Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

I came across a story at the Catholic Education Resource Center of which a Canadian psychologist and author argued that biology, and not a patriarchal conspiracy, was reason for a significant disparity between men and women among the high ranking positions of fortune 500 companies. She attributed the “glass ceiling” as being one of choice, based partially on the effects of a hormone called oxytocin. In other words, they had other priorities in their lives other than climbing the corporate ladder. Oxytocin is not only essential for facilitating child birth and breastfeeding, but has also been found to enhance social recognition, bonding, the formation of trust between people and generosity.

A Rutgers University study indicates that the feelings of romantic love are among the strongest drives on Earth –– even more powerful than hunger. Other researchers indicate that oxytocin has other long-range implications –– that individuals develop a “template” for a partner based on their previous pair-bonding.

A study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), found that the production of oxytocin varied among women according to the level of distress and anxiety or the degree of security in their relationships. The women who had fewer negative emotional relationships in their lifetime experienced greater oxytocin production. Likewise, they were better able to set appropriate boundaries for their subsequent relationships.

Numerous studies indicate that stress and fright inhibit oxytocin release. In other words, if relationships are not grounded in the kind of explicit commitment evidenced by loving, trustworthy, considerate, selfless behavior, the amount of oxytocin produced by intimacy decreases, and it becomes increasingly difficult for bonding to take place. On the other hand, the researchers at UCSF said bluntly: “[A] close, regular relationship may influence the responsiveness of the hormone.”

In the pursuit of equality and sexual freedom, the liberated women have set themselves up for exploitation by men within their relationships and in many cases, the best they can hope for is the mutated misnomer of love called eroticism. Eroticism is based on the fulfilment of infantile needs which include the need of being received, accepted, and satisfied. Relationships are sustained with acts of “love” (bribes) with the hope of one buying the other’s allegiance and favor. Consequently, those who have the most to lose also have the greatest need to deceive. The more failed sexual relationships one goes through, unless they dramatically change their behaviors, the less likely they will ever have a fulfilling and meaningful relationship in the future. Since the reality of true love is to will the good of the other, it’s not something we can possibly “fall into”, as opposed to falling into desperation, loneliness and selfish needs and desires.

I think the lack of bonding and commitment among couples illustrate why even among those who make it to marriage, a majority of them never make it a life long committment- and those who don’t divorce there seems to be an epidemic of infidelity, competition and hostile relationships. There is little doubt that sex before marriage damages the bond between husband and wife required to sustain a healthy, life long relationship.

“man can build a world without God, but this world will end by turning against him.“- Pope John Paul II