Are Men Monogamous?

[Apologiaphoenix]

Is it in our nature?

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[T-Shirt Ninja]

I really hate it when Christians turn a blind eye towards certain topics and look only at their scriptures and/or traditions, especially when it comes to science. Anyway, the answer is obviously no. DNA doesn't care about monogamy and is probably polyamorous in principle. The sex drive in our brains has been given to us by our DNA in order to spread it to future generations.

Part of the problem is that once we step outside of sex between a married man and woman as the norm, we open the door to everything else.

This isn't true. Secular communities talk about sexual morality quite a lot, and no one suggests to just open up the door to everything else. It's a slippery slope fallacy. Non-monogamy is only a problem for Christians in the West.

I agree that TV sex is mostly nonsense. However, I would also argue that it does no harm if unmarried, responsible people have sex for fun.

[Apologiaphoenix]

I really hate it when Christians turn a blind eye towards certain topics and look only at their scriptures and/or traditions, especially when it comes to science. Anyway, the answer is obviously no. DNA doesn't care about monogamy and is probably polyamorous in principle. The sex drive in our brains has been given to us by our DNA in order to spread it to future generations.

The topic was really at Christians I think by Christians. You should know that normally when I start these things, I don't start with Scripture. Still, I find your language interesting. It's speaking of DNA in practically personal terms as if it has a will and intent. I know that's not what is actually meant, but it's interesting how that works. I could just ask simply why to all of this. What is the final cause?

This isn't true. Secular communities talk about sexual morality quite a lot, and no one suggests to just open up the door to everything else. It's a slippery slope fallacy. Non-monogamy is only a problem for Christians in the West.

Entirely true. The sexual revolution has led to more and more. Now we have a society that has done an attempt to redefine marriage. The question ultimately boils down to what is and isn't sex and what is and isn't marriage. Is something allowed or not allowed in sexuality? Why or why not?

I agree that TV sex is mostly nonsense. However, I would also argue that it does no harm if unmarried, responsible people have sex for fun.

When I counsel Christian guys about to marry and talk about sex, I tell them to think about every scene of it they have seen in a movie or TV show. Then I tell them to throw it all out as it's completely unrealistic.

I also though question the idea that it's just harmless fun. It's quite amusing to hear we Christians are usually the ones that have a negative view of sex when we are the ones that view it as sacred and intimate and the secular position seems to just be "A good time was had by all."

[Hypatia_Alexandria]

I am not entirely certain if I am permitted to post to this board, so if I am transgressing site rules perhaps someone can let me know.

I suspect that biology and culture are being conflated. There is no biological reason why men should not spread their genes as widely as possible. We see such behaviours in various other higher mammals.

However, cultural mores are something rather different. The need to ensure that progeny are biologically the issue of the father has a deep rooted cultural history that is often [but not necessarily] connected with concerns over inheritance and familial recognition.

The comment about Jesus' unmarried state is interesting, it would certainly be somewhat unusual for a Jewish man not to be married. In Judaism the married state and children are seen as a blessing and there is often a degree of sadness and/or pity expressed towards those who are unmarried and/or childless. We see this latter state evidenced in various Hebrew texts.

However, if, as has been suggested, Jesus and his brother James had connections with the Essenes, then it is possible that, at least for a period of his life, Jesus may have been celibate and unmarried.