Sexuality Education and Religion?
 By
Ann L. Hanson, Minister for Children, Families and Human Sexuality,
United Church of Christ
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and
not necessarily those of Advocates for Youth.
Is it puzzling to
see the words 'sexuality education' and 'religion' in the same sentence?
Many people think these two subjects haven't much to do
with each other. Or, in many instances, we think of one
as having nothing to do with
the other.
I was born in northeastern Montana into a Christian family.
No one in my home talked about sexuality. Oh, I was given
the traditional 'book and box'* of
knowledge when I was eleven or twelve, and asked if I had any questions; but
I was never exposed to anything bordering on healthy sexuality education. Now,
I can't blame my parents—they didn't know anything different.
And what did I learn about sexuality in my faith community?
Absolutely nothing. The overall feeling I received about
sexuality was: "It's a deep secret, it's
kind of dirty, and you save it for the one you love!" But, I spent hours sharing
knowledge and curiosity with my girlfriends and combing the drug store for 'just'
the magazine that would give me the information I wanted and needed. Looking
back, I don't know whether to laugh or weep.
Now, many years (and three children and six grandchildren) later, I find myself
as a sexuality educator in a religious setting. What can I say now that I couldn't
say years ago about sexuality education and religion?
As a Christian, I inherited a tradition that has sought to separate our bodies
from our minds and spirits. Volumes have been written casting our bodies as
a negative part of who we are. There were, and continue to be, inherent fears,
misunderstandings and guilt about sexuality. However, many people of faith
are working in life-affirming and, in many cases, life-saving ways to heal
this separation and fear.
Often, people equate sexuality with sex—particularly,
sexual acts. However, sexuality includes so much more.
It includes sensuality, intimacy, identity,
health, and reproduction. Because sexuality is often used to influence, manipulate,
and control others in ways that are harmful and destructive to the body and
spirit, faith communities are called to support an ethic of human sexuality
that embraces healing and health, justice and mutuality.
Most religions celebrate wholeness for all people, including
children and youth, and most believe that sexuality is
a gift of the divine. Many people of diverse
culture, race, and religion believe that, in order to provide an opportunity
for wholeness, we must also provide information that will enable all people
to make life affirming decisions—and this includes providing comprehensive
information about sexuality.
Most religious leaders lift up the child as a symbol
of hope. Many still profess, however, that we must protect
our children and youth (and, in many instances,
adults) from education about sexuality. Resistance to providing information
and a forum for honest dialogue on issues related to human sexuality—either
in faith communities or in secular settings—often comes from people's unwillingness
to question firmly held beliefs. And, it's something we are not used to doing.
However, the rewards can be great—healing can occur and knowledge gained that
offer cause for celebration.
My experience, as a sexuality educator to both youth
and adults, has been one of the most powerful parts of
my spiritual journey. Youth have told me that
having sexuality education classes in their faith communities has been the
best gift their church has ever given them—a place where any question will
be answered and where guilt and fear have not been used as a way to control
them. They have been appreciative, too, that caring and loving adults have
respected them enough to give them the information upon which they can make
responsible decisions. Parents and caretakers of children and youth are grateful
for the ministry of sexuality education. And adults have rejoiced in the knowledge
that their sexuality is, indeed, a precious gift of the holy!
* Refers to a booklet on menstruation and accompanying
sanitary pads, in the past often the only education about puberty available
to many pre-adolescent girls in the United States.
Recommended Resources:
Sexuality and Faith: A Companion to Our Whole Lives.
Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 1999. To
purchase, visit www.uua.org/owl/ or www.ucc.org/justice/owl/.
A Time to Speak: Faith Communities and Sexuality
Education by Debra Haffner. New York: Sexuality
Information & Education Council of the United States,
1999. To purchase, visit www.siecus.org/publications/.
A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith
Communities. Religious Institute on Sexuality, Morality,
Justice and Healing, 2001. To purchase, visit www.religiousinstitute.org.
Created in God's Image: A Human Sexuality Program
for Ministry and Mission. United Church of Christ,
1993. To purchase, visit www.ucc.org/justice/cigi/.
Click here to return to the Parents'
Sex Ed Center home page.
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