Smut: Erotic Reality/Obscene Ideology

by Murray S. Davis

Analyzes the nature of human sexual behavior and examines the different perceptions of reality during ordinary experience and the state of sexual arousal

Genres: Science, Psychology, Sexuality, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Pornography

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Alice Joy Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr Davis should ensure that he understands Christianity before he publishes a book that comments on it.

To correct him: The uncleanness of seminal and vaginal discharge (Leviticus 15:16-17 as quoted by Murray) is not like what we moderns would call 'dirtiness' or something literally unclean in a sense of filthiness. It is a ritual uncleanness. It is not a moral 'grossness' or even physical 'grossness.' It is about access to a holy place. ACCESS. A thing ritually unclean is not a thing necessarily immoral, indeed the process of some ritual processes made one unclean. Murray should understand in practice how ritual, moral, and civil laws were functionally distinct and understood to be distinct by the Israelites who followed them before commenting on them and so incorrectly trying to support his point.

Dummkopf.

[Lance Grabmiller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but mostly pretty flawed. The"identity" conception of why "Jehovanists" disapprove of sex is unconvincing, falling apart entirely when it comes into contact with later "Gnostic" and "Naturalist" viewpoints. Also, the author seems to think there is some vast organization of "Gnostics" and "Naturalists" out there on par with organized "Jehovanist" religious organizations, which is laughable and makes the book more dated than it needs to be. The description of the "Naturalist" viewpoint sticks only to it's most extreme forms, which most of who agree with a "Naturalist" conception of sex would never agree with (whereas all "Jehovanists" agree with the most extreme"Jehovanist" ideologies on sex, even if they disagree how and in what way they should be dealt with). And then there are problems common to similar books on sexual deviations, such as making Pygmalionism (or agalmatophilia) and necrophilia pretty much the same perversion. And do you love all these quotation marks around "Jehovanist," "Gnostic," and "Naturalist?" No? Then it will become just as annoying when you read the book.

When one can read between all the problems, it's a fascinating read.

[Sergej van Middendorp · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one beats Davis when it comes to structure. His beautiful reflexive weaving of content and form is the distinguishing feature of his work, and this book.