Sex was brought into the open Wednesday night as four religious leaders representing Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Christianity shared their views at the Northwestern Council of Religions’ sexuality and religion panel.
Interfaith marriage, premarital sex, homosexuality, divorce, masturbation, gender roles and the role of sex itself were discussed for almost two hours in Norris University Center’s Louis Room North for an audience of 30 students and Evanston residents.
The religious leaders called sex an act of intimacy but they disagreed on the purpose of this intimacy, when it should be expressed and the value of its procreative aspect.
The Rev. Greg Dell, Chicago’s Broadway United Methodist Church pastor, said many divergent views of sex exist within Christianity.
“One of the dynamics of Christianity is that it’s schizophrenic,” he said, adding that while the religion celebrates sexuality, there is often “deep suspicion of that which feels too good.”
But Dell said he believes that the primary purpose of sex is pleasure and joy rather than procreation. He also called sexuality a gift from God and “a consistent expression of the whole dynamic of the integrated self.”
Sex is a way to satisfy and communicate with a partner in a serious relationship, said Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein, Tannenbaum Chabad House director and Evanston Police Department chaplain. He also said that while many forms of female birth control are acceptable, male birth control – including withdrawal – is unacceptable because sperm are sacred.
“(The penis) is the location in which God is present,” he said.
Mary Ali, an Institute of Islamic Information and Education board member and Muslim Community Center youth adviser in Chicago, emphasized that sex is reserved – and required – for married couples. She said the primary purpose of sex is procreation, although different opinions exist within Islam on the acceptability of birth control.
Representing the Theravada tradition of Buddhism, Purdue University Prof. Lash Mapa said “the most important aspect of life is to interact with each other.” He said his religion does not prohibit premarital sex or birth control as long as there is no “sexual misconduct” or abortion. He said a common Buddhist mantra is: “Do not indulge. Do not suppress.”
Some of the leaders said the rules guiding sexuality are evolving, and that one of the most prominent examples of this is homosexuality.
Dell, who in 1999 received a one-year suspension of his ordination credentials after conducting a marriage of gay men, said Christianity often is vague in its views on gays.
“I can’t figure out when I’m practicing my heterosexuality,” Dell said, arguing that sexual orientation is part of who a person is. “I don’t want to alarm you, but I’m practicing it right now.”
He said God is using developments within our society, including television shows like “Will & Grace” and Fortune 500 companies’ recognition of domestic partner benefits, to help the church come to accept gays just as it came to recognize women and blacks decades ago.
Klein said that while homosexuality is “not looked favorably upon” within the Jewish religion, there is an understanding that gays deserve and should receive just as much respect as heterosexuals.
Ali said that while cultural practices are changing within Islam and people are becoming more educated about sexuality, homosexuality will continue to be condemned. She said sex is to be between husband and wife and that “God’s laws do not change.”
Mapa, however, said sex is considered very personal and marriage is not formally addressed in Buddhism, so homosexuality is not an issue.
NUCOR President Christina Wright, an Education sophomore, said she hoped the event showed “what people are believing, so that we don’t attribute things and make assumptions that aren’t really right at all.”
