Exam #1: Test Review Scientific Truths, Myths, & Value Statements - Fact: Statement in which it’s possible to gather evidence of the scientific kind and the overwhelming evidence suggest the statement is accurate. o Data is repeatable, observable, and measurable - Examples from class: 1. Some males masturbate before puberty (males have “dry runs”) Q: How can you tell if something is a fact? A: Conduct a research survey 2. The orgasm relieves stress. 3. Pheromones attract people 4. Elderly homes have higher STD rates (around 60-70%) - Definition: word/group of words attempting to give meaning to another word o Neither right or wrong, they gain power from acceptance o This is NOT a fact - Myth: False statement. It is not accurate as suggested by evidence o Something has already been disapproved. o Ex) religion is not a myth because it is a value and there is no evidence you support religion is a myth Other examples a. Women’s sex drive diminishes when they increase in age. i. Some scientists believe that women’s sex drives actually increase because their testosterone levels are higher than their estrogen/progesterone levels b. People go blind when they masturbate. This is the most carried out study of all time c. Less attractive women have a better personality - Value statements: Not possible to gather evidence of a scientific kind, so it cannot be accurate or inaccurate o Value statements are stated in three different ways  As facts: these often contain “to be” verbs. When VS are stated as facts it implies that you’re right and the other person is wrong.  As a demand: contains the word “should”, “must.” The power of demand is the power of punishment.  As a personal preference: contains “I would prefer”, “I would like”, “I want”, “I wish”, etc. When VS are stated as a personal preference, it promotes equality in relationships o List of value words to look for in a sentence  Good-bad  Irresponsible-responsible  Morally right-wrong  Attractive-unattractive  Morally unnatural - Examples: o The Moon is larger than the Earth.  Myth because you can gather evidence and it is false. o Angels circle the world.  Value statement because you cannot gather evidence on Angels. It is stated as a fact. o Islam is the fastest growing religion.  Fact because you can gather evidence and it is accurate. o Mormons no longer believe in polygamy.  Fact because you can gather evidence from a couple of Mormons and find out what they believe. o The cross is a symbol of Christianity.  Fact because you can gather evidence of what Christians believes.o The cross is the only symbol of Christianity  Myth. The “only” word indicates people disapprove it. o Man was created in the image of God.  Value statement because you cannot gather evidence for God. It is stated as a fact because of the “to be” verb. o Atheists are wrong.  Value statement stated as a fact because “wrong” is a value word. Also, the sentence contains a “to be” verb. Sex and Religion Old World Religion - Male and female gods were not ashamed of their genitals and were sexual - Male and female gods were also equally powerful - There were many Gods. - Oftentimes the female god represented fertility, birth, and agriculture. Ex. Ishtar a.k.a Easter. - Isis- daughter of Earth and Sky (Earth- always feminine, Sky- always masculine). - Athena was born out of Zeus’ head. Hinduism - No separation between sexuality and spirituality - Had naked temples and statues of men and women - Lingam= Penis, Yoni=Vagina - Use yoga to connect to spiritual realm - Tantric yoga: take the experience of an orgasm and try to extend that experience past the orgasm o Orgasm to them was the no mind realm. When you have one, your mind clears and all thoughts → nirvana, pure pleasure, wish to do no harm to no one - Males- the sperm spilling was seen as the seed of life for the spiritual part - Main point- spirituality and sexuality were together. After a while sex in temples stopped because the English conquered India in the 1800s. They were offended by their open sexuality. - Point of tantric yoga is not to masturbate all the time. It is to live in that orgasmic state where no one wishes to harm anyone Buddhism - Grew out of Hinduism - Founder: Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha - Buddha is the enlighten one - Introduced the four noble truths o All life is suffering o The cause of this suffering is selfish desire o The way to end suffering is end selfish longing o The way to end selfish longing is to follow diligently the eightfold path - Main Point: Buddha viewed sex as one of our greatest selfish desires o Said to avoid sexual relationships because it led to suffering and irritation - Did not want to be religion or God, told people to be their own lambs and figured stuff out themselves but when he died, they made him a religion Daoism (China) - Created by Lao szu - Cannot be defined but observed nature, and figure out how the world runs and you run with it. Otherwise, you will be miserable running against the nature/flow - Views nothing is stable - The way of the universe is the energy of the Earth - Go with the flow of the Daoo Dao= the energy of the world, how the universe naturally is - Ying yang symbol is of sexuality. o Black is feminine energy (night), white is masculine energy (sun) o Everything is mixed, nothing is stable - To go against the Dao is misery, so if you want to have sex than just do it. - In nature, sexuality is everywhere - View on sex: go with the flow - It is a philosophy not religion, no word of god Judaism - Only male god, no female gods. He is not sexual but in charge of fertility - Jewish god is non-sexual, so there is a separation between sexuality and spirituality, compared to Hinduism - God has all emotions: anger, jealousy, love, but lust - God doesn’t lust - Jewish god was created in the image of man - 1st stories of people misbehaving sexually were with women o Lot was a good family and therefore God was not going to kill them but God was going to kill everyone else. The only rule was that they couldn’t turn back, but Lot’s wife did and he turned her into a pillar of salt. Lot’s daughters got him drunk and had sex with him -