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Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 4, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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So here again there’s the idea that sexuality is just an instrument, and there’s no inherent value in physical sexual enjoyment itself.

Your claim has moved from "They're not exactly "encouraged to enjoy sex with their spouse", that's new age degeneracy" to something along the lines of "Christians are not hedonists". The fact remains that Christian teaching has in fact encouraged Christians to enjoy sex with their spouse, and has done so for quite a long time.

So I think it's pretty confusing under what circumstances you're allowed to enjoy yourself. As a byproduct mostly.

In what way is it confusing? Pleasure should not be treated as an end unto itself. We should derive pleasure in ways consonant with an ordered, faithful life, which is no great hardship, nor unduly restrictive; I have lived as a hedonist, and I can say from personal experience that the hedonic treadmill is very real.