National Review explains meaning of human sexuality, bloggers respond
National Review recently ran this asinine piece by Jennifer Roback Morse opposing gay marriage on the grounds that it would violate the "meaning of human sexuality."
So, what is the meaning of human sexuality anyhow? Sexual activity has two natural, organic purposes: procreation and spousal unity. Babies are the most basic and natural consequences of sexual activity. "Spousal unity" means simply that sex builds attachments between husband and wife.
Spousal unity is the feature of human sexuality that makes it distinct from purely animal sexuality. As far as I know, humans are the only animals that copulate face to face. Shakespeare described the sexual act as "making the two-backed beast." Both the Hebrew and the Christian Bible describe the sexual act as uniting the spouses in the most literal sense: "the two become one flesh." Two people become, if only for a short while, one flesh. Evolutionary psychology observes the survival value to spousal cooperation. Males and females who attach themselves to each other, have a better chance of seeing their offspring survive long enough to produce grandchildren. Science can now tell us how the hormones released during sex help to create emotional bonds between the partners.
Several political bloggers have linked to and rebutted Morse's essay. Most agree with Will Wilkinson that "Jennifer Roback Morse is full of shit, and the National Review continues to demonstrate its status as a go-to source for scientific illiteracy." More meaning-of-human-sexuality punditry:
If you don't have the time or interest to read it all, start with Wilkinson's piece.
