SYNOPSIS

Reflection on The History and Theology of Sexuality, presented to the Diocese of Toronto – Same Sex Consultation

Canon Eric Beresford

This is a well written wide ranging review of human sexuality, a concept that he acknowledges is foreign to most of the Judeo-Christian tradition. The notion that sexual desire and behaviour might be a pervasive element of our personalities dates back no further than the 18^th century. This reality makes conversations in this area so very difficult. The topic is vast.

Canon Beresford begins by stating that reading scripture and the writings of the great theologians gives us a wide range of attitudes to sex and sexual relationships. While there are some clear concerns emerging from the scriptural witness, the attitudes are complex. Genesis 1 & 2 have a relationship to each other that is tense. Genesis 2 is considered to be older than 1, but it was common to see the passage placed second as providing commentary on the first, and in this way, Gen 2 would be read as providing commentary on the affirmations about human sexuality in Gen 1. Gen 1 Affirms is that both male and female reflect the image of God completely and perfectly as male and female. The emphasis on procreation is supported here. Gen 2 takes a rather different route. “It is not good that the earthling should be alone.” The thrust of this story is obviously a little different. Sexuality is now understood in terms of the search for a fitting companion and in terms of the human need for intimacy. Here we see some of the key themes and also some of the ambivalences in the Christian tradition’s approach to sexuality. On one hand there is the social and biological importance of procreation. It also gestures toward intimacy. It is difficult to understand what sort of intimacy Solomon might have shared with all of his wives! We have begun to understand that many of the differences between men and women that we took to be natural are in fact the products of social conditioning. The differences indicated in Genesis link back to a long line of thinking about women as temptress and seducer and as therefore inherently dangerous. In scriptures Woman was also a source of impurity especially around menstruation and childbirth. There is negativity here that leads to patriarchy, and the growth of celibacy, and a distrustful attitude to sexual desire in general

The author discusses the philosophical concept of dualism. Dualism sees the spiritual and the physical as separate and distinct and the spiritual as pure, good and worthy, and the physical at best a distraction and at worst intrinsically evil. St. Augustine made rather negative remarks about sexual desire which come from his background as a Manichee before he became a Christian, notwithstanding his having at one time or another a concubine, a mistress, and a fiancée. Augustine never found a way of articulating the possibility that sexual pleasure might enrich the relations between husband and wife. Augustine is inevitably caught up in the debates of his surrounding culture, as we all are.

Until the 1930s, Anglicans were opposed to the use of contraception in all circumstances. The link between sexuality and procreation is clearly expressed. Are all sexual relationships that are not open to procreation inappropriate? It is utterly wrong to urge that, unless children are specifically desired, sexual intercourse is of the nature of sin.

Canon Beresford then leads into a discussion of the evaluation of desire and pleasure, and the importance of intimacy, and concludes “Yet I cannot in the end believe that our longing for God will be undistorted if we are not able to reflect more clearly and affirm more positively the sexual love and desire through we learn something of that longing.”

He continues to assert that sexual desire is certainly disruptive, and includes desire towards members of the same sex. He notes that this desire is discovered and not chosen.

He concludes by saying that “Sexuality is an articulation of the need to reach out for the physical and spiritual embrace of others. As such it connects with God’s intention that human beings find their authentic fulfillment, not in isolation, but in relationship. Authentic sexuality is a moment of grace, it is about the possibility of intimate relationship, it is about communion. If we as Christians are to speak constructively about this then we will have to acknowledge the complexity of our own traditions and even their complicity with patterns of relationship that are far from healthy and life giving.”