The Church’s Influence on Sexual Morality: A Historical Perspective

We’ve been told by the Church that sex before marriage is a no-no, that it’s to be saved for a wedding night, right?

That’s what I was told and what was expected of me. Most of my friends were taught to believe the same thing. But I’ve found out a new truth and a very good reason why the Church tells us to withhold sex. Abstinence serves a more important purpose than God disliking a couple of fornicators.

Before you roll your eyes and expect another post about anti-religion or anti-sex, let me say that it’s neither. It’s about the confluence of two once-unrelated topics: sex and the Church. I say unrelated because those two weren’t connected at all. History shows the Church had nothing to say about sex. It did its business for centuries without mentioning it. Church did not care.

Why did it change and become so interested in the intimate relations of its followers?

It’s an interesting topic. Let’s explore it.

According to early historical records, the Church and sex were separate. Let’s go back to when the Church was in its infancy and, let’s say, sexually inexperienced.

Thirty-nine Popes engaged in coitus. Don’t worry. It wasn’t sinful for them to have sex. It was morally legal. Priests could enjoy sex, too. No guilt. No fear. No shame. Women could become Priests. They could have sex, too. No one lost anything. Sex was in.

It gets better.

Priests could get married, too. They could be married and sexual. The celibate lifestyle and the no sex before marriage rule didn’t exist until much later.

Here’s why the Christian Church changed:

The Crusades: There were many over several centuries. Each was sanctioned by the Church. The booty stolen from the Middle East was then handed over to Rome to enjoy. It was plentiful but limited.

By the 16th Century, the Crusades stopped paying their way (it’s hard to extract wealth from cultures robbed many times before!). The Church turned to its followers and the tithe. Go forth and multiply became a well-rehearsed verse, and with the guarantee from its followers to raise their children in its Faith, the Church became self-funded.

The Church had combined a pyramid scheme with a well-controlled breeding system. The business model was flawless (as long as followers supported their lie). Continued growth meant increasing profit.

Through this new doctrine, sex before marriage became an evil act. It was paradise or damnation. These were the choices. Choose the right way, and everything will be good. Choose the wrong way, and everything will burn and suffer. Fear kept people true. Guilt and shame followed those who strayed.

Our bedroom is NOT the place for Church. It has WRONG written all over it. How we convinced ourselves the Church was any kind of authority for all those centuries says as much about us as it does about them.

I say good to those who find their sexual sides despite what the Church says about how, when, why and who we choose to have sex with. Sex is not for the Church to control. Sex is for the people. For lovers. For friends. For everyone who loves. Sex is for romantic liaisons, bonding, security, release, love, confirmation, entertainment, happiness and sharing. It can also be used for procreation. The rest of it is written inside my novel.

–Michael (Dark Fiction. Author of SEETHINGS (the first book), free for a limited time)