…continued
I recently decided to conduct a simple, random survey of my own about how spirituality might affect a person’s view of sexuality, and vice versa. I approached several local college students (some married and some single) and asked each one, “Do you believe there is a God?” If they answered positively, I followed up with the question, “How do you think God feels about sex?” The results may (or may not) surprise you:
* “Uhhh… He doesn’t like it?”
* “Well, He doesn’t do it, that’s for sure!”
* “He abhors sex because it’s a sin!”
* “He tells us we shouldn’t do it!”
With an entirely different group of students, I approached my line of questioning in the opposite order. “How do you feel about sex?” I asked, then followed with the question, “Do you believe there is a God?” In answer to the first question, I’d usually get responses such as, “I love sex!” or “Sex is awesome!” But when I gently sprang the second question on them about God’s existence, it was as if they’d been confronted by a 60 Minutes camera crew. Some ducked their head, lowered their eyes, or lifted their shoulders as if they were trying to make their head disappear like a turtle in a shell. They obviously felt like a child who’d just been caught stealing a cookie out of the cookie jar before dinnertime.
Granted, my personal poll is a far cry from the most scientific study in the world, but it confirmed my suspicion: When we look at sexuality through the lens of spirituality, many view sex in a negative light. If we look at spirituality through the lens of sexuality, many view God in a negative light. Why is that?
