Talk 9: The Sexual Revolution: Are We Better Off?
The Church considers virginity to be one of the highest virtues. Since the sexual and feminist revolutions of the 1960s, however, the Church’s teaching that sexual activity is blessed only within the Mystery of Marriage has been mocked and contradicted in every imaginable way in the health system, the educational system, television, radio, the Internet, newspapers and magazines. This has left Orthodox Christians confused about this important topic.
What does the Church teach about virginity and sex? Why have Orthodox monastics voluntarily deprived themselves of something that God has permitted? Why, after fifty years of supposed freedom and progress in the area of sexuality in the West, do we still have a society with so many crimes and illnesses, both mental and physical? Some of these problems include: sexual hang-ups; pornography, especially on the Internet; the dramatic increase in sex crimes, including paedophilia; sexually transmitted diseases; gender disorder; sexual identity crisis; etc.
Among the topics covered in this talk are: the desire to use drugs in order to feel; Baptism and Godparents; the exorcisms before Baptism; two-faced Christians; fallen nature and sexual passions; stalking; the use of sorcery in relationships; Confession without repentance; “parrot” Christians; can there be forgiveness outside Confession? do holy people sin? can sin be beneficial? almsgiving; the fruits of repentance; the dead speaking through mediums; should the Church regard homosexuality as the worst sin? becoming monastics to escape responsibility; home-schooling; should it be expected that very young children confess the faith? childhood trauma and its effects in adulthood.
Talk Duration: 111 minutes
2 CD set