Slide 1
The Sin of Lust
Lust
Up till now the Church, in hunting down [Lust], has had the active alliance of
Caesar, who has been concerned to maintain family solidarity and the orderly
devolution of property in the interests of the State.
But now that contract and not status is held to be the basis of society, Caesar
need no longer rely on the family to maintain social solidarity; and now that
so much property is held anonymously by trusts and joint-stock companies, the
laws of inheritance lose a great deal of their importance.. . .
Consequently, Caesar is now much less interested than he was in the sleeping
arrangements of his citizens, and has in this matter cynically denounced his
alliance with the Church. This is a warning against putting one’s trust in any
child of man—particularly in Caesar . . .
If the Church is to continue her campaign against Lust, she must do so on her
own—that is, on sacramental—grounds; and she will have to do it, if not in
defiance of Caesar, at least without his assistance.
—Dorothy L. Sayers
Forms of Lust
Fred has had his eye on Heidi for some weeks. She is fine-looking, moves
through the office with sensual grace, laughs naturally. Heidi has noticed
Fred’s attention, and it’s all right with her. She likes the bones of Fred’s
square face, his eyes, the gact that he’s funny and easy going . . .
One day he is complaining
about having to go back to his apartment to another frozen dinner, and she
suggests that he come around to her place. He does . . .
They eat, they talk, they draw close, they kiss, they make love. They speak
kind words to each other, make the languid visit to the bathroom, feeling the
body’s and mind’s separate memories of pleasure. At the door: thanks; see you
at work tomorrow.
—William S. Stafford
Phil has a special cabinet for his collection of videos and magazines. The
older ones are just Playboys, reasonably titillating photographs of bodies . .
.
More recently, however, he
has ranged more widely. After work he selects what he wants: a lingerie video,
if he is fairly relaxed. But sometimes he wants strong sex, something to occupy
his anger as well as rouse his imagination. There is one video of women
whipping each other that never fails . . .
He has a drink, watches, masturbates. An hour or two in his special cabinet
washes fear and disappointment out of the day; it draws him back again and
again.
—William S. Stafford
Jeff is a middle-aged, middle-class man who has been married for some years.
Small grievances with his wife have mounted, and boredom has spread slowly like
mold in a refrigerator. Yet he basically likes his life and his wife is part of
his lifestyle. His marriage is tolerable, even important to him. He treats his
wife well, is reasonably faithful . . .
On a business trip,
however, he meets an attractive associate. After dinner in the hotel, they
return to her room. She is sexually hungrier and has a different technique from
his wife. It is exciting, lively, and no one gets hurt; no question of domination
or financial exploitation or disease . . .
They go their separate ways, Jeff back to his home and wife and normal persona.
He may feel some dissonance, even guilt, as he remembers the other body while
in bed with his wife that night, but he will not feel like a monster of lust,
not in the twentieth century…
Perhaps he is a bit guilty for “cheating,” but he deserves his pleasures. The
whole trivial affair took place in an entirely different context from his home
life. He can easily put it out of his mind. Perhaps it will even liven up the
marriage.
—William S. Stafford
Dante’s Purgation of Lust
Slide 19
Slide 20
The Pathway to Paradise
Dante’s Road to Paradise,
Part I
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not within us.
But if we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:8-9
Dante’s Road to Paradise,
Part II
Dante’s Road to Paradise,
Part III
Slide 26
Slide 27
Slide 28
Slide 29
Slide 30
Slide 31