Religion and Sexuality, Essay Example

The values taught by science and religion with regards sexuality simply differ when it comes to the consideration portrayed on weighing the value of morals in relation to the said act. While science simply connotes it as something natural and simply vital to human existence on earth, religion intends to relate the act of sexuality and reproduction to something more than just mating. The church defines it as a gift from God, a matter that should be considered in full accord with the recognition of the moral values related to it. In consideration to this matter, psychologists also support the ideal factor that while sexuality is connected to health and how womanhood and manhood is attested through such act, the connection that it serves specifically affect people directly which makes the need to consider the morals behind it a necessity among humans to give attention to.

Two readings entitled Human Sexuality: ‘Wonderful Gift’ and ‘Awesome Responsibility‘ by Richard Sparks and Sexuality: A Gift With Strings Attached by Rev. Gary Bagley, provide an established source of guidance that could resolve social issues connected with the immoral view of human sexuality among most individuals today. In the response presentation that follows, a distinct indication on how the points of both writers bring forth a relative understanding of human sexuality and the moral values supposedly intertwined with it shall be given specific attention to.

1. Briefly summarize and post the key aspects of the Church teachings on sexuality as presented in the articles.

Pleasure; this one word could describe what sexual relations between a man and a woman is all about. This is perhaps the reason why even teenagers, when they get to know about the issue on human sexuality, they tend to explore on it with the desire of experiencing such aspect of satisfaction. However, is it simply pleasure that human sexuality is all about? Relatively, the term ‘human sexuality’ could be considered rather broad. It tackles the different aspects of human development relating to the effect of the stages of growth a person undergoes in connection to the development of his or her reproductive organs. Likely, such development does not only affect the physical body as it is; it also affects the mental and emotional capacities of a person.

For instance, when a person hits the age of puberty, he becomes aware of the changes that his body undergoes. It is an innate reaction to explore. Without proper understanding on what these developments are for, a person might not be able to apply self-control in relation to such manner of exploration. This is where most teenagers fall into. Social issues that include abortion, unwanted pregnancies, delicate pregnancies due to mother’s age, early marriage and unreliable parenting are at some point all connected to such failure of the young ones to recognize their role and position in dealing with matters such as sexual intercourse.

The holiness of such an act is described by Richard Sparks as a gift from God that comes with a great responsibility. Adam and Eve, when they were created and placed in the garden of Eden, were given the very first commandment of giving birth to humans who would soon fill the earth and responsively let the garden grow into an earth-wide paradise with their children living alongside them. In relation to this command, God himself has authored the emergence of the first human family. Note how God seemingly insisted on bearing children along with his implicative direction of putting the man and the woman together to mate. Unlike the animals he has created, Adam and Eve were expected to bring forth children and do so much more to enjoy the natural creations surrounding them and making sure that such beauty becomes earth-wide.

Along with such relationship, God insisted on parenting. This notes how human connection through sexual intercourse is not to be taken lightly. Although it does provide pleasurable satisfaction to both the man and the woman, it should also remind them of why they are doing it. Hence, if two people getting together do not have the blessing of marriage nor are they planning to raise a family, the reason for such connection should be considered vague.

Rev. Gary Bagely’s article on the other hand, tries to expand the understanding about sexual relations to be more than just sensual in nature. He insists that such connection do not only involve the body; it also involves the mind and emotions of two people getting together. Not only does a person submit his physical being to the act, he also risks his emotions into the connection being formed because of the said ‘act of love’. Rev. Bagley points out that ‘love’ and not ‘lust’ should be the basis of such act and nothing more. He notes that with proper understanding of what that love stands for, two people who tend to get together and make a connection in sexual terms would be able to know what is at hand and what risks they are getting into.

Rev. Bagley encourages people to recognize the complications of sexual relations when the two people involved in the situation try to set aside the other elements of being human that is involved on the matter. Without such recognition, one or both individuals could get emotional hurt in the end. Psychologists support such idealism as sexual relations at present have become one of the common cause of depression and desperation among human individuals today.

2. Select a grade level with which you are familiar. What do you think would be the most appropriate way to teach about the Church’s teachings on sexuality to this grade level?

When it comes to teaching students about human sexuality, educators should see to it that they handle the discussion with much integrity; avoiding particular insertion of malice into the matter. It is believed that with proper knowledge, young students would be able to understand the real value of sexual relationships. In this case, it is best to handle such presentation of sexual education on students under the fifth grade. Some individuals hit puberty at an early age; giving them proper guidance regarding the matter is essential in keeping their moral standing clear and distinct. Children at this age should be taught about why they are encountering such changes in their body.

Allowing them to see how they are wonderfully made by God and how he holds them responsible when it comes to deciding on how or when to use their tools for reproduction shall provide them an idea on how to manage themselves properly. Giving them an idea on how such tools for reproduction have been originally made to provide humans with the pleasure of creating families and humans parenting their own children shall also give them an idea on how much responsibility is supposed to be recognized along with sexual relations. Children, when they are taught about sexual education should also be warned about sexual predators; giving them a heads-up on such information shall practically protect them at the same time. Along with this, they should also be given cue that such relationships involve more than just the desire to reproduce, they should know that involving themselves in sexual connections would also be involving their emotional and mental capacities into the matter thus allowing them to create a connection, a bond with a mate that they would choose to live their whole lives with. Overall, inclusive discussion on health, science and morality should all be used to help young students understand the realities and risks behind sexual relations; a negation on how careless some institutions are at present in handling such responsibility of educating the young generation about the matter.