Sex is a gift. A deep physical intimacy with another person is one of the great discoveries of this life. But the physical nature of the intimate act is only one aspect.   There is also an emotion and spiritual dimension to this amazing relationship, and yes, sex is also a relationship.

Our society has effectively reduced sex to nothing more than the physical act. As a result, problems begin to become evident.

When sex is reduced to the animal act of copulation, we, in turn, are reduced to mere animals obeying our lowest common instincts; to procreate, to spread our genetic seed.   Of course, some people really do believe that we are nothing more than animals. Our postmodern society, in abandoning much of the ethics and morality of the early decades of the 20th century have made that sort of declaration. There are no absolutes of truth, nor of right or wrong.   Isn't it interesting then, that those very same people who advocate such an ideology, take great offence should some human 'animal' want to forcibly procreate with their daughter!   Seems they want it both ways!

It began to go seriously wrong during the 60's. The wholesale abandonment of the traditional Judeo-Christian ethic, was the catalyst for enormous social change. For instance, changes regarding sexual morality; censorship; education; abortion; the role of the state and homosexual practice and the rise of pornography.

As a result practices which had previously lent towards one set of ethics, now lent towards another, more 'liberal', 'enlightened' set. Sexual activity no longer had the same proscriptions applied to it. The rallying call became. "If it feels good, do it". Playboy magazine, among others, advocated the 'playboy philosophy'. Music of that time expounded the same outlook, "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with"; "Let's spend the night together".

It was as though the 60's generation had discovered sex for the first time. Restraint was cast off and anything quickly became acceptable. How to do 'it' better, longer and with more satisfaction was the goal, and books such as 'The Joy of Sex' & 'The New Joy of Sex'(Dr. Alex Comfort) became the new paradigm.

Sex was emptied of all moral perspective and significance. Were people happier with this situation? Well, for a short while it seemed as though they were. The age of Aquarius coupled with free sex, for many, seemed paradise on earth. Add the newly discovered (rediscovered?) effects of mind-altering substances and the gates seemed open to whatever you wanted to achieve or be.

But, and there is always a 'but', restraints on sexual activity were there for a reason. Unrestrained sexual activity has a price. It was well known that promiscuous sexual activity held dangers; V.D. 'clap' 'pox', whatever you cared to call it. Sexual disease walks hand in hand with sexual promiscuity, and has always done so, but this was forgotten in the 60's. However, memories were soon to be jogged.

Unwanted pregnancies began to rise, and not surprisingly, so did the abortion rate. Sexually transmitted Disease (STD) rates rose, and the only answer that society and the 'experts' had was to increase sex education, lower consent rates and throw condoms at the situation. Sex was OK if you used a condom. A new phrase passed into our vocabulary, 'safe sex' and this was going to be the new fail-safe mechanism.

The only trouble is that in the last 35 years relentlessly increasing STD rates, unwanted pregnancies and abortions have continued to stalk us. Then came HIV & AIDS. Agencies such as Brook seem unable, or unwilling, to see the obvious link between increased sexual activity, and the rise in associated problems. As it is said, "there are none so blind as those who do not want to see".

Let there be no mistake. The old saying, "you reap what you sow", has never had more horrific fulfillment than with AIDS.

But aren't we winning the STD and AIDS war? NO we are not!

There has been a 50% rise in STD in the UK in the last few years, the biggest rise in girls between 16-19 yrs of age. In the year 2000, reported cases of Gonorrhoea increased by 27% to 20,190, Chlamidia rose 18% to 62,565 and HIV is up by 14% to 3,425. It is believed that as many as 300,000 young people are infected with various STD's, and in 2004 it was estimated that every day 160 teenagers are infected.

In 2003 a further report published by Professor Michael Adler stated that the incidence of Gonorrhoea has risen by a staggering 78% since 1997. In the same period Chlamidia rose 73% and Syphilis, although still rare has risen by 374%

The most common, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can cause infertility in women. A survey on sexual behaviour in young teenagers, published in the prestigious, British Medical Journal in May 2000, confirms this. Fuller details of common STD's

These figures reveal the utter failure of the Governments supposed sexual health strategy, pivotal to which is the increasing distribution of contraceptives and various chemical abortificants. Indeed the Government has no other strategy and pours contempt on the one other strategy which is known to be effective; to discourage sexual activity amongst the young.

Further evidence emerged during 2004 that in Cornwall, targeted by the governments Teenage Pregnancy Unit, sex education programmes and free condoms have produced more rather than less teenage pregnancies, there being a 17% rise from 2001 to 2002. Torbay, Devon saw a 22% rise, Solihull in the West Midland a 17% rise and York a disastrous 34 % rise.

There is a small glimmer of hope on the horizon. After years of this failed policy, the Health Development Agency, which advises government ministers has advised that teenagers should be encouraged to say, "no to sex". About time too!

What happened to the wonderful gift of human sexual relationship? Well, it is still alive and well, living happily within the constraints placed upon it by people who recognise that certain things are not meant to be enjoyed with wholesale abandonment, but within a right relationship, and a 'right' relationship is one within a marriage relationship between one man and one woman for life.

This is a tough ideal, but just because it is tough doesn't mean it is impossible, nor unworkable.

AIDS, and all other sexually transmitted diseases are reduced to almost zero where 2 people contain their sexual relationship within a life-long marriage. Those are the facts folks!

We can move back towards this ideal if we put our lives under Gods control. There is no other real 'safe sex'.

there is a better way

comments that we have received from site visitors