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CHAPTER I

SEX AND LIFE

Meeting Life's Vital Problems—Best Preparation for Life—Countless Manifestations of Sex—Sexual Phenomena—Evils Traced to Ignorance—Primitive Methods of Reproduction—Asexual Reproduction—Sex Makes the Whole World Akin—Sexual Reproduction—Secondary Sexual Characters—Sex More Specialized in Higher Orders—The Two Paramount Urges—Hunger and the Sex Impulse—Savages' Attitude Toward Sex—Ancient Sexual Practices—Sex Symbolism—Phallicism—Nature Worship—Venus Cults—Sacred Prostitution—Lingam and Yoni Symbols—Sexual Coldness—Congenital Frigidity—False Frigidity—Effecting a Cure—Side-tracked Sex Energy—Results of Faulty Education—Puritanical Principles—Celibacy—Ecclesiastical Law—Theological Influences—"Sins of the Flesh"—Early Ascetic Ideals—Error of Sex Denial—Celibacy Not a Normal Life—Effects of Sexual Suppression.

Meeting Life's Vital Problems. Every intelligent person is interested in the vital problems of life. How can we best prepare ourselves to meet these problems, understand their significance, and assure ourselves of the greatest possible measure of health, happiness and usefulness?

This is the most important question in every individual's life experience. It is the basic consideration of every well organized family. The attempt to answer it, in some degree of satisfaction, at least, is society's most fundamental constructive aim. In a sense it is the outward expression of the social conscience. It is the symbol of culture and civilization.

The great public school system, all colleges and universities—the entire educational system, high and low—is

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