Sexual Discipleship in the Real World - Assignment Example

Sexual Discipleship in the Real World Radical discipleship from the article of Traina (2006) on ‘Under Pressure: Sexual Discipleship in the Real World’ talks about the challenges that a Christian faces when following exactly the way in which Pope John Paul II pointed out as how exactly one has to live a life in a Christian call. As emphasized in the article of Traina (2006, pp. 68-70), radical discipleship faces some challenges. These challenges tackle on the following important issues that are truly part of the Christian way of life. 1. What really is radical discipleship in other [or every] walks of life? 2. Discipleship is truly for those who deeply understood the Christian way of life. 3. The choice of which task to be undertaken. 4. The decision to how many tasks to pursue. 5. The need to interpret commandments. These are the following issues I would like to reflect on. This paper will discuss on how radical discipleship is strongly connected to sexual discipleship. However, my point in this paper will be purely much on the challenges in sexual discipleship in relation to how radical discipleship is defined. What really is radical discipleship in other walks of life? It seems radical discipleship may turn out subjective in a certain level. As pointed out by Traina (2006, p. 69), “The shape of radical discipleship depends on vacation: the mode and emphasis one has chosen for one’s life, cognizant of the intersection of one’s gifts with the needs of one’s community, often in response to a sense of having been called or elected, within the limits that one’s place and time have imposed”. Marriage which is of course a manifestation of sexual activity is the union of two bodies united to be one in the Holy presence of God who is the creator of all good things. This is how marriage is defined in a Christian way of life. Marriage is a vocation. It is a path mostly chosen by many. However, only few have truly understood the deeper meaning of it especially to knowing on what purpose it will be. Marriage in my own opinion is part of reproduction of Christian faith. Parents are instruments of God for spreading the good news to generations to come. Parents have to be the role model of their children and through them, the first glimpse of the Holy presence of God must be observed. This makes marriage sacred as a Holy sacrament of the church. This is my faith. I believe that unless not everyone will truly appreciate the real meaning of marriage, discipleship will continue to be a challenge and remain invisible to many. Discipleship is truly for those who deeply understood the Christian way of life I think it would be impossible for somebody to understand the true meaning of marriage in the context of discipleship if somebody is not mature in his or her understanding of the Christian way of life. I noticed that most of those who have chosen for separation are not truly devoted to understanding the Holy sacrament of marriage. Instead, they are much into of understanding that each of them has a choice and that is to be happy. It was just easy for them to say that they no longer were happy with their partners and divorce or separation was a one-shot solution for everything. Every one of us receives the gift of free will. We have freedom to choose though. However, sometimes this freedom will never take us into the road of maturity for Christians. The choice of which task to be undertaken Part of discipleship is the commitment to choose which task is to be chosen as presented by Traina (2006, p. 69). In the context of sexual discipleship, a married life might be so challenging for those who have chosen to stay faithful with his or her husband or wife. In the same way, it would also be challenging to give forgiveness to those who fell in the trap and walk into the road of unfaithfulness. Married life is very challenging in the context of sexual discipleship. For instance, a wife might be willing to do things that she believes will make her husband happy even if it opposes to her moral belief and principles. Radical discipleship is a challenge to everyone who faithfully follows its principle since it requires one to go beyond the limit of human patience and it much requires deeper understanding of what is beyond to what we commonly can think of. The decision to how many tasks to pursue Truly not all of the tasks in Christian discipleship can absolutely be done. One has to choose the best to pursue that will be based on principles and Christian ethics. However, discipleship must not look like it chooses circumstances since its only option is to follow what is right. In the contrary, human freedom to choose cannot be undermined too. This shows the fact that humans and especially in the context of their marriage have to face situations that most of the time require them to choose. Limitless effort is needed for marriage to survive. However, based on my opinion, humans are subject to limitations making things subject to their scrutiny and screening based on standards. The need to interpret commandments Many things had changed so much since the beginning of time. Now, it needs somebody who truly has freedom and enough capacity to be conservative in understanding the original context of commandments yet very open to understanding of modern context. In this regard, I think it needs more mature individual to understand the commandments and its applications in the context of modern times. This is going to be a challenge of discipleship. As far as I can see it, commandments are viewed conservatively to the point that their real applications are mostly overlooked in present times. As I look at it, sexual discipleship has nothing in difference with radical discipleship. They both are facing the same challenges. Sexual discipleship can be chosen to be influenced by principles of radical discipleship. The issue in here is on how they can be positively implemented in the context of modern times given that humans are subject to limitations, cultural diversity and different religions just to mention some factors. I think this issue can be given with more meaningful evaluations. Reference Traina, L. H. C. (2006). Under Pressure: Sexual Discipleship in the Real World. In L. Cohill et al (Eds.), Sexuality and the Catholic Church (pp. 68-93). Crossroad. Papals Ideals, Marital Realities: One View from the Ground I was strongly moved by the idea of procreative marital sexuality as mentioned by Traina (2001) in which she strongly opposes to some assertions of Pope John Paul II on some ideas related to the subject matter. I would like to reflect on this issue. By reading through the article of Traina (2001, pp. 269-284), my understanding about marriage was neither changed nor I was shifted to a new way of thinking on how should I view about it. Rather, my understanding on conception which must be within the bound of procreative sex was enlightened. First, I am going to give my reflection on the use of contraceptives. The church strongly opposes the use of contraceptives for the reason that the use of them is a form of non-procreativity. The church’s view of sex changes when it is trying to prevent conception. As stated in the article of Traina (2001, p. 279), lovemaking must be done with procreative intent as strongly promoted by the church. Personally, I agree that sex without love in it which further means only lustful intent is non-procreativity. The church therefore is trying to promote sex as a manifestation of love and therefore enhancing procreativity in every relationship. Of course this is not new to all. On the other hand, many people are trying to learn the natural way to prevent conception which only means absence of use of any artificial contraceptives. I am quiet intrigue about this. The intention of not getting pregnant in the presence of sex may sound non-procreative. The interpretation of Traina (2001, p. 278) on the procreative intent during intercourse suggests that the church strongly believes that it is only through unprotected intercourse husband and wife can produce a child and it is through this that spouses can give the total self-gift. The natural family planning therefore can be a form of non-procreativity since it can be defined as non-procreative act for such a reason that it suppresses to produce a child. More so with the use of artificial contraceptives, but I will no longer focus on it since it is obviously and strongly being opposed by the church. Intentional intercourse trying to suppress conception in times when a woman is safe from getting pregnant is intended to prevent from having a child. Possibly, it can be viewed as a form of sexual non-procreativity since obviously no child will ever be produced in the womb. I am just concern about this. Can it then be now considered non-procreative? Can it be considered only lust of the flesh when intentionally couples will try to have sex in times when a woman is infertile? Second, it just came into my mind that intentional abortion is an act of sexual non-procreativity. It suppresses the child’s right and freedom to enjoy the world. Hence, it is clearly non-procreative. Furthermore, intentional abortion is just a manifestation of intercourse just purely to excite and enjoy the flesh. No moral obligation has been dedicated to the child when sex reaches to the point of conception. I just wonder if intentional abortion and intentional intercourse when a woman is infertile are just of the same case. Are they both non-procreative acts? It cannot be denied that husband has moral, social and other obligations to his wife. In the same way, wife has moral, social and other obligations to her husband too. Sex is part of the married life. Sex without love can be defined as non-procreative. Sex with a prostitute is non-procreative aside from its being outside the bound of married life. In the same way, premarital sex can be highly defined non-procreative for it is done outside the bound of marriage. I just come to a point of realizing it that spouses having sex without love is no different from sex with a prostitute and premarital sex. These are all the same manifestations of selfish gratification of the flesh. In one way or another, obligations and responsibility cannot be defined in this case. Of all these examples I have stated, I just want to point out that even in an intentional way when couples are trying to prevent from having a child in an intercourse; I think one can not directly say it as a lustful act. I think it depends on one’s intention. A wife maybe afraid to get pregnant but still intends to have sex with his husband for some reasons. Maybe she just wants to make him happy and she loves him so much, not to mention her obligation to her husband though. Indeed, there are many perspectives we need to look at. Reference Traina, L. H. C. (2001). Papal Ideals, Marital Realities: One View from the Ground. In P. B. Jung (Ed.), Sexual Diversity and Catholicism: Toward the Development of Moral Theology (pp. 269-284). Collegeville UN: Liturgical Press. Read More