Sex and a Changing Civilisation

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SEX and a changing civilisation - BY KENNETH WALKER - PREFACE - I SUPPOSE that it is inevitable that by some readers this should be regarded as an immoral, and even as an irreligious book. In actual fact it is neither, unless the word irnmral be used in its strictest sense for that which is contrarv to cus- J tom. If anything, it is a religious book for, even when not directly expressed, the same idea will be found shining- through the text of every chapter, that mans troubles are the result of what man is. He has expended all his energy in attempts to alter his circumstances and none in any effort to change himself. Yet in this alone lies any hope of his escaping from the disorder of his world. If by a religious life is meant a change of inner attitudes and values, and not merely an external mode of behaviour, then it is to religion he must turn in order to bring about his spiritual evolution. There are signs that men and women of the twentieth century are in some way dimly conscious of this need. Theosophy, Christian Science, Spiritualism and the Oxford Movement follow one another across its opening years, and the eagerness with which each in turn has been welcomed is an indication of the widespread desire for spiritual leadership. Before proceeding to a consideration of the changes the twentieth century has witnessed in our attitude to sex, I have thought it advisable to devote some preliminary chapters to a discussion of sex itself, for exactly what is meant by that term has proved difficult to define. These chapters of necessity contain material that is of interest to the scientific rather than to the general reader. But if they prove dull and unappetising, they can easily be skipped, for in no way are they essential to the understanding of the latter part of the book. Wherever possible, I have made acknowledgments in the text to authorities from whose works I have culled quotations. In spite of this, I feel that it is necessarv that I should state in this preface mv J I . special indebtedness to two writers, Havelock Ellis and P. D. Ousenskv. To Havelock Ellis. a tendering of thanks or okan apology would be equally appropriate thanks for the rich mine of information that his writings have provided, and apologies for the free use I have made of that mine. Compared with people and events, books have but little influence on our lives. Sometimes it may happen that a work which has fallen into our hands by some happy accident, remains for ever afterwards on our bookshelves to mark a veritable epoch in our way of thinking. Such an epoch occurred in the writers life when he discovered P. D. Ouspenskys A New Model 4 the Universe. K. W. -- CONTENTS -- CHAPTER I SEX AND BIOLOGY 11 SEX AND PSYCHOLOGY 111 SEX AND ESOTERICISM IV SEX AND ITS MECHANISM . VIII SEX AND SOCIETY IX SEX IN MEN AND WOMEN X SEX AND THE LAW . XI SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE . . . - CHAPTER I - SEX AND BIOLOGY - BEFORE it is possible to consider any clanes that the twentieth century may have witnessed in our attitude to sex, it is necessary to devote some time to discussing what is sex itself. In order to obtain an answer to the question, what is sex, we must turn first to biology and study it in lower forms of life. Here we will find sex in the raw, the crude material out of which may be formed, according to how it is used, the beauty of human love or thi squalor of human lust. That it is important to start with a clear understanding has been impressed upon the writer by his observation of the effect that the same book on the subject of sex may produce on two diffcrent readers. Whilst the one will commend it for its common sense, the other will condemn it for its obscenity. To be able to discuss it, to reduce it to termsof anatomy, seems to the reader who has experienced the richness of love, a degradation and an obscenitv...