A Polish monk named Ksawery Knotz has published a sex guide titled "Sex as you don't know it: For married couples who love God." It has proved very popular in Poland. The first 5,000 copies were snapped up and it has gone to reprint.
Knotz resides at the monastery of the Friars Minor Capuchin in Stalowa Wola, southern Poland. He has become a sort of ecclesiastical sexpert, with retreats that attract thousands of devout Roman Catholic couples seeking to improve their sex lives.
It's hard not to be skeptical about a celibate monk who has become a sex guru to thousands. But Knotz is unphased by detractors who say a celibate has no experience in sexual matters. He offers the defense that a surgeon doesn't have to have a heart condition to be a cardiologist.
When Knotz is chatting with couples about the joys of 'theological orgasm', it must require Spock-like detachment to safeguard against "sinful" thoughts. Could this lead to a conflict-of-interest from a Christian point-of-view?
Catholic zealots plagued with 'urges' have for centuries resorted to various stratagems to keep sexual thoughts at bay - including the use of flagellation and other mortifications. Knotz on the other hand doesn't just entertain sexual thoughts, he uses graphic language to get the message across.
"Every act — a type of caress, a sexual position — with the goal of arousal is permitted and pleases God... During sexual intercourse, married couples can show their love in every way, can offer one another the most sought after caresses. They can employ manual and oral stimulation."
Even though Knotz' sex advice is surprisingly explicit, he is no revolutionary. He follows traditional Catholic teaching. For example he is opposed to the use of condoms and birth control pills. In his view condoms might "lead a Catholic couple outside of Catholic culture and into a completely different lifestyle."
It's hard not to suspect an ulterior motive. The Pope has long been complaining about what he sees as the plague of the secular lifestyle, which he associates with abortion, use of condoms etc. From that perspective Knotz' is on-side with Vatican priorities - revving up traditional Catholic marriage in the face of increasingly secular attitudes.
Knotz' more esoteric theories on sex are neither new nor novel. They just haven't traditionally been associated with Catholicism. Some of his views are similar to ideas found in Tantra - for example the statement: “Love between a married couple expressed in sex, brings the human body closer to heaven. The ecstasy in the joy of sexual intercourse can be likened to the joy of eternal life.”
He talks about 'theological orgasm' being like 'meeting God in Heaven.' This rather cheesy metaphor reflects a naivety that lies behind some of Knotz' thinking on 'spiritual' sex.
Despite his novel sex advice, Knotz' view of sexuality is traditional. It stays firmly within a Catholic conjugal setting - and along with that comes a rejection of sex outside marriage, gay sexuality, birth control and abortion.
It's hard not to suspect an ulterior motive. The Pope has long been complaining about what he sees as the plague of the secular lifestyle, which he associates with abortion, use of condoms etc. From that perspective Knotz' is on-side with Vatican priorities - revving up traditional Catholic marriage in the face of increasingly secular attitudes.
Knotz' more esoteric theories on sex are neither new nor novel. They just haven't traditionally been associated with Catholicism. Some of his views are similar to ideas found in Tantra - for example the statement: “Love between a married couple expressed in sex, brings the human body closer to heaven. The ecstasy in the joy of sexual intercourse can be likened to the joy of eternal life.”
He talks about 'theological orgasm' being like 'meeting God in Heaven.' This rather cheesy metaphor reflects a naivety that lies behind some of Knotz' thinking on 'spiritual' sex.
Despite his novel sex advice, Knotz' view of sexuality is traditional. It stays firmly within a Catholic conjugal setting - and along with that comes a rejection of sex outside marriage, gay sexuality, birth control and abortion.
Traditionalist Catholic views are being challenged not only by non-Catholic critics, but also by those within the church - especially when it comes to issues relating to sexuality and orientation. Ksawery Knotz re-enforces conventional ideas even as he claims to be offering up the recipe for a racier sex life.
Tags:
