Sex-Tech: RIP Human Intimacy

I don't want to repeat similar arguments too much here, as I have made the same basic case in previous articles.

However, I feel a sense of duty to perhaps be a seemingly lone voice in the wilderness about this topic. My more sexually-liberal friends and acquaintances seem to be a lot less perturbed by the phenomenon I have called 'sex-tech.'

The ever-increasing level of technology as it pertains to human sexuality is frightening to me for a few main reasons.

The most obvious one is that modern technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, and it is taking every aspect of human life along for the ride.

Do we even have time to slow down and think about the direction in which we are moving? Perhaps we are simply being pulled along and need to slow down and decide for ourselves which track of life we'd prefer to be on rather than simply falling into the current trends.

Are sex robots, virtual sex programs, and soon-to-be-obsolete internet porn somehow superior to normal, healthy human sexual experiences?

Most people I have spoken to would agree that no technology can replace the reality of human sexuality and the intimacy it creates. However, what we believe or know to be true and what we choose to act upon can often be two different things. The issue is really a lot deeper than people think, but the impact is so important that it warrants a deeper exploration.

I've made the case for the spiritual and emotional importance of sex before. I believe that at the deepest level we are spiritual beings having a human experience. No matter how accurately we can artificially simulate something, our bodies, minds, and souls will always crave the real McCoy of living, breathing human beings that mirror our souls back to us.

If I am able to plug myself into a VR system and experience mind-blowing sexual encounters with the "partner" of my dreams, why does this not equate to the ultimate plateau of human sexual expression?

Similarly, if I diligently save up for the perfect, customized sex robot tailored to all my personal desires why can that never lead to long-term fulfillment and marital bliss?

Simply, because the true, essential nature of the divine human being is absent in these AI imposters of human sexuality.

A hard (metallic) pill to swallow is that our technology will never give us what we truly desire. Not now, not ever. If we want great sex with a great partner, we have to 'earn' our way to that experience by being a good, loving person ourselves.

Great sex with someone we truly love and care about is not talked about as much as it used to be, as it is being seen as an overly conservative or outdated way of thinking. I assert that it is and will remain a foundational aspect of the human experience, no matter how far into distraction we may wander.

Sex-tech is like an aspect of temptation that comes along and says, "You don't need people skills, I can fulfill all of your sexual fantasies if you only surrender to me..."

Young men especially may be susceptible to this type of temptation. Why face through the nervousness of talking to prospective mates when we can just externalize our fantasies in the safety and comfort (zone) of our own bedrooms?

Why face rejection if there are machine-based, artificially intelligent sex 'partners' waiting to service your every need, want, and desire?

The answer is because our souls crave real evolution and the challenge of overcoming personal obstacles, as well as mastering HUMAN relationships. The qualitative difference between working up the courage to ask our prospective soulmate on a date and simply creating a sexual encounter on a whim is like night and day.

The former can contribute to lifelong fulfillment in every area of life. The latter may provide a high threshold of personal pleasure on a temporary basis, but ultimately will leave a person feeling empty and yearning for something deeper.

The biggest issue with this sex-tech movement is that it operates on the assumption that sexuality is somehow separate from other aspects of life. Even when people speak of their "sex lives" it implies a compartmentalized experience that is removed from one's work life, social life, and so on.

The crux of my argument is that we have to see sex as an integrated and holistic part of our experience. Our bodies are temples rather than amusement parks, although there is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying the pleasures of life in a healthy way.

Most people scoff when I warn against the potential pitfalls and temptations of technology that we don't fully understand. I am speaking from my own experience in overcoming pornography addiction, which was hard enough to battle at the time. What will tech-based sex addictions look like 20 years from now? I would rather not find out, but instead warn myself and others ahead of time to say no to the sex-tech and embrace the age-old pursuit of a loving partner.

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