In Part I, I started an explanation that starts with basics.
Sex is private. It can be holy. Sexual maturity is the first stop for presenting my understanding of the traditional Jewish approach to sexuality.
Maturity is recognizing that sex is more than “just fun.” It includes the realization that we’re dealing with a lot of power, and power is not to be played with. Sex is not a toy. It can lead to the miracle of birth. The “therefore” of that statement is not that we should all hold hands for a kumbaya of mutual love and peace. Uh, not. The “therefore” of birth being a potential outcome of this three letter word is that it should be treated with more than just excitement for fun – that’s the roller coaster at the theme park. It’s more than fun; it’s awesome.
Maturity includes the ability to regulate a relationship with past, present, and future. Sexual maturity would include then respect for what sex is. Fun? Yes. But exponentially more than that as well. It includes the ability to create life, pass on deadly disease, ruin one’s emotional well being OR serve as an incredibly strong bond for two people who choose to have their paths together.
If this were only a physical act, we’d have no disregard for prostitution. It would be a great American institution, as opposed to something that virtually no one takes as an upstanding part of life. It ranks somewhere between a shame, a necessary evil, or a fraternity creation.
Do we need studies to prove everything that we say? I don’t. I purposely appeal to the inner voice of common sense. If you think prostitution is great and noble, we won’t see eye to eye on much of anything. I can hear an argument that it fills some purpose. I’d disagree, but I can hear it. The point is that we recognize that it is anything but noble.
Why?
To be continued . . .
