The spring semester has started, and brought with it the promise of rejuvenation and excitement. At the end of last semester, I was bushed. Bedraggled. Beat up, beat down, tapped out. After a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable trans-continental holiday, I'm facing this semester with a sense of optimism and (dare I say?) excitement. I have a lot to look forward to coming into this semester. I get to begin working with actual people, interview for internship positions and . . . I get a whole class on human sexuality.
While I knew that this class is essential in training to become a psychologist, I was apprehensive coming into it. Would it be awkward? Shameful? Informative? Growth-inspiring? Would I be able to talk about it with people outside of the class, or do I leave that one off the list when people ask me what I'm taking this semester? So far the class has been remarkably un-awkward and refreshing. We are able to talk about people's sexuality in a way that isn't predicated on selling or exploiting anything. We have explored the dualistic philosophical roots much of the Victorian sexual mores have been based on. We have attempted to let Biblical texts inform the readings we have in some remarkably secular texts. It's also helped me to start actually thinking about sexuality instead of blindly reacting to it or away from it.
The class has only gone through two sessions to date, but one of the most interesting questions yet broached is: What does sexuality look like for celibate people? (either permanently or temporarily celibate). Coming to mind are passages like Eph. 5 and the entire book of Song of Solomon, but what do yall think? How do celibate people still incorporate and metabolize a visceral part of who we have all been created to be as human beings?
6 comments:
Glad to see you're back writing, Micah.
-M.
I'm nearing the place where I can discuss this comfortable on a personal level, but not yet. Have you guys gone into what porneia encompasses?
Not yet, James. Our prof is kinda easing us into things. And Mish, you didn't say anything about sexuality . . .
James, what does porneia encompass? I know it is the root of pornography and that it is used often to talk about prostitution and fornication, but what were you thinking of?
I pretty much know it that way, too. I wonder if you guys will get further into that?
Well, at least right now we're focusing on how peopole can work with their sexuality in healthy and constructive ways. I'll keep you posted, though.
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