[Mortimer Snavely]

It strikes me that the notion that sex is moral only if used for reproduction accomplishes the same thing that libertinism does: it tends to devalue and perhaps, consider ultimately as sinful, the bonding and increased intimacy that sex elicits. In both cases sex and love are disconnected, and love becomes a problem.

[RLK]

It strikes me that the notion that sex is moral only if used for reproduction accomplishes the same thing that libertinism does: it tends to devalue and perhaps, consider ultimately as sinful, the bonding and increased intimacy that sex elicits. In both cases sex and love are disconnected, and love becomes a problem.

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Now, we are getting toward one of my areas of concern and ane of the areas that produces alienation from conservative/religious types. Sex emphasized primarily as a reproductive process imposes a stern sterile and somewhat drab utilitarian air about the area that is off-putting to the argument. In this sense, as you have pointed out, the separation between sex and a type of bonding and intimacy becomes common to an axis within conservatism/religion and emotionally sterile libertarianism/liberalism. As has been pointed out to me elsewhere, many people on the political cultural right have problems relating to closeness and intimacy --as do many on the political cultural left. This has tainted, I think with some justification, the image of the political/cultural right. It's a killer when talking about responsible sexuality.

[RLK]

It strikes me that the notion that sex is moral only if used for reproduction accomplishes the same thing that libertinism does:

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What also happens when some repressed and repressive clown comes upon the scene shouting that kind of sterile angry morality is that people start scrambling out windows and doors. It doesn't detail a a desperately needed suitable alternative.