure under all circumstances. It follows that
marriage, through which man and woman become husband and wife, must also be
holy, provided that the Church gives it her blessing.’ (pp.3-4).
No comments:
Post a Comment