Spirituality

Sep 02, 2007 14:15

Okay, I've got a question about spirituality and gender. It's probably a bit random, but that's what happens when I spend too long doing essays on English Literature.

Excerpt from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce ( Read more... )

Leave a comment

stubefied_by_gd September 2 2007, 17:40:15 UTC
You know, it kinda bothers me that such a big deal is made of the virgin aspect, actually. I mean, of all the virtues a human being can have, not-having-had-sex is the one we praise in a woman? Hm.

I think Catholics are the only ones who cling to her being "ever Virgin," and that probably came along during one of our particularly repressed historical periods. It was a big deal in the Bible that she was a virgin, obviously, to make it clear that the baby must have come from God. But I thing a number of Christians believe she went on and had a proper family with Joseph.

I like the idea of purity and a woman not letting in anyone she doesn't want to, but I suppose you could argue there was an instinctual evolutionary aspet to revering virginity. Male animals are supposed to be all about passing on their genes as much as they can. The ones drawn to females that also happen to be healthy and strong pass on that affinity. Once STDs came along, whenever that was, you can see how the males with an affinity for virginity would have had a genetic advantage. Once again, everything boiling down to evolution if you want it to.

Reply

j_forias September 2 2007, 18:03:47 UTC
Us crazy Catholics, huh? It does big me a little, but ah well, no biggie. I'm sure you're right about your evolutionary analysis. Interesting stuff.

Reply

stubefied_by_gd September 2 2007, 18:09:09 UTC
Oh, no! I want to be wrong about the evolutionary thing! Just because everything can be explained by Darwin doesn't mean I think it should! Just because something could be the reason doesn't mean it is. I don't like things base. I want it all to be noble.

So you do count yourself as one of us crazies?

Reply


Leave a comment

Up