Spiritual Sexuality: The New Sexual Revolution

The sexual revolution of the 60’s is over, but America and the world are now embracing a new form of sexual revolution, based on spirituality, called tantric sex. Let me first say, that tantric sex is nothing new. It is an ancient form of sacred sexuality of Eastern origin, based upon Hindu and Buddhist teachings. Tantric sex is therefore not Christian in origin, but represents a level of spiritual sexuality, where the sex act is seen as a spiritual and sacred act of worship. What we have done in the West, in the modern tantric movement, is to adapt tantric beliefs and practices into our sexual practices, to give our sexual practices a level of sanctity. On the surface, this sounds all so good, but a deeper examination of tantric sex practices, and how it is practiced in the West, is nothing more than sexual immorality disguised as sacred spirituality.  I am not totally against tantric sex, because there are a lot of good teachings in it, but what I am knocking is the combination of sinful practices with holy practices and calling it sacred.

Our growing attraction for tantric sex stems from a need to feel good about our sexuality. For too long, sex has been a controversial topic that has been drawn through the mud, and is highly misunderstood within our culture. We can see that with the ongoing controversy surrounding sex education in schools, the persistent negative image of sex as being ‘dirty’, increased divorce rates, sexual dysfunctions, sexual abuse, sexual crimes, abortions, fatherless children, broken homes, and the list goes on and on. What should have been a source of joy is a source of pain and problem upon the human race. The solution to our sexual problems lies not however in putting a seal of approval on perverse sexual acts, but by embracing true spiritual sexuality.

The path that I have chosen to embrace in the pursuit of true spiritual sexuality is the Judeo-Christian path. This may sound shocking to some, but the Bible is really a book about sacred sexuality. Do you think God was using idle words when He spoke of Himself as being our Husband, and the church as His bride? All these are metaphors employed by God to teach us about human sexuality, and our relation with Him. He uses sex to teach us about Himself, and therefore there are lessons that we need to learn in order to properly fulfill this sacred privilege. What better teacher is there to teach us about sex, than the Creator of sex, God Himself?

To best illustrate, the differences between sacred Biblical sexuality, tantric sexuality, and just plain old non spiritual sex, I have prepared a some definitions below, which are based upon my research and observations on this topic, and also the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical sacred sex – A physical expression of God’s love towards mankind, that is often manifested indirectly through the physical union of husband and wife. “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me” (Song of Solomon 7:10).

Tantra – “The approximate Sanskrit definition of "Tantra" is "web" or a union of opposites that, when united, becomes one with everything in the universe. Tantric practice unifies the many contradictory aspects of the self (e.g., masculine and feminine, spirit and matter, dark and light) into a harmonious whole” (Tantra.com).

Tantric sex – “Tantric Sex is meditative, spontaneous and intimate lovemaking Through it you learn to prolong the act of making love and to channel, rather than dissipate potent orgasmic energies moving through you, thereby raising the level of your consciousness. Tantra transports your sexuality from the plane of doing to the place of being. There is no goal in Tantric sex, only the present moment of perfect and harmonious union. Tantra teaches you to revere your sexual partner and to transform the act of sex into a sacrament of love” (Tantra.com).

Non- spiritual sex – Sex done without any spiritual consciousness, which is performed to satisfy fleshly desires and needs, or as a duty/obligation (My definition!).

From the above definitions you can see that tantric sex very closely approximates Biblical sex, and yet they are not the same, for the focus of worship is different between the two.   While the focus of worship in sacred Biblical sexuality is God, in tantric sex, the focus of worship is the self, the gods, and God (as defined by Hindu and Taoist religions).  The big difference lies in the fact on how each is practiced, and what is forbidden in one (Biblical) may be allowed in the other (tantric).   For example, having multiple sexual partners is forbidden in scripture, especially in the New Testament.  In tantra, as an ancient practice, multiple sexual partners are not forbidden, and mirrors the polygamy so frequently seen in the Old Testament, which was outlawed by the time we got to the New Testament.  Modern tantric sexual practices not only seeks to bring back polygamous relationships, but also endorses pre-marital sex, and multi-partner sexual ecounters, whether heterosexual or homosexual.  Consequently, we see a greater variety of spiritual and practicing diversity in Tantra versus Biblical sacred sexuality.  Next, I will try to post a comparison between the three forms of sexuality - Biblical, tantric, and non spiritual - if I can figure out how to post a table!

I hope this post proves to be eye-opening as well as informative. From time to time in subsequent blogs I will deal with these issues of human sexuality, based upon the above definitions.