Sexual Desire

[The_Cavalier]

Greetings! Here’s an interesting moral question:
*
Suppose there existed a drug to suppress attraction to the opposite sex. Would it be a sin to take it? *

For married couples, I could see it being a sin, but for single people, I can’t see why it would be. Seems like it would make things a lot easier for some people: individuals struggling with porn, people with religious vows, etc.

What is everyone else’s take on this?

 

[Cirdan_XII]

Greetings! Here’s an interesting moral question:
*
Suppose there existed a drug to suppress attraction to the opposite sex. Would it be a sin to take it? *

For married couples, I could see it being a sin, but for single people, I can’t see why it would be. Seems like it would make things a lot easier for some people: individuals struggling with porn, people with religious vows, etc.

What is everyone else’s take on this?

Wouldn’t that effectively be the same as castration, except that maybe it is reversible?

 

[The_Cavalier]

Wouldn’t that effectively be the same as castration, except that maybe it is reversible?

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I must admit I’m not familiar with the effects of castration. My understanding is that it eliminates the capacity to reproduce, but the sex drive remains.

If my understanding is right (but I am open to correction), then I guess the answer to your question would be no.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

There are drugs that reduce sexual desire. They tend to have significant side effects, so would only be taken for that purpose in extreme situations.

 

[Jerome1974]

That would sure be nice, but then what type of a victory would it be for one to look the other way when a woman walks by, wearing tight yoga pants?

But then, that raises the question of reducing the amount of sin in one’s life, the end of which only God knows, (especially combined with the context of today’s gospel) and the stakes rise infinitely when our eternal soul is on the line.

Cognitive dissonance isn’t much fun!

 

[GEddie]

If you could do that, what would happen to “My grace is sufficient for thee”??

 

[nodito]

My instinct is that to take a drug to suppress a healthy, functioning, normal aspect of adult physiology would be disordered. I can imagine some instances in which it may be morally permissible, such as in a person with an extreme, abnormal preoccupation with sex; but in this case, the drug would be used to correct an illness or problem. For everyone else, it would appear to violate natural law to take what God has given to us for our own good (sexual desire for the opposite sex) and actively suppress it for some imagined benefit.

 

[Dorothy]

Our Lord Jesus Christ paid a high price to make His grace available to us. We can pray much, receive the sacraments, and put the Lord first in everything, and love our neighbor as ourself.

 

[joeybaggz]

The butterfly has to struggle in the cocoon to break out. If you were to help it by cutting the cocoon open, it wouldn’t develop the necessary muscles to fly. Its beauty comes from its struggles, and so does yours.

Maybe our sexuality is a test, sort of a “garden of eden” moment for us. Drugs taken to circumvent a problem may provide an immediate solution, but rob one of the opportunity to build a moral backbone one can be proud of.

My :twocents:

 

[jcrichton]

Greetings! Here’s an interesting moral question:
*
Suppose there existed a drug to suppress attraction to the opposite sex. Would it be a sin to take it? *

For married couples, I could see it being a sin, but for single people, I can’t see why it would be. Seems like it would make things a lot easier for some people: individuals struggling with porn, people with religious vows, etc.

What is everyone else’s take on this?

Hi!

…while this is in the “if” arena… if you were the one that invented it your life could be at risk–you would be hated for the same reasons that Scriptures are hated… you would be accused of wanting to curb man’s will.

…now, on a serious note… how would that demonstrate our willingness and ability to submit our will to God’s?

Look at the Tabaco industry, for decades they knew how badly their products affect their consumers; instead of spending money to make it safe/r; they spent money creating a demand (craving) and they sought the marketing mechanisms to promote the use and sales of their product.

There’s a built-in death and destruction thing when the product is used per specifications… yet, millions rush to consume it (ditto with other drugs, which includes alcohol).

Human will, suppressed by chemicals, cannot fully compare with man’s willingness to humbly submit to God’s Authority.

Just as we prime our bodies and minds for the field of choice, we should prime our bodies, minds, and will to Serve God; it is in Obedience that we Glorify God:

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross.

(Philippians 2:8)
Yes, a magic pill would make things easier (remember what happened once contraception and the aids treatments were introduced?), yet, would man seek to reconcile himself to God or search for other means to turn from God?

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[AnneElizabeth]

…

Human will, suppressed by chemicals, cannot fully compare with man’s willingness to humbly submit to God’s Authority.
…

There was a thread not too long ago here on CA in which someone who was diagnosed with depression I think it was (maybe bipolar) who worried her medication was interfering with her spiritual life and development. The poster asked if she had to be worried about that.

 

[e_c]

We may take drugs to help balance temperaments and passions (like anger or sadness or euphoria) - but we should not confuse this for obtaining the relevant virtue. The risk (beyond side effects for the individual) is in a culture that does not have to cultivate the actual virtue of chastity… That could create some problems if and when that drug is taken away for whatever reason.

 

[JoyousCatholic]

Sexual desire is a natural drive from God, so I think it would be a sin to suppress it, just the same way it would be sin to block natural life by taking contraception.

However, sexual desire that is out of control is also a sin. Eg, the desire to eat for sustenance of life is a natural drive from God, but excessive desire to eat without control is the sin of gluttony and should be moderated.

 

[jcrichton]

There was a thread not too long ago here on CA in which someone who was diagnosed with depression I think it was (maybe bipolar) who worried her medication was interfering with her spiritual life and development. The poster asked if she had to be worried about that.

Hi, Anne!

Clearly this is a distinct situation; a person whose prescription drugs may alter his/her mind can actually suffer from diminished capacity… Mom had to take serious meds… some of them warned that she could not drink alcohol while some warned that she could develop an addiction… while still others that she could have nightmares and that she could suffer from depression or even have the desire to hurt herself… still, these are the side effects of the “meds.”

God knows our innermost being:

10 God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 2:10-13)
The Holy Spirit is able to Communicate with that which we hold in the inner depths of our mind and spirit/soul.

Yet, the argument offered is a willingness to suppress the body with the premise that it would keep us from sin; yet, that would deny true freewill and our ability to conquer (self-control) the world.

Maran atha!

Angel