The paradox of sex is, that the very processes that meet the sexual needs of society has the potential to be tremendously destructive. Society has instituted moral codes to protect itself against this potential, codes that isolate people into tiny units of two. Except, the isolation of people at the grass roots level creates a poorer world that also isolates people from one another at the economic and political levels. This causes great harm. In isolation form one another humanity is impotent. It is easily controlled, dominated, and exploited. Also, the sexual isolation of people has proven itself to be a poor platform for meeting the human need. This is evidently the reason why prostitution has emerged almost at the outset, which is therefore rightly considered to be the world's oldest profession. Here we come upon the paradox again, because prostitution is without doubt also the world's most dangerous profession.
For a time, on the way to work, my path would cross the favourite strolling grounds of the local professionals. One day a beautiful looking young woman appeared on the grounds, with a smile that could met a glacier. She was well dressed, gently poised, a joy to behold. All this soon vanished. Before long her appearance became shabby her expression hash, her look cold. Her posture became slack, careless, indifferent. A while later she could no longer be seen on the grounds. Perhaps she moved away, or more likely her life may have expired in the rage of ecstasy by the hand of a fascist beast to whom she had sold herself for a few dollars. It was astounding with what speed the transformation took place. The regression from life to death took only a few months. Countless people die in this fashion, maybe not always physically, but they die inwardly with much of the same effect. Anti-prostitution laws have so far been ineffective. Most of them punish the victims. Equally ineffective has been the death penalty laws of ancient times when people were stoned to death for stepping across the marriage boundary to transgress the sexual isolation. In modern times no end of the sex tragedies is in sight as long as a need for it remains. The sale of sex is financially alluring to the victims, perhaps even with a sense of excitement at first. This and countless other factors make the influx of fresh victims into the trade virtually endless. Equally endless appears to be the ferocity of the pimps, and the eagerness of the Johns who fuel the game. For as long as this circus continues, born out of unsatisfied need, society suffers a great and incalculable loss. Here the question needs to be asked whether humanity might not have been designed from the ground up with a build in paradox that causes one of its fundamental elements to become destructive to its existence. Most religions have tried to answer this question with the imposition of taboos. That this approach does not meet the apparent need for sexual intimacy is evidenced by the numerous cases of sexual abuse that the religious priesthood is accused of in the courts. One of the answers in modern times has been to open the door to unlimited promiscuity. This gave rise to the post Vietnam War rock, drug, and sex counter culture that sprung up in many variations. Apparently, this counter culture was largely organized for political ends in order to complete the demoralization of society that the Vietnam war had been escalated for after the assassination of President Kennedy. Some of this culture still lingers on in various forms and remains as destructive as it was designed to be, rather than meeting a fundamental need. Still, it is hard to accept that the human being, the tallest and most intelligent manifest of life in our immediate universe has come to exist with a build in paradox. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." The fact that humanity does stand, and stands tall, indicates that it is founded on a higher platform than sex. Ancient Scriptures define man as the image of God. This perception rules out any build in paradox. That there is no build in paradox becomes apparent when one searches deeper for the fundamental principles that underlie a satisfying and productive existence. In this sphere we find a dimension that is indeed greater than sex and is equally as fundamental to human existence. This dimension unfolds as an intelligent dimension. Its principle is manifest as a commitment by people to enrich one another's existence. It creates the kind of unity, satisfaction, peace, and joy that make the world a richer place to live in, which anything focused on sex simply can't equal. The commitment to enrich one another's existence doesn't necessarily relegate sexual intimacies to the proverbial ash heap of history, or take any positive element from it. It merely sets up a higher platform where all the real needs of humanity are met. The principle that is expressed in enriching one another's existence is one of the key elements of physical economy as we find it manifested in the brightest eras of human history. It is central to the Greek Classical culture, the emergence of Christianity, and the unfolding of the Golden Renaissance. Its outcome is the institution of the nation state, and the technological and scientific development that unfolded through such states' constitutional commitment to the general welfare principle. Also in more fundamental terms, it must be
recognized that humanity could not possibly have
developed without its commitment to enrich one another's
existence, and have achieved such a high state of
civilization that presently enables 5000 times as many
people to exist on this planet than the primitive
cultures in distant ages could support. The underlying principle and
its public reflection develop the human potential, enrich
our world, and raise civilization. In it we find the genius
of humanity, humanity's creativity, and its love of
beauty. The public reflection, of course, depends on what
is moving at the grass roots level of individual living.
So its here, in the hidden domain of its private
commitment to enrich one another's existence, that
society build the foundation for civilization. The joy
that unfolds there, inevitably supplies a lot of the
satisfaction in life that society seeks to find in sex
related pursuits, though it cannot be found there because
the root of satisfaction is not located there. The end |
