Sex and Religion: Not Just a History of Repression

Few people know of the long-standing traditions of sexual mysticism in the West. These traditions, unlike Hindu and Buddhist forms of Tantra, which were often distorted, commodified, and trivialized upon transmission to the modern West, have remained largely untouched. This is because they were entirely unknown. But the vast range of possibilities for hidden, erotic mysticism demand a closer look. They reveal a rich, profound range of perspectives, allowing us to see new dimensions of human sexuality. Consequently, history becomes more multidimensional. It is also possible that, as we uncover these secret erotic traditions of the West, they will in turn feed into new movements and generate new ways of understanding. Each era draws upon the past in its own way, and perhaps it is time for us—at least those who are interested and who feel some calling to do so—to reconsider the Western currents of erotic mysticism. Read Article

By Arthur Versluis