Gender and Sexuality In Religion

            In The History of Sexuality Michel Foucault provides his opinion on the "repressive hypothesis", which states that since the 17th century, sexuality has been repressed due to external forces such as society, law, politics, the institution of family, etc. This repression started with the rise of the bourgeoisie in the 17th century who claimed sex and sexuality to be scandalous and dirty. To Foucault, the controlling of sex and sexuality represents power. For example, the bourgeoisie were able to express their power by deciding that sex for pleasure is useless, or that homosexuality is unnatural because it does not lead to procreation. I agree with his claim on power because all around the world you see countries controlling sex and sexuality; China's one child policy is an example of controlling sex for population purposes. Also, discrimination of gays, lesbians, transgender, or even members of different castes are all examples of political and religious control. Foucault also claims that all the talk about sex acted back upon us by affecting our sexual desires. This is similar to Feuerbach's and Marx's theory about humans creating a God, and then allowing their man made God to have an effect on their lives. I would also have to agree with Foucault on this because I believe that libido differences in male and female are somewhat influenced by society. Females are more passive and defensive about sex because that is what society intended for them. A female who has sex with a lot of men is regarded as a "slut", whereas a male who sleeps with a lot of women is praised as a hero and gets a nice pat on the back. Foucault does not understand why sex and sexuality has its own category for discussion, even though it just a natural human action, such as sleeping or breathing. To Foucault, sex, gender, and sexuality are all products of society.
             In "Sexuality", Jeffrey Kripal explains just how important sex was to many different religious rituals; whether it was too much sex (ritual orgies), or the lack of sex (asceticism or celibacy), sex played an important role in religions throughout history.