Sex & God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality

By: Darrel Ray ED.D.

Narrated by: Dr. Darrel Ray

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Why are all the major religions consumed with sex? What makes sex so important, whether Buddhism or Islam, Christianity or Mormonism? What is the impact of religion on human sexuality? This book explores this and more. It ventures into territory that has never been examined. You will be surprised at how much religion has influenced your sexuality, who you marry, the pleasure you get or don't get from sex, and what you can do about it.

©2012 Dr. Darrel Ray (P)2013 Dr. Darrel Ray

life changing!

this was a very thought provoking book, a must read! I highly recommend this book!

Dr. Darrel Ray's Masterpiece.

If you could sum up Sex & God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality in three words, what would they be?

Courageous, intelligent, and poignant.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Even though there's no real "characters" as this is an expose, all of the patients Darrel draws off are all poignant, moving and equally worthy of attention.

What about Darrel Ray’s performance did you like?

His relaxed and calm readings and clear and lucid explanation of terms and concepts. He's extremely friendly and warm and sounds like the most fun professor to sit with.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Dr. Darrel Ray's examination of patriarchal psychology in Chapter 16 and 17. His examination of how guilt plays directly into the minds and boys and girls at a young age and his clear breakdown of the sexual shame and indoctrination pounded into children was shocking and powerful, especially since as a former Pentecostal Christian-turned-atheist myself, made me tear up because it immediately made me recall how my sexual thought and urges were made to be shamed constantly. His examination of the role slavery and brutality played into shaming black slaves into Christianity was also deeply moving.

Any additional comments?

This book is truly a must-have. Believers and nonbelievers alike will learn things they'd never though were possible. We truly have no idea just how deep down the rabbit hole awful religious programming has dragged us into. Darrel Ray's research is incomparable and truly enlightening. You will never again think the same way about your body, your biology, your society, and religion after reading and listening to this book from beginning to end. I'm determined to share this with everyone I know.

The Title should be "Sex and Religion"

What did you like best about Sex & God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality? What did you like least?

The tactics established religions use to control people and their sexuality and why are well described; but to name religion a disease, which infects like a virus is somehow exaggerated. The jewish-christian-moslem patriarchal "god" and its negative influence on people especially women are described in detail. I assume "god" equals an established church for Mr. Ray, which it does not do for me. Mr. Ray seems to neglect, we humans need spirituality as much as we need sexuality. The churches distort not only sexuality, but spirituality as well. Churches created a distorted concept of "god" in order to serve their political goals. The have more to do with power, property, control of people than with reconnecting to the creative power behind and within all things.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The tactics and strategies established churches employ to bind and control people are well explained. Examples of people suffering under the sexual dogma of churches are compelling.

What three words best describe Darrel Ray’s voice?

He is reading.

Do you think Sex & God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

To explore how and why the concept of "god" in the established churches was created and how and to what purpose it is used in comparison to non-established religions would be interesting.

Horrible narration ruins it

Content isn’t too bad but the narration by the author is awful. Mispronunciations, weird voice inflections, and a juvenile derisive tone when the author is reading about religious ideas he finds foolish or repressive. I likely don’t disagree with his opinions but it’s unprofessional and very hard to keep listening. Almost gave up on it multiple times. It’s probably better if you read it for yourself.

Great Information, Bad Audio quality

This should have been recorded more professionally. It sounds like Darrel Ray has his mic submerged in water while he is reading. Very unfortunate, because this is such a great book. A bit disappointing to say the least.

Encouraging New View

I recently saw Dr. Darrel Ray on the YouTube channel YFNATHEIST. I adored him right away. after a little diving into his lectures and looking into Rcovery from Religion I knew I needed his books.
So many hard truths and things I had not even considered in my recovery process were exposed. I am very grateful for this new look into life.

well done book....good research

a breath of fresh air after being religious for 30 years. i recommend it to everyonr

Liked this book

I loked this book , it was a very good book and it tought me many new thing , I leanred the difference between sex maps and how religion use shame and guilt to control people , l appreciate this book.

Spot on!

Love the information, I learned so much about myself and others! Again more proof that religions' days are about over :):):) thanks science!!!

A well thought look at how religion affects sex

I enjoyed the boom very much. There are a lot of scientific and statistical facts presented in an easy to understand format. The author also provides his own personal experiences and subjective views as well as giving examples from the many surveys he conducted while working on this project. The author was also the narrator and it was easy to hear scorn and contempt in his voice when he was speaking of a particular religion in general. I think that could have been managed better with a different narrator; otherwise, a lot of really great information. I am a Christian later in life, and I was negatively sexually affected by a non-Christian person as a child that left me with deep sexual wounds not at all connected to a church or religion, but connected to sexually charged, curious and abusive men. In my own personal experience faith has provided a safe way for me to explore and enjoy my sexuality in ways that I never had under the abuse and oppression that I faced in the godless culture that I lived in before. As much as the author has points supporting his anti-religion argument, I would have liked to see more information and research on people like me, who found better, more liberating sex after finding faith.