Lecture in the event Religion and Sexuality in Beirut, Lebanon (August 2016). The event was organised by Freethought Lebanon.

1. Religion and sexuality
Intersections of control and obsession
August 2016
Tommi Paalanen
Finland

2. Who?
MA, D.Soc.Sci., Philosopher, Ethicist
Executive Director, Sexpo Foundation
Chair of Sexual Ethics Committee,
Finnish Association for Sexology
Co-Chair of Sexual Rights Committee,
World Association for Sexual Health
Sexual ethics, sexual rights, professional ethics,
philosophy of sexuality, ethical liberalism,
equality, humanism, atheism, human rights

3. Today’s questions
1. What forms of control religion exerts on sexuality?
2. Why control is (or has been) important to religion?
3. What is the problem with religious norms on
sexuality?
4. What is the alternative?

4. MECHANISMS
OF CONTROL

5. Axis of control
How is sexuality viewed?
sex negative sex positive
How restrictive the rules are?
restrictive free
Who is in control?
external internal

6. Axis of control
How is sexuality viewed?
sex negative sex positive
How restrictive the rules are?
restrictive free
Who is in control?
external internal

7. Shared norms
Sex belongs to marriage
Focus on reproduction – enforced with rules
Strong control imposed on women
Virginity in women is highly valued
Patriarchal power structures – opposition to feminism
Fear and hate against homosexuality

8. Cultural history of control
Patrilinear kinship system
Kinship is established through the father
 requires controlling women to ensure paternity
Keeping power and property within the family as
father’s sons inherit titles and property
Justifying and enforcing the power structure with
religion

9. Evolutionary mechanisms
Reasons behind sex negativity and control
1. Westermarck effect – incest taboo
Avoiding public sexual activities
Need to hide sexual activities from close relatives
Natural disqust amplified by religion
2. Fear of alpha males
Hierarchy of males inherited from chimpanzees
Access to sex as a valued resource
Fighting for access to sex
Preserving power through sexual privileges

10. Ideological manipulation
Sin and purity as manipulation
1. Religion labels natural and recurrent urges as sinful
and/or impure
2. Almost no-one can escape this definition
3. Succumbing to sin causes shame and remorse
4. Religion offers relief and ritual purification

11. INTERNALISED
CONTROL

12. Amplification of norms
Multiple sources of norms
Example:
young couple has sex together without
permission from parents or community
(unmarried, using contraception)
Dangers according to religion and customs
• Breaking religious rules and community norms
• Multiple sins: disobedience, lust, using contraception
• Contradictory concerns: e.g. sinfulness of contraception
vs. fear of getting pregnant
• Bad moral character
• Ignoring what have been taught
• Bringing shame and bad reputation to the family
• Questioning the power of the family heads

13. Diffuse net of power
Shaming from multiple sources
Family members
Community members
Community authorities
Religious authorities
Peers
 Internalised control through shame and fear
Fear of rejection, loneliness, religious judgement, bad
social consequences, being a bad person…

15. Effects of shame
Sexological
Problems in achieving satisfying sexual life
Incompatibility in relationships
Pain disorders in women
Power and autonomy
Submission to injust conditions
Difficulties in recognising and asserting one’s
own boundaries
Sexual rights
Dismissing violations as cultural issues
Dilemma
Internalised norms appear as individual choices

16. ALTERNATIVES

18. Counter-culture
Sub-cultures and private sexuality
Disregarding and circumventing the rules
Anonymous dissidence
Organising against religious powers
Professional approaches
Correct evidence-based information about
sexuality
International networks
Pride in sexuality
Pioneer work
Open discussion and publicity
Rattling the cage

20. Sexual freedom
Martha Nussbaum’s argument
Characteristics of religion from individual’s point of view:
1. Deep personal significance
2. Important part of identity and everyday activities
3. Actualising is essential
Freedom of religion is essential to meaningful life, and
accordingly it should be promoted in a just society which
cares about the well-being of its citizens.
Sexuality shares the same characteristics,
therefore sexual freedom is essential…

21. tommi.paalanen@iki.fi
@TommiPaalanen
THANK YOU!