The Bible says that God created human beings "in his own image" (Genesis 1:26-28), implying that humans have some divine quality to them. This divine quality is often thought of as spiritual or moral, but it could also include physical aspects such as sexuality. Sexuality is a powerful force in nature and has been celebrated throughout history as a symbol of life, fertility, creativity, and pleasure.
Many religious traditions have viewed sexuality as sinful or taboo due to its association with lust, desire, and temptation. In the Bible, for example, sex outside marriage is considered wrong, while some religions go so far as to prohibit any form of non-procreative sex altogether. The binary between sacred and profane suggests that certain things are holy and pure and others are dirty and immoral. But what if this binary does not accurately reflect reality? What if there is no clear line between the holy and unholy when it comes to sexuality? In this article, I will explore the theological consequences of dismantling the binary between sacred and profane and arguing for a more nuanced view of sexuality that includes both its transcendent and earthly dimensions.
The Binary Between Sacred and Profane
In the Bible, God created all things good (Genesis 1:31), including sexuality.
He also gave humans free will, allowing them to make choices about how they would use their bodies. When Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of knowledge, God cursed humanity's relationship with the natural world, making work difficult and causing pain during childbirth (Genesis 3). Since then, human beings have struggled with sin and its consequences, including distorted views of sexuality. The binary between sacred and profane developed as a way to distinguish between moral and immoral behavior, between that which was holy and that which was impure. This binary has had significant impacts on religious traditions and cultures throughout history, influencing everything from art and literature to politics and social norms.
Dismantling the Binary
Some modern scholars argue that the binary between sacred and profane is an artificial construct that ignores the complexity of life. They point out that many things in nature are both beautiful and dangerous, such as fire or powerful storms. The same could be said for sexuality - it can be pleasurable and life-giving but also dangerous if misused. If we accept this argument, we must rethink our approach to sexuality within religion. Rather than seeing sex as either forbidden or permissible based solely on whether it occurs within marriage, we might consider factors like consent, pleasure, intimacy, and safety. We might even view sex itself as inherently spiritual, connecting us with the divine through physical union. In other words, there may not be a clear line between sacred and profane when it comes to sex, but rather a continuum along which different acts fall at different points.
Reconciling Sexuality With Religion
Dismantling the binary does not mean abandoning all standards regarding sexual ethics. It means acknowledging that sexuality is complex and multifaceted, encompassing both its earthly and transcendent dimensions. For Christians, this might involve recognizing that sex outside of marriage is wrong because it violates God's design for human relationships (Hebrews 13:4) while still celebrating married couples who enjoy healthy, consensual, and pleasurable sex lives. For Jews, it might mean embracing the Song of Songs as a powerful expression of erotic love between two people who choose each other freely. For Muslims, it might mean affirming the beauty of marital relations as a way to honor Allah's creation (Surah 55). In all cases, however, the goal should be to integrate sexuality into religious life in a way that honors both its physical and spiritual aspects.
What are the theological consequences of dismantling the binary between sacred and profane?
The concept of separating the sacred from the profane is based on the idea that certain things are inherently holy and should be treated as such, while others are considered mundane and have no special value. The dissolution of this binary could have significant implications for religious beliefs and practices, potentially leading to changes in how people view themselves, their relationships with God, and their interactions with the world around them.