In our age of science and psychology, it's tempting to think of human sexuality in terms of biology and interpersonal relationships. But in The Soul of Sex, Thomas Moore regards sex as an experience of the soul and emphasizes the more human themes of fantasy, desire, meaning, and morality. Moore turns especially to the religious traditions of the world, to rites, stories, and visual imagery that see in sex some of the most profound mysteries of life. He finds spirituality inherent in sex, and at the same time explores the many ways in which spiritual values can sometimes wound our sexuality. He recommends chastity and celibacy for everyone, as aspects of sexuality, and presents them as a means of developing a sensuous spirituality.Moore also establishes the principle that one can't have a fully satisfying sex life in an asexual and anti-erotic world. He spells out an Epicurian way of life where the simple, deep pleasures of good food, friends, family, home, and intimacy with nature provide an appropriate sensual base for a fulfilling sex life.
This is an audiobook for any individual, of whatever gender or lifestyle, who is trying to integrate sex into the rest of life. It is also a tool for couples, helping them to explore their sexuality with honesty, with appropriate emotional complexity, and with civility and comfort. Moore argues that sex should be at the center of life and at the top of our priorities, and if we don't give sex its due, it will haunt us and take us over. But when sex has soul, deep pleasure and meaning find a common home, and in that sense this audiobook is a sex manual for the soul.