Human sexuality

Human sexuality refers to the expression of sexual sensation and related intimacy between human beings. Psychologically, sexuality is the means to express the fullness of love between a man and a woman. Biologically, it is the means through which a child is conceived and the lineage is passed on to the next generation.

Sexuality is intrinsically a moral act. The world's major religions concur in viewing sexual intimacy as proper only within marriage; otherwise it can be destructive to human flourishing. The Fall of Man in Genesis, the story of Helen of Troy in the Iliad, and accounts of the decline of the Roman Empire brought on by decadent sexual mores are examples of how traditional wisdom has viewed the wrong use of sex as a cause of human downfall.

There are a great many forms of human sexuality, comprising a broad range of behaviors. The basics of the sexual act are part of our human endowment; however, sexual expression has varied across cultures and historical periods. Sexual views are evident in the arts and literature of every culture and every historical era. In most societies there are legal bounds on what sexual behavior is permitted. Full coverage of this topic thus includes the physiological, psychological, moral, social, cultural, religious, spiritual and legal aspects of sex and human sexual behavior.

Sexual Ethics

What is the rationale for traditional moral strictures on sexuality, which regarded it as proper only to marriage? After all, sexual activity can express committed love or be a meaningless casual encounter for recreational purposes. Yet sexual encounters are not merely a physical activity like enjoying good food. Sex involves the partners in their totality, touching their minds and hearts as well as their bodies. Sexuality is a powerful force that can do tremendous good or terrible harm.

In the context of marriage, lovemaking is entirely healthy and ethical, expressing and reinforcing the profound moral commitment between spouses who are sharing their lives together. Sex within marriage fulfills several important roles:

• Sex strengthens the bond between husband and wife in all aspects of their lives
• Sex expresses affection and fosters emotional intimacy
• Sex reinforces the exclusivity of the relationshiop
• Sex helps overcome conflicts and mend rifts
• Sex reduces anxiety and releases tension
• Sex leads to children who are wanted and treasured by both parents

The sexual act is fraught with responsibility to the children it may create. Restricting sexuality to marriage creates the most secure foundation for the care of children. Since human beings spend a lifetime rearing their children, the nature of the parental bond impacts the next generation to a greater extent than it does in the majority of animal species. The monogamous bond of husband and wife provides a unique relationship that supports the resulting family. Two parents united in the common goal of parenting their children can ensure that their lineage is secure, healthy, and prosperous. When parents are not monogamous, the family structure is less clear, and the children experience a variety of adults with varying degrees of commitment to their future. Research is unequivocal that children raised by cohabiting or single adults do not fare as well as those raised by parents who maintain sexual fidelity.

Consequences of uncommitted sex

Sex outside of marriage can seem to function in the same way: expressing affection, bonding the partners, adding sparkle to their relationship and helping it to feel special. Unfortunately, it can also bring about practically the exact opposite of what sex does in marriage. It can highlight an underlying sense of emotional insecurity, introduce and aggravate conflicts, and increase stress and anxiety. These effects may be subtle at first, but they take their toll. A whirlwind romance or a series of casual "hook-ups" can lead to years of regret:

That sick, used feeling of having given a precious part of myself ... to so many and for nothing, still aches. I never imagined I'd pay so dearly and for so long.

Such experiences are all too common. People who choose to practice casual sex are likely to face health issues, experience psychological harm, have more difficulties in subsequent relationships with others, and cause spiritual damage to their eternal soul.

Physiological and psychological patterns of sexual arousal

Males and females exhibit different patterns of sexual arousal. In a dating situation, typically the man feels a physical attraction towards the the woman and wants to touch and kiss. The women tends to want to connect emotionally rather than physically; she may feel a sentimental longing for her partner and other intense feelings.

At a certain point of greater intimacy, the positions will be exchanged. The woman will now feel the desire for physical touch on top of her emotional feelings while the male will experience the more emotional longing along with the physical. Both will progress to a more overtly sexual desire if they allow their relationship to progress.

Sexual desire presents a profound challenge of the mind to overcome the body. Males are chiefly tempted by sexual desire to disregard a young woman’s heart and to focus on her body as an object of pleasure. Females may be tempted to use sex as a way to hold onto a male as an object of security. It is said that men tend to regard love as the way to get sex and women tend to use sex as the way to get love.

In any case, increasing the time spent together between two members of the opposite sex will always invite the emergence of sexual attraction and sexual feelings. Once arousal begins, it is extremely difficult to stop. This is why prudent couples do not give themselves the opportunity to be alone. They recognize the signs of stimulation and take a step backwards.

The stages of sexual activity may take place over a long period of time or a short one, according to the partners’ decisions. Walking and talking together leads to holding hands. A simple kiss progresses to prolonged kissing and petting. Long spells of embracing and kissing will likely bring on strong arousal in the male. Touching the private areas of the body will cause strong arousal in the female. Involvement of the sexual organs directly will prompt intense impulses to actually engage in sexual intercourse.

Psychological consequences of sexual intercourse

If intercourse occurs, at that point the relationship in its original form has ended. If the couple is married, sexual intercourse is a confirmation and celebration of their mutual love and commitment.

Complete conjugal love includes four elements: compatibility, intimacy, commitment and passion. Compatibility—shared interests