This is the era of reason. People have to be shown. Mere theories are unacceptable unless buttressed by logic and pragmatic proof. On account of this atmosphere of careful inquiry and examination, many religious teachings are losing their influence because they are unsupported by substantive evidence.

This is especially apparent in what has been called the sex revolution, the rapidly changing attitude toward morality. Traditionally, the Christian Church has stressed the value of moral self-control, but with little convincing explanation of why it is important. For example, some religionists have urged and practiced asceticism—an extreme form of self-denial amounting to self-torture—without any real rationale to support it except a vague promise of reward in an afterlife. This sort of thinking, however, makes little sense today. Why, it is asked, should one control desires and appetites that are natural facets of human nature? So long as no one else is coerced or physically harmed, why not enjoy oneself?

This is some of the reasoning back of the current permissiveness in sexual relations, and it really requires close scrutiny from a spiritual standpoint to sort it all out and get to the nub of it.

Christian Science comes right to the point at issue by discussing the nature of man. Is he an animal, or is he a spiritual identity? If he is an animal with no higher destiny than the gratification of his physical needs, then moral restraint has no meaning. But on the other hand, if man is a spiritual idea reflecting the love, purity, and integrity of God, divine Mind, then human action must express this fact in responsible self-control.

Anyone can prove for himself the scientific validity of this latter view of man. When understood and honestly applied, it imparts a general well-being unknown to the material senses. Mrs. Eddy states it forthrightly, "He that touches the hem of Christ's robe and masters his mortal beliefs, animality, and hate, rejoices in the proof of healing,—in a sweet and certain sense that God is Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 569;}

Contrary to much of the harmful propaganda that is being bandied about, sex is not a plaything, nor is it the central core of human life. Admittedly, it seems to loom large on the horizon of most normal people, young and old, but the lessons of history and of individual experience teach that if sensuality is allowed to become the master in men's lives, it leads to moral decay in both personal and public relationships. The strength and permanence of a family unit or a nation must be based on individual character developed through a mastery of self. Mrs. Eddy writes: "The good in human affections must have ascendency over the evil and the spiritual over the animal, or happiness will never be won. The attainment of this celestial condition would improve our progeny, diminish crime, and give higher aims to ambition." ^{p. 61;}

The Judeo-Christian ideal of monogamous marriage has withstood the test of time and will continue to prove its practicality. The commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery" ^{Ex. 20:14;} is still relevant, although widely disregarded. Promiscuous indulgence of the human sex-urge blinds one to his real identity. It puts a roadblock in the way of one's approach to the understanding of spiritual Life and its immense potential for good. It establishes the material body-sense more firmly in one's thought, and therefore tends to make him the servant of matter with its myriad forms of limitation and disease.

Mrs. Eddy writes, "Marriage is the legal and moral provision for generation among human kind." And further on she continues: "The commandment, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' is no less imperative than the one, 'Thou shalt not kill.' Chastity is the cement of civilization and progress. Without it there is no stability in society, and without it one cannot attain the Science of Life." ^{Science and Health, pp. 56, 57.}

Within the framework of a happy marriage, in the atmosphere of loving consideration, both partners may find the answer to what humanly they need now—but always keeping in thought, and steadily working toward, the higher sense of completeness and satisfaction to be found in spiritualized consciousness. Then does the formality of a marriage ceremony spiritualize the sex act? No, but strict faithfulness to one's marriage partner strengthens moral fiber. It is a protection to both parties and to their children. Mutual regard and affection sublimate the physical relationship until further spiritual growth unfolds a still higher and more satisfying love.

Premarital or extramarital sexual relations degrade and deface human character. They hide the Christ-image that one must strive to express if in some degree he is to demonstrate the healing power of Christian Science. Sexual promiscuity evidences moral flabbiness, a lack of the self-mastery that leads to the clear spiritual vision that heals. After all, unless we first make some headway toward controlling the belief of pleasure in matter, we can hardly expect to control and destroy its painful aspects when they appear as disease.

Happily, our means of defense is always at hand. It is the understanding of the Christ, Truth, that Jesus demonstrated. It is the saving idea of man's pure selfhood in and of the one perfect Mind. When vigorously acknowledged and clearly realized, this true sense of man's identity, ever at one with divine consciousness, silences the mesmeric urge of sensuality and establishes in thought the satisfaction and completeness of Soul.

Alan A. Aylwin