Description

Let us know the Author Dr. Felix Podimattam OFM Cap.
Dr. Felix Podimattam is one of the best known Indian authors in the field of ethics and morality. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Mysore, a Licentiate degree in theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and a Doctoral degree in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy, Rome. His doctoral thesis ‘The Relativity of Natural Law’ is acclaimed as exceptionally excellent. The thesis was guided by the eminent Moral Theologian, Bernard Haering, who influenced the renewal of Moral teachings of the Church during and after the Vatican II. Dr. Podimattam is resident professor at St. Francis Theological College, Kottayam and has been the founding member and first president of the Indian Moral Theologians Association. Most of his books, numbering over 120, are published by Media House, Delhi. Having gone through most of his books, let me highlight the most significant characteristics of his writings. First of all, he engages in a creative dialogue with other authors on every topic of discussion. Second, he tries to compare and integrate, as far as possible, the visions and views of other religions. Third, he holds a very positive attitude to life in general, especially to human body, sexuality, etc. Fourth, he is a keen observer of the socio-political and religious happenings in the society and responds to them immediately. His book on ‘Fast unto death’ during the upheaval of fisher people’s struggle in the eighties and his book on ‘Da Vinci Code’ a few years ago, where he gives a theological response to journalism with half-truths, are worth mentioning here. Fifth, he has taken keen interest on equal rights and dignity to women in the Church as well as in the society. In the context of widespread discrimination against women in the Church and society he published a six-volume work titled: ‘In praise of the woman’. Sixth, he holds on to the sacredness of life in all its forms and he has published books on topics like abortion, euthanasia, etc. Seventh, we find in his writings a harmonious blending of the traditional wisdom with its emphasis on fundamental Christian values as well as the findings of modern sciences like psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc, as well as the latest fruits of biblical exegesis.
The latest contribution of Dr. Podimattam, which may be acclaimed

The Making of a Masterpiece
The latest contribution of Dr. Podimattam, which may be acclaimed as his masterpiece, is: The Ten Commandments in the Law of Christ, a 20 volume work on the Decalogue. His vast knowledge on the subject gained through painstaking research, his teaching experience in various theological institutes stretching out over four decades and frank discussions with eminent thinkers have gone into this work. These books provide us with a re-interpretation of the commandments keeping in mind the genuine concerns of the people of God and at the same time remaining absolutely loyal to the teaching of Christ – “Christ did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfil them”.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
1 SEXUAL REVOLUTION
1.1. Sexual Revolution Negatively Considered
1.2. Sexual Revolution Positively Considered
2. CRITIQUE OF TRADITIONAL SEXUAL MORALITY
2.1. Excessively Severe
2.2. Of Shaky Credibility
2.3. Productive of Unwarranted Guilt
2.4. Patriarchal in Nature
2.5. Too Clerical
2.6. Not Adapted to the Times
2.7. Act-Centered Rather Than Person-Centered
2.8. Conflicting with Current Catholic Teaching
2.9. Not Dynamic Enough
2.10. Unrealistic
2.11. Affected by the Fallacy of Misplaced Moral Concern
2.12. Leading to Awkward Conclusions
2.13. Resembling Pornography
2.14. Based on Negative Attitude
2.15. Based on Dualism
2.16. Based on Voluntarism
2.17. Based on a Partial View of Sex
2.18. Based on Physicalism
2.19. Based on Superficial Understanding of the Bible
2.20. Based on Over-Exaltation of Chastity
2.21. Based on Flawed Philosophy
3.FACTORS IN THE RENEWAL OF SEXUAL MORALITY
3.1. New Experience of Sex
3.1.1. Sexual Experience as a Source of Sexual Morality
3.1.2. Some Facts Regarding New Experience of Sex
3.1.3. Causes Behind New Experience of Sex Increase in Longevity Social and Economic Factors Possibility of Birth Control Women’s Experience
3.2. New Light from Holy Scriptures
3.2.1. High Appreciation of Sex in the Bible
3.2.2. Place of Chastity in the Scale of Virtues
3.2.3. Pedagogy of the Bible with Regard to Chastity
3.3.New Light from Current Theological Perspectives
3.4.New Light from More Accurate Scientific Information
4. NATURE OF CHASTITY
4.1. An Evaluation of Traditional Understanding of Chastity as Avoidance of Non-Marital Sexual Pleasure
4.1.1. Not in Agreement with Present-day Official Teaching.
4.1.2. Data of Scripture
4.1.3. The Mind of Christ
4.1.4. Opinion of the Churches.
4.1.5. Chastity Needs a More Direct Relationship with Charity
4.1.6. Close Relationship between Chastity and Pleasure
4.1.7. Sexual Pleasure Needs a Moral Determinant
4.1.8. Based on a False Notion of Sex and Sexual Pleasure
4.1.9. Non-Marital Sexual Pleasure Need Not Necessarily be Lust
4.1.10. Married Friendship as the Model of All.
4 1.11. Opinion of Theologians
4 2. An Evaluation of Traditional Understanding of Chastity as Achievement of the Procreative Purpose of Sex .141
4.2.1. Data from the Bible
4.2.2. Data from the Experience of Married People
4.2.3. Married Sex Life is Good in Itself and Does Not Require Procreative Justification.
4.2.4. Sex Is Not Absolutely Necessary for Reproduction
4.2.5. Sterile Marriages Are Real Marriages.
4.2.6. A Series of Marital Acts Is Necessary for Procreation
4.2.7. Not Every Conception Is Procreation
4.2.8. Procreation is Never Automatically Good.
4.2.9. Possibility of Conception and Inclination to Union Are Not Parallel
4.2.10. Based on Lack of Knowledge of Sexual Facts
4.2.11. Based on a Defective Heritage of Philosophy
4.2.12. The Signs of the Times
4.2.13. Traditional Teaching Reflects Male Physical Experience
4.2.14. Presence of Inconsistency
4.2.15. Keeping the Two Dimensions Together in Principle.
4.2.16. Poets Hardly Speak of Procreation
4.3. Contemporary Understanding of Chastity
4.3.1. Relational-Religious Dimension of Sex
4.3.2. Relational-Friendship Dimension of Sex
4.3.3. Reproductive Dimension of Sex
4.3.4. Recreational Dimension of Sex
4.3.5. Primacy of Relational-Religious and Relational-Friendship Dimensions
4.4. Misconceptions Regarding Chastity
5. NORMS OF SEXUAL MORALITY
5.1. Need for Norms
5-2. Sexual Morality and the Norm of Love
5.3. Sexual Morality and the Norm of Truth
5.4. Sexual Morality and the Norm of Human Dignity
5.5. Sexual Morality and the Norm of Personal Integrity
6. PASTORAL ASPECTS OF CHASTITY
6.1. Practical Suggestions for the Practice of Chastity
6.1.1. Difficulty with regard to Clear-cut Concrete Universal Proposals
6.1.2. Show Respect for the Capacity of the Individual to Make Responsible Decisions
6.1.3. Chastity Does Not Come to Us All at Once
6.1.4. How Can We Admit Our Desires and Simply Walk Away from Them
6.1.5. No Room for “Touch Inhibition”
6.2. Helping Youth to Live Out Chastity
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY