Religion and Sexuality

For millennia, religious thinkers have wrestled with the nature of sexuality. This class will examine how these thinkers have dealt with the essential questions that sexuality raises. Why do humans have sexual desire? Are there proper limits to sexual activity? While the focus of this class will be on Judaism and Christianity from antiquity to the present, we will also discuss Hindu, Muslim, and Tantra views. Topics to be addressed include: the nature and purpose of human sexual desire; contraception; adultery; homosexuality; abortion; and masturbation. No prerequisites.