I would not have been able to live in the Middle Ages—as far as their views of sexuality went. Tight restrictions based on God’s word are just not my style. I would probably be some sort of underground homosexual court jester fire juggler wandering minstrel-- or something of the sort. It wouldn’t take long for me to be caught and killed, but the going would be fun while it lasted.
In medieval times, heterosexuality was unmistakably the norm (as it has always been in every society)—but moreover, heterosexuality was defined as between married men and women and no one else. Sex occurred in other instances, but not under God’s ever-watchful approval.
Thomas Aquinas’ very very Christian view of sexuality, although. I find it strange the God would have so much interest in our sex lives—enough to categorize our sexual acts by sinfulness; however, as the sexual ambassador of God, Thomas Aquinas did just that and enumerated sexual misdemeanors in an enlightening way. The view was based on the idea that procreation is the goal of sexual intercourse; this lead to a shocking concept: that rape of a woman (or rape of one’s daughter) is less sinful than bestiality, sodomy, masturbation, and oral sex. This is due to the simple fact that rape could potentially lead to a bumbling baby. I suppose that it’s nice Aquinas even had the decency to put rape in the list. However much we are trained to believe the Medieval ages are idyllic castles, princes, knights, and dragons, there’s a lot more disturbing thigns that goes on behind the scenes; thus it makes sense such a sexually repressed age be labeled the “Dark Ages” of sexuality.
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