Don't Drink the Milk – The curious history of things

The Missionary Position: Preaching, power and getting pregnant

Oct 23, 2024
Explore the curious history of the 'missionary position' and its surprising origins linked to Christian missionaries. Delve into how the Church shaped sexual morality and propagated ideas of sexual shame across cultures. Learn about the misconceptions around missionaries teaching this position and the impact of colonialism on sexual practices worldwide. Uncover the role of the Catholic Church in influencing modern debates on sexuality and anti-LGBTQ laws in Africa. A fascinating dive into how sex, shame, and evangelization intertwine throughout history.
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INSIGHT

Church Shaped Sexual Norms And Public Art

  • Christianity historically promoted procreative, face-to-face sex as morally preferable and socially useful.
  • That doctrine influenced social norms and art censorship across Europe for centuries.
ANECDOTE

Vatican Censorship Of Nudity

  • The Vatican museums show how the church censored classical nudity, adding fig leaves and covering Michelangelo's genitals.
  • Hosts describe the figurative and literal fig-leaf campaign and a pope who ordered statue mutilations.
INSIGHT

No Science Behind 'Best' Procreative Position

  • Historical church authorities promoted the face-to-face, man-on-top position as best for procreation despite no scientific basis.
  • There is no reliable evidence any sexual position reliably increases conception rates.
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