Magic, Morals and Health

Abstract

Dr. Warren Johnson may be best known for Human Sexual Behavior and Sex Education: With Historical, Legal, Linguistic, and Cultural Perspectives, (1) the book he coauthored with Edwin Belzer, Jr. It is not the type of book that is typically used today in sexuality courses, which often focus exclusively on content. Although the term is in the title, the book is neither a methods text for teachers, nor is it a curriculum for students. This book is an interesting mix of factual information (some of the historical background Dr. Johnson provides is not found in other textbooks) and philosophical musings regarding sexuality, sexual behavior and the role of sex education in American society in the late 1960s. In the article Magic, Morals and the reader is treated to Dr. Johnson's thoughts about health and society, and the role of health educators. If you stay with Dr. Johnson's train of thought, you will find he is concerned that: (1) A large segment of society tends to base at least some of their beliefs about health on mysticism or religious beliefs/teachings rather than science; (2) Too often health educators do not base their practice on good science, but instead attempt to impose their own moral/religious beliefs on others in the name of health; and (3) If health education is to have a future as a major academic discipline it must be based on sound science. Dr. Johnson's concerns, voiced 40 years ago, are currently relevant. Today our society is dealing with a number of health related controversies, for example: abstinence education, contraceptive availability, abortion, environmental protection, gay rights, HIV/ AIDS, immunizations, living wills and other end of life options, war, and health care reform. In all of these controversies there are people who take strong positions. Often these positions are based on ideology (sometimes religiously based, sometimes not), rather than sound reasoning, good science and accurate information. In recent years, especially under the George W. Bush administration, it seems that science has often been trumped by religious ideology. People have an unalienable right to their own beliefs regarding religion and morals, and religion and health. The Founding Fathers addressed this issue in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.... (2) While people do have freedom of religion, sound public policy and sound health policy, must be based on accurate information and what research suggests is effective for the future. We do not live in a theocracy. Health educators have a professional obligation to present their clients with accurate information. Educators should not twist information in an attempt to make it fit their own religious belief (or non-belief) system or promote their own religious beliefs (or lack of beliefs). However, we believe that Dr. Johnson would agree that understanding the background for certain religious teachings that have health implications is important. As one example, let us consider the biblical story of Onan which Dr. Johnson mentions in his article (Genesis 38:6-10, not Leviticus). The short story is as follows: Er marries Tamar. Er is evil, so God kills him. Younger brother Onan then marries Tamar to raise up to his dead brother. Onan has sex with Tamar, but spills his seed upon the ground God kills Onan; end of story. No explanatory comments are provided. This story has been used to attack masturbation, as well as any other sexual behavior that does not have the potential to result in procreation. It appears to be the origin of the Roman Catholic ban on artificial (non-natural) birth control. We can dismiss the story as a nonsensical Hebrew fairy-tale, or we can try to understand the contextual background and what is really happening in the story. Why did Onan marry Tamar? …