[Cicero]

The obvious natural purpose of sexuality is reproduction. Nature adds instinct and/or pleasure to encourage reproduction of the species. That follows if you are an atheistic Darwinist as well as a Christian or a Jew.

Because humans take such a long time to develop to maturity, nature encourages the development of families to raise and protect children. That also follows for Darwinists as well as Christians and Jews.

That's why homosexuality, bestiality, and other forms of aberrant behavior have traditionally been considered abnormal. Long experience as well as religious teaching has shown them to be destructive.

Some forms of sexual aberration are probably best tolerated, but should not be encouraged or "normalized" by proclamation. Among such modes of behavior are homosexuality and lesbianism. When practiced privately by consenting adults, they are still probably destructive to those who practice it, but cannot reasonably be prevented entirely.

Pederasty, rape, sadistic cruelty, and the like are not in the same class, because they harm innocent third parties. They must remain forbidden.

A question that arises is whether psychiatry itself has any social or scientific use at this juncture of history. Or should it, like phrenology, be allowed to disappear into the past as a pseudo-scientific craze rather than a true science?

[ffusco]

Another erudite post. I only have issue with the first line. The obvious natural purpose of "sex" is reproduction.The purpose of sexuality is enjoyment and socialization. Similarly eating is the primary way to prevent starvation, food, cooking and the enjoyment of the same are just more ritual socialization.

[Remedy]

A question that arises is whether psychiatry itself has any social or scientific use at this juncture of history.

Hitler had Goebbels and the Sodomites have the A.P.A.

[omega4412]

Your views make perfect sense. Too logical for the shrinks, though.

Should psychiatry go the way of phrenology? I think that in criminal trials the expert testimony of psychiatrists should be given no more weight than the expert testimony of astrologers. Or phrenologists.

[maryz]

A question that arises is whether psychiatry itself has any social or scientific use at this juncture of history.

Ah -- the question that dare not speak its name!

[Rudder]

"The obvious natural purpose of sexuality is reproduction."

There's lots of reproduction without sexuality.

The "purpose" of sex is to act as an impediment to reproduction.