How to Resist Temptation

I moved to a new house a couple of weeks ago. When I was packing my clothes, books, and diary in the course of moving, I found a past article in my diary. The article was written about 6 to 7 years ago. Even though it was written that long ago, I was clearly reminded of my past psychological torture.

The title of the article was “Negative Aspects of a Condom.” The logic of the article was the following.

The invention of the condom has brought certain merits to human beings. The condom plays a central role in decreasing opportunities for unwanted pregnancy as well as preventing the spread of venereal diseases such as HIV.

However, I cannot neglect the negative aspects of the invention of the condom. One of the worst impacts is the propagation of psychological tortures arising from safety sex.

If there were no condoms, and society were to have an equivalent scientific and medical knowledge to our modern world, we would hesitate to make love, even with our beloved one. For example, our scientific knowledge would tell us that infection of venereal diseases and unwanted pregnancies result from making love. These facts would cause fear in people, and the fear would become a driving force for people to feel hesitant about sex.

However, we have invented the condom, and a condom can prevent the disease and unwanted pregnancy. In this respect, we could sweep away the fear. Accordingly, we can make love safely. This is good for people. Thus, the developed world and international agencies such as the World Health Organization promote condoms for all the people who need it.

However, I sense one negative impact originating from the invention of a condom. The condom has deprived us of the fear to resist temptation to make love. Premarital sex accompanies psychological tortures. Young couples have no other choice but to resist premarital sex, not out of a fear, but out of their own morality and patience. However, generally speaking, since morality and patience are not enough to prevent the desire for sex, young couples are easily trapped in a sex life. Premarital sex life produces complex emotions, which are not easily solved.

Human beings are weak. Thus, we are always in invisible fear of something. If one of the fears is wiped out, we will feel a strong gravitation toward the absence of the fear.