Pedophilia

A pedophile (From the greek paidos, meaning child, and philia, meaning love) or paedophile (non-US spelling) is a person who is sexually attracted to young children. The word was first coined by the German sexologist and physician Richard Krafft-Ebing. In his monograph Psychopatia Sexualis, published in 1886, he defined pedophilia as a psychosexual perversion, open to cure. Currently, it is believed to be based on divergence of personality, caused by psychological damage in early childhood.

Pedophilia in History

In ancient history and even into more modern history, the idea of pedophilia being a sin or immoral was up to the cultures that people lived in. More so, the act being a crime is mostly a modern event, as we see influentual figures such as Saint Augustine (354–430), Muhammad (570–632), and Gandhi (1869–1948) publicly enjoying the company of children. Though some speculate if they actively molested or sought sexual pleasure from them. As for cultures, none are more known about their child-adult relations than the Greeks.

During the age of Classical Greece, relations between a man and a young boy was seen as part of their education. It wasn't until the poet Ovid and the philosopher Plutarch argued that such a relationship was not fulfilling for the adult, since the boy, due to his inferior social status, was not allowed to express his own desire. They stated that this devaluated the joy of his adult partner and so men were better served by having sexual relations with women.

In Rome, it was seen as perfectly normal for a man to seek company with young men. However, it was illegal for young boys to be penetrated by the adults unless they were slaves or freed slaves to their former masters. For slaves, there was no laws to protect them, even from rape. Slowly, it became less of educating the young boys and more about seeking sexual pleasure and it's view in the public eye varied in the centuries. Conservative thinkers condemned it but it was never banned completely.

in pre-modern Islam, pedophilia was believed to be widely practiced. Muhammad is believed to have been a practicing pedophile and in the Quran, though it doesn't clearly sanction to pedophilia there are some verses which clearly allow the practice. "Wallaee Lam Yahidhna" or translated loosely as "Women who have not menstruation" or preteen girls is used when talking about divorcing women. Though Muslims attempt to change the meaning of the phrase, reviewing of the text shows their statements hold little in fact.

In Japan, the practice of shudō (衆道), "the Way of the Young", is very close to the practices spoken of earlier. Though it was widespread, it feel out of practice in the 19th century.

The list goes on but is vacant in areas and cultures were Judaism and Christianity is strong. Although the Holy Books do not directly speak on pedophilia, Scriptures such as "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:10, King James Version) are pointed to by religious leaders as showing God's disapproval of the act. And in ancient Israel and the Hebrews outside of their land, the act is almost nonexistent. Even in Europe, the act doesn't gain any ground until power is taken away from the Church and the Age of Enlightenment came.

Pedophilia as an illness

Pedophilia used to be considered a mental illness, but the APA changed its stance in 1994.

External links

• Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland.

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