christian sex morality - history of western impotence

legitimation of sex within christian construct seemingly near-impossible, even within marital institution where sex is permitted for reproductive purposes only and regarded as a "necessary evil".

as augustine says:

"What friend of wisdom and holy joys, who, being married, but knowing, as the apostle says, "how to possess his vessel in santification and honor, not in the disease of desire, as the Gentiles who know not God," would not prefer, if this were possible, to beget children without this lust, so that in this function of begetting offspring the members created for this purpose should not be stimulated by the heat of lust, but should be actuated by his volition, in the same way as his other members serve him for their respective ends?"

from city of god, book 14, CHAP. 16. "OF THE EVIL OF LUST, A WORD WHICH, THOUGH APPLICABLE TO MANY VICES, IS SPECIALLY APPROPRIATED TO SEXUAL UNCLEANNESS"