CONSCIENCE

by Wallace David

Exam

xamining the domain of the spiritual, we find the determining impulses in primitive religion; customs and taboos; ceremonials and magic; spirits, sacrifice, prayer and mythology. Studied objectively, the development of religion, culminating in a variety of churches, leaves little doubt as to the importance played by sexual acts.

Yet after examining the impulses of primitive religion, admitting their remaining influence in modern churchianity, we discover nature at work.

We claim today to be living in a scientific age in all departments of life except religion. But nature is not so divided and contradictory as the churches are. The consistent world view found in the study of nature, we call scientific or naturalistic. My subscribing to the philosophical school of "logical positivism" should not cause other religionists to feel I have no sense of the "moral." However, in this age of revolt, the tendency of the church is to react to science by advocating a new orthodoxy to preserve "the faith delivered to the saints."

Morals are expressions of human feelings, existing only in the mind, not statements of fact. The world is not a moral crder, hard though this be to accept.

Churches

hurches have temporized with the problem of sexual acts. The medieval pronouncements of Aquinas are ignored in a few churches. But Church thought has dealt primarily with heterosexual deviations. The old denouncement against homosexual practices centered about the word reproduction. Any sexual act not aimed at offspring was immoral. The increased use of contraceptives, and now artificial insemination, have forced many churches to alter their views. Nor are the courts clear on this new issue. A Canadian court upheld a husband's charge of adultery against his artificially inseminated wife.

The etiology of homosexuality is still debatable. Those who wish to please the religious powers tinge their pronouncements with a bit of theology. The true scientist does not wish his decisions influenced by social or religious values. But publication of his findings is often criticized by those desiring to preserve the status quo, with its persecution of so-called moral offenders.

If sex-acts are natural, how is nature being offended? There is neither rhyme nor reason to the many contradictory explanations as to what is sexually normal and abnormal.

Words such as perverts, sex deviates, variants, etc., apply to violation of a particular people's customs, and are not synonymous with the term homosexual.

In my counselling, I have met with ten cases of heterosexual perversion to cach homosexual case. What do those who describe homosexuals as horrible degenerates think of their own perversions? The preoccupation in "bull-sessions" with fellatio and cunnilingus would make it appear almost that the so-called completely normal sex acts

are rare.

The old religious foundations, and the moral superstructures built upon them are falling apart. Morals now need a foundation on the solid bedrock of nature, not on the shifting sands of theological fancies.

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