Sacred Sex: Erotic Writings from the Religions of the World

There is a long history of erotic writing associated with religion. In some cases this takes the form of guidance on sexual activity, in which lovemaking is seen as a divine art. In other cases sexual passions becomes a central element in prayer and religious devotion. This book brings together a wide selection of these writings. In most cases the whole work is printed, in others, there is an abridged version. In each case there is an introduction, putting the work in a historical and religious context. Amongst the works included are the Song of Songs, the Ars Amatoria of Ovid, the Hymn to Attis of Catullus, the writing of Wu Hsien and Su Nu, the Ananga Ranga, Kama Sutra and Koka Shastra, the Song of the Cowherds by Jayadeva, the Love Songs of Vidyapati, The Perfumed Garden of Shaikh Al Nafzaw, The Ring of the Dove by Ibn Hazm, the poems of Sufi masters Hafiz and Sa'di, the writings of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and the correspondence of Charles and Fanny Kingsley.