Sex and a Changing Civilisation (e-book) (used book) | bookbook.eu

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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.