Sexuality and Making Love Worldwide: Introduction

 Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.D

 Sexuality was taboo subject for a long time, after Frued’s bold theories it became necessary for scientists to study the subject on scientific bases. Some theories say that sex is the cause of wars between nations, others consider it as normal thing to be experienced. From the beginning of history, man knows sex without regulations. The desire of man discovered women as partner for sexual relief, The Religions, however, have their ethics on sexuality regulated according to laws and sanctions. The famous story about Adam and (Hawwa) Eve’s creation, is considered by many resources as the beginning of sexual relations between male and female. Some resources believe that the apple provided by Iblis (the Satan) is a sign of sex. While sex was prohibited in Heaven, it was necessary for Adam and Eve to have a new home, the earth. So the story of Iblis, the apple, and Eve’s acceptance of the apple (sex) may be true. Arrangements of reproduction created a problem among Adam and Eve’s children. The question was: who married whom? While both the male and female were brother and sister. Some resources say that Eve had different birth for twins every time. They say: the male in the first twin marries the female in the second twin. But they still brother and sister belong to the same parents (Adam and Eve). In any case, the story of Qabil and Habil, as the known names in Islam or Cain and Abel in Old and New Testaments, reblled on their parents order.

Religiously, the story says: . The first time it happened can trace back to the beginning of humankind: Habil and Qabil (Abel and Cain) the two sons of Adam and Hawa’a were required to bring a sacrifice to God. The Koran reminds us the sacrifice was "accepted from one, but not from the other." (Q.5:27)

The Torah tells us why that was - Habil offered the life of one of his flock. God was pleased with the death of a substitute and so Habil was accepted. However, Qabil was rejected, even though he had brought the produce that he had worked hard to grow. In more details, Torah describes what happened. In process of time it came to pass, that Qabil brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the L-RD. [Jewish sources prefer to omit the “O” from the world Lord. ] Abel, also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the L-RD had respect unto Habil and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Qabil was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the L-RD said unto Qabil, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Moreover, unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Torah Genesis 4.3-5). The result was that  Qabil killed his own brother Habil for sexual reason. Because  Habil’s pride was wanted by Qabil who refused to marry the assigned pride for him by his father Adam.

Since then, sexuality became a desire to be satisfied by first human beings ever after.

In my book in Arabic “al-Zawaj wal-Jinse fil ‘Alam,  Marriage and Sex in the World. I collected several stories about sex experiences in old history as well as modern history. In the series, however in English includes some stories from my book plus other stories I have previously written in English. The series deals with so many concepts related to sexuality, for example, marriage, divorce, sexual relations, polygamy, polygyny, Pigmy, polyandry, honor-killing, group marriage and diseases such as Sifliss, gonorrhea and Aids. Cross cultural norms concerning these concepts are explained through the stories.  The series as well as the two books on the subject will contribute to more understanding for sexual relations as a factor in the process of human happiness rather than misery. (673 words) www.hasanyahya.com