Should sex be ONLY for procreation or for recreation?

Question

I REALLY want to hear from people who think it should be ONLY for procreation - I want to hear your reasoning. Who knows, you might change my way of thinking ;)

Answer 1

Technically it's for procreation and nothing else.


It feels good so that you'll want to do it. That is how we evolved, but luckily we it does feel good, so throw on a condom and have at it, I say! And have fun while you're at it.

Answer 2

Whether or not you ascribe any "meaning" to it, sex evolved to be pleasurable because people who enjoyed sex in the ancestral environment, hundreds of thousands of years ago on the African Savannah, produced more children than people who did not enjoy sex. This purely mathematical process over thousands/millions of years of evolution led to our population today which enjoys sex quite a bit, because most of our ancestors did as well. Those humans who lived before us and did not enjoy sex would have had it less often, and passed on their genes less. So these "sex-hating" genes only make up a small percentage of what is out there today. The pleasure aspect is a side effect of the procreation aspect, not the other way around. Massages feel good too, and people enjoy receiving massages, but no matter how often people give massages it will not result in pregnancy. Heroin feels good but getting high doesn't get you pregnant. Just a couple examples. If you want to talk about "purposes" you are getting into metaphysical or religious territory, which by its nature is that about which we may only speculate. But you can look at causative factors in isolation and see that the procreation is what "came first" (no pun intended).

Answer 3

Without reading your other respondents, I will give you my take on the matter.
Sex is the ultimate, intimate bond between man and wife. It is the expression of love between husband and wife, each giving themselves to the other in a very literal way. That said, the original commandment to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth. That means procreation or sexual relations. They were longer lived and obviously healthier than we are today. A woman cannot give birth as often as the ancients did. The scriptures tell us to have small families in the last days because times will be hard. So I conclude that my relation with my wife is one of mutually giving of intimacy in an expression of love for each other that gave us six children along the way.
As for recreation, I do not like the connotation of that word, implying that there is no love or commitment required. Husband and wife can give themselves to each other as often as they see fit, but I would not call that purely recreation. I equate recreation with casual fling and that is not acceptable.

Answer 4

If you only want to hear what you want to hear, then what's the point of asking all of America on this website??
The real answer is BOTH! God designed us to enjoy sex. It feels great, if you're with your spouse, and ONLY with your spouse. When that happens, then procreation is possible, and that's a beautiful thing too!!

Answer 5

Well intercourse should be for procreation, and all the other fun stuff can be recreation. The planet is too over populated and besides that teenagers are the ones that love sex as pure recreation, not even as a sign of love just recreation. But if youre responsible it could be recreation too, But now I am confused too thanks alot!

Answer 6

I don't know of anyone who thinks sex is ONLY for procreation. The Catholic Church teaches that sex ONLY for procreation would be illicit. Specifically, the Church teaches that sexual union has TWO essential purposes that cannot be separated - the procreative and the unitive. Sexual union within marriage must be open to the possibility of procreation, and also must contribute to the mutual unity and love of the couple. Sex for either purpose to the complete exclusion of the other is illicit.

Answer 7

I think that unprotected sex should be only for procreation...but protected monogamous sex is alright whenever you want as long as you are responsible and are willing to deal with the consequences if something happens and that you are in a loving trusting relationship

Answer 8

It should be for both. It is not immoral to reduce the chances of pregnancy through natural methods like abstinence or natural family planning (NFP), but the Church teaches that artificial contraception, the negation of the procreative nature of sex, is immoral. I have struggled with this issue and when I was younger ignored the Church's teachings, but have come to realize that the Church is right. Here are a few of the reasons why:

1. Argument from natural law
God designed our sexual nature so that intercourse is both pleasurable and capable of conceiving new life. We pervert God's design when we artificially disable the possibility of conception in order to make sex solely a means of satisfying our sensual desire. By thwarting the natural operation of our bodies we disrespect the order of nature and thus disrespect God who put that nature in place.

2. Gratification of the flesh
The saints throughout history have placed a great deal of importance on the need to discipline the senses, since someone who is controlled by sensual appetites is hindered in the exercise of free will to fulfill God's commands. To indulge in pleasure for its own sake, which is what contraception encourages, is opposed to this kind of discipline and weakens our ability to make decisions that may be painful or uncomfortable in order to conform to God's law. In this sense sex can become an addiction. Like all addictions this can result in irrational and harmful decisions.

3. Gateway to greater evils
Pope Paul VI predicted that the use of contraception would lead to greater incidence of abortion and divorce. It promotes abortion because it creates a mindset that sex should not result in pregnancy, so when it does result in pregnancy due to failure of birth control strategies the possibility of abortion is much stronger because the pregnancy was not wanted to begin with. It leads to divorce because the availability of contraception makes adultery seem more convenient and attractive.

Answer 9

>>I REALLY want to hear from people who think it should be ONLY for procreation<<

You'll be waiting a long time. I've never encountered anyone who thinks that.

Answer 10

I think exactly the opposite is true: people should only have sex for recreation. There are too many people in the world as it is. And often people who have kids treat them terribly.

Why is it that to have a car or house you need to go through a lengthy process to prove you are responsible enough? You need a license to drive, and with a house you have to sign about 100 forms. But to have a child, you don't need to prove anything. So then you get all these parents who are unfit because they don't have jobs or they are kids themselves mentally.