How did the idea that Christians are sexually repressed start?

Question

I've seen a number of answers in the R&S category that have mentioned how sexually repressed Christians are. I'm wondering where and how that idea got started. Is this because of the teachings (and if so- which teachings), or experience, observation or some other reason?

As a lifelong Christian, I personally don't feel sexually repressed. I've read the Bible and didn't really see anything in it that implied that sex in and of itself is bad or evil. (Has anyone read the Song of Solomon recently??) Doing it with someone you're not married to is discouraged (Exodus 20), but other than that, I really didn't find anything that discouraged sex in general, or specified when, how, or why.

Thank you, Molten Orange- as the first to actually address the question of origin, I applaud you!!!!
"Over the years, people have expanded on that..."

Swordark- Notice- even you call them "naughty parts"... again--why?

I guess I need to add a little more to my query- I understand that many Christians have hangups in regards to sex.... but where/when did those hangups start? Who thought up the idea of a celibate priesthood?

(Also if anyone knows-- Who said that Joseph and Mary were celibate after Jesus' birth?? There's nothing about that in the NT... in fact, there's implication that Jesus had younger siblings- brothers and sisters.)

Answer 1

It's good that you don't feel sexually repressed. I think these ideas came from the part of the bible that you referenced, though. Over the years, people have expanded on that and now I hear people saying that it's wrong to kiss before you're married, or wrong to do anything that involves the body of another person (or yourself, for that matter), unless you are married to them. Sexuality is a very natural, instinctive part of being human, or being any animal, for that matter, and repressing it leads to all kinds of troubles later on in life. I have a friend who was always taught that nudity and sex were wrong, and even though she's married now, she won't let her husband see her with her clothes off. They turn out the lights, or she leaves some article of clothing on. We need to be teaching our children that there is nothing dirty about a naked human body. We weren't born with clothes on.

Edit: Yeah, it's fun, but sex is hardly the spiritual experience that some people are describing, this "oneness" and all that. With a spouse, anyway. You can experience those feelings of intense spiritual connection with someone that you are NOT married to. When did receiving a marriage license magically make sex better? I must have missed that memo.

Answer 2

perhaps this idea started when someone looked at the statistics of sex-related "problems" as distributed among societies of varying religions.

where you would find the highest percentage of populations as being criminally "corrected" in-re "sex-crime", there you would also find the greatest amount of "sexual-repression"

whether this would flag Christianity as such ... or not ... I don't really know, but I've heard anecdotaly that there is is "smoke" in this area.

"fire" .. dunno

I've heard that there is a lower rate of rape in Buddhist countries than CHristian countries.

in ALL societies, some people get along just fine.

it's in the "residue" that we might be able to see a deeper reality

ps: Catholic priests were not celibate until the 1200's ... and that practice probably had more to do with preserving the real-estate holdings of the RC church than with any Pauline "teachings" (sic) ... priests were having too many offspring which required inheritance of property.

Answer 3

LOL... The Song of Solomon is actually mentioned in a movie my husband and I rented recently- Keeping Mum. Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) is a work-a-holic Anglican minister who has been... uh, neglecting his husbandly duties to his wife. They hire a new housekeeper (Maggie Smith) who suggests he read that particular section of the Old Testament.... It's just funny!


Anyway, back to the topic.
I've always wondered about the Catholic (original organized Christianity) idea that priests should be celibate (and nuns, of course). When did that start? We know that Peter was married (mention of his mom-in-law), but how does sexual abstinance make a person more holy?....

I figure God gave us that desire for a reason, and that when used as He directs (within a marriage) it can't be a bad thing as long as both husband and wife are having their needs met. Reading other answers, it seems that IS a repressed perception, but maybe it's just a difference of definition.





Edit--
I feel that when a person is unable to enjoy sex and give enjoyment to another (in whatever fashion)... that's repression. Just because someone chooses to only participate in sex within marriage or not- to me, that's not really a facet of sexual repression.....

Sex is an apetite... like hunger for food- being smart about what and how much you eat isn't dietary repression, it's just good judgment. Being unable to enjoy food, to appreciate a good meal- that's dietary repression!

Answer 4

It is not an idea, it is an observed fact. However, it's not all Christians, and indeed, not all people. If people vilify sexuality among themselves publicly, but then sneak off to be with prostitutes (and then hurry back home to be ready for Church), then they are repressed. Bans on homosexuality, masturbation, non-marital sex, and non-procreative sex, are sexual repressions. It should be noted that these practices, in and of themselves do not harm the individuals involved.

I'm not speaking of crimes such as pedophilia, rape, etc. These DO harm others. Christian doctrine posits many victimless crimes as sins. If two consenting male adults who are not carrying infectious diseases decide to have oral sex with each other in the privacy of their own homes, whom does that hurt? Society? No.. It is a private act. Society is not aware of it. Does it harm God? No. God, if it exists, is infinitely powerful and cannot be harmed by mere human beings. Does it harm the sperm cells being swallowed. Arguably, maybe... but sperm cells die by the millions and are reabsorbed if they are not used. Arguably, that would not even constitute as much harm as picking an apple, eating it, and putting the seeds in a garbage disposal.

I am reminded of my dear baptist former step father who did not allow cursing, but enjoyed to punished me if I was in the bathroom too long, worried that I'd be masturbation at age 12, yet didn't mind sneaking into a neighbor's bed and performing cunilingus on her while she was asleep. Sexually skewed and repressive is probably a better term for what the hypocritial doctrine of this religion has brought about.

Humans are animals, intelligent ones, but animals nonetheless. Those who are not befuddled by cult superstitions are fully capable of fulfilling their biological needs while not inflicting harm upon others.

Answer 5

Well, let's look at the meaning of repression, or what people see as the meaning of repression.

I think a lot of people today would say we are repressed because we teach that sex should only be between a MAN AND WIFE, not with whoever you feel you should have sex with, or when ever you feel like it. We are repressed because we can't let our sexual selves be "free". I explain my feelings on this in a minute.

Then there is the idea that sex should only be for procreation. There shouldn't be any joy or pleasure out of it. I was never taught that, but more on my feelings in another minute.

Then there are those who believe that even teaching about sex is wrong, that the human body is something that needs to be hidden or covered up. Even for sex, the partners shouldn't see your whole body naked. They feel it's a sin to even enjoy sex with each other, and see the human body as something that wasn't made to be sexual at all.

K.. here are my feelings on all of these. I believe that the human body was made the way it was for a reason. We are, in part, sexual beings. That was on purpose. Yes, sex should be for procreation, but not just for procreation. I believe in waiting to have sex until marriage, and only having sex with my spouse. I feel this is the way that God meant for it to be. If that makes me a repressed Christian, so be it. I could get into the reasons of WHY it's better to wait and all that, but I won't.

I feel that the human body isn't something dirty or something that should be kept hidden from my spouse. I hate to say this, but I really like being naked. I see nothing wrong with being naked in front of my spouse, and every once in a while, in front of the kids (mind you, that's only when I'm in the tub and get into the bathroom). I don't feel it's right to teach kids that their body is something dirty. It's a wonderful thing, and should be seen as the marvel that it is.

As far as education goes, I think the more info you give someone, the better their choices are going to be. I don't mean that we should hand out condoms in school, because I think that gives kids free reign to do as they want. But I think that education goes a long way.

I think that our society at large has twisted the meaning of sex way out from what it was meant to be. Yes, sex is supposed to be enjoyable, that's how God made us. But I feel that it is something sacred that should only be shared with your spouse, not every boyfriend/girlfriend that comes along. I also don't believe in casual sex. I think that through the media, internet, tv, magazines, that we have become desensitized to sex and it's true purpose.

I think that sex, within the bonds of legal marriage, should be wonderful, enjoyable and should bring you closer together. A strong sexual relationship can rub off in other areas as well, and can strengthen a marriage. Do I feel repressed? Like you, no. I feel that my life is much healthier, happier and better because I have chosen to only share that part of myself with my husband.

Answer 6

I think there are enough limits on what is permitted even for married couples to justify someone who enjoys activities that are frowned upon by the conservatives calling them "repressed." And for many, limiting it to a monogamous marriage is repression enough.

Primarily, I think it's because of the rule about not doing it before you are married. To a lot of people, including myself, that is either running the risk of marrying too young just because you're horny (that was my first husband), or marrying the wrong person because you want to sleep with him/her, or being manipulated by the guilt trip if you go ahead.

Then of course there is the prohibitions on homosexual activities, which includes bisexuality. The line that even if that's what you want, you can't ever have it without going to hell is just plain infuriating. I'm surprised any gays at all pay lip-service [pun?] to being Christians.

Answer 7

Sexual repression is a home's mood passed on to little children as they grow up. The first thing starting with panic in face of childhood masturbation. Then unspoken rules about keeping gender separate or under close watch. It may take many forms and some people don't even remember how their parents reacted faced with their first sexual explorations.

Answer 8

I think you have it right,except for the Song of Solomon. that's
parabolic language that has nothing to do with sex.
Satan is always lying about Christians.

we declare the GOSPEL and we are declared to be
judgemental,as though we just made things up from our own
opinion.

we stand for TRUTH and we are accused of hating-- when
we really want others to also be saved and escape hell.

we are accused of all the violence in the world when
Hitler,Stalin and Mao[just in this century] were either atheists
or non-Christians.

we are attacked as dopes and flat-earth believing simpletons when we challenge all the bad ,pseudoscientific
lies,misinformation and hoaxes that evolutionists put forward.
and more strange are these attacks when we see that some of the greatest scientists in history were Christians.

and when Christians understand that GOD has put limits
on man's sexual expressions for our good,Satan says this is
why there is rape and pornography and sexual perversion.
if people were just able to have unrestrained expressions
everything would be much better.
RIDICULOUS!

if man acted on every impulse,of sex or greed or eating or drugs or
hatred or vengeance or ego etc. we would destroy ourselves.
GOD knows better ,but Satan is always prepared with his lies to decieve those who won't listen[humbly] to GOD.

Answer 9

Well, let's see - masterbation is a sin. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. The Puritons (the original bible thumping fundies) were so sexually repressed that it was only acceptable for married couples to have sex in the missionary position, fully clothed (except the naughty bits were allowed to touch), in the dark, and for procreation only. Geez - maybe that's why? I have to wonder why my fundie Christian aunt raised my cousin to believe her vagina was the root of all evil and the mere fact that she had gentalia made her dirty and disgusting and a whore. That might have something to do with it, too. Not all Christians are comfortable or accepting of their sexuality or their bodies. I mean - I'm sure there are many who are, but there are some who aren't.

Answer 10

the teachings of paul definitely contained sexual reppression as a theme because time was considered short and shouldn't be spent on earthly gratification like marriage whereas in the old testament, it wasn't about converting everyone or saving souls. Also, solomon was a polygomist, but that doesn't make polygomy right. and the bible says that if a man even looks at a woman lustfully, it is commiting adultury in his heart.