Since I work for the Anglican Church, sexual and social politics also dictates that I can be relied upon to reinforce religious fear and guilt to “constrain the sexuality and sexual freedom of women”. Sheehan does not offer any support for these deeply held beliefs, and perhaps I can’t dislodge them. I wish I had his faith. But for what it is worth, the biblical authors consistently and resolutely expect men to take responsibility for their own sexual thoughts and feelings.
In an argument throughout the Gospels, Jesus attacks his contemporaries for their divorces of convenience to remarry young things, and “everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew chapter 5, verse 28). The point is not to amplify male guilt. He wants men to direct their sexual energy toward their wives, as in the ancient proverb “Take pleasure in the wife of your youth ”¦ be lost in her love forever.”
Here is a profound point about our quest for true intimacy. Nothing replaces the time invested in a marriage, a time long enough to grow the intimacy we all crave.
Well said.