Post 60 – Sexuality, Gender, Marriage, and Family as Expressions of the Structure of Being

Building upon the understanding of human relationships as necessary expressions of the eternal structure of being, we now turn to specific aspects of this reality: sexuality, gender, marriage, and family. In contemporary discourse, these elements are often viewed as fluid constructs, shaped by personal choice and cultural influence. A key aspect of this perspective is the claim that sexuality is biological while gender is a cultural construct, making gender an open field for individual and societal reshaping. This modern dualism stands in stark contrast to the metaphysical framework of the Structure of Being, which posits that the fundamental nature of existence, including sexuality and gender, is eternal, unchanging, and necessary.

The Eternal Unity of Sexuality and Gender

Modern thought frequently separates sexuality and gender, treating the former as biological and the latter as socially constructed. However, this distinction assumes that nature is contingent rather than an expression of eternal necessity. From the standpoint of the Structure of Being, such dualism is an illusion, introducing an artificial division between necessity and social construction.

Sexuality and gender are not independent variables but unified expressions of being. Biology is not a contingent feature but an intrinsic part of the eternal order, manifesting in the differentiation of sex organs, reproductive functions, and hormonal structures. These aspects of human nature are not accidental but necessary manifestations of what eternally is. Likewise, gender is not an arbitrary cultural construct but the necessary appearing of the eternal structure of sexuality within human experience. While cultures may articulate gender in varied ways, these articulations do not alter its essential, unchanging nature. The belief that gender can be detached from sexuality rests upon an assumption of becoming, contradicting the eternal truth of being.

The Nihilistic Roots of Malleability

The idea that human nature, including sexuality and gender, is entirely malleable and subject to individual will is deeply tied to the nihilistic tendencies of contemporary thought. Nihilism, which denies inherent meaning and necessity, finds expression in the belief that everything is fluid, transient, and ultimately without structure. This view holds that nothing is fixed and everything can change according to human will or societal trends.

In this context, the rejection of unchanging truths, including the unity of sexuality and gender, reflects a deeper nihilistic belief that existence itself lacks necessity. When these realities are viewed as separate and malleable, they become subject to the transient forces of culture and politics, leaving individuals adrift in a sea of change. This perspective aligns with the concept of “becoming,” where everything is in flux and nothing is stable or eternal.

However, from the standpoint of the Structure of Being, this emphasis on malleability is misguided. The eternal nature of being is not one of becoming, but one of appearing—what exists is eternal and necessary, and it does not change or become something else. Sexuality and gender, therefore, are not subject to transformation; they are expressions of the eternal truth of being. To view them as malleable or separate is to misunderstand their true nature and, by extension, the nature of existence itself.

Marriage and Family: Expressions of the Relational Nature of Being

The belief in malleability extends beyond sexuality and gender to the institutions of marriage and family. In contemporary society, marriage is often viewed as a flexible arrangement, subject to personal desires or cultural shifts. The family unit, too, is seen as a construct that can take on various forms and functions according to societal needs.

However, from the perspective of the Structure of Being, marriage and family are not arbitrary institutions, nor are they subject to cultural fluctuations or individual will. Rather, they are necessary expressions of the eternal structure of being, reflecting the unity and relational nature of existence itself. Marriage is not merely a social contract but a reflection of the necessary union of being. Family, too, is not a transient arrangement but a manifestation of the eternal, unchanging bonds that underlie human existence.

The relational nature of being itself provides the foundation for this necessity. No entity appears in isolation; every being is interwoven within the eternal web of relations. Marriage and family express this intrinsic relationality—marriage as the necessary unity of beings and family as the structure in which the continuity of being manifests. This necessity does not mean that every individual is required to marry or have children, but rather that marriage and family, as structures, are unavoidable expressions of the fundamental interconnectedness of existence. Their various historical forms do not undermine their eternal nature but rather reveal different ways in which their necessity appears.

The diversity of family structures or marital forms does not negate the necessity or eternal nature of these relationships. Instead, it highlights the different ways in which the eternal truth of being is expressed through human relationships. Whether a family is traditional or non-traditional, it is still a necessary structure that reflects the deeper, unchanging nature of existence.

The Implications for Contemporary Thought

The contemporary obsession with the malleability of nature—whether in sexuality, gender, marriage, or family—arises from a deeper philosophical crisis: the erosion of meaning in a world increasingly shaped by nihilism. When we reject the idea that there are inherent, necessary structures in nature, we open ourselves to a worldview where everything becomes contingent upon human will and societal influence. This view, rooted in the concept of becoming, leaves us without firm ground to stand on, adrift in a sea of change and uncertainty.

By reconnecting sexuality, gender, marriage, and family with their eternal and necessary nature, we offer a more stable, meaningful understanding of these aspects of human life. They are not arbitrary constructs but necessary expressions of the eternal structure of being. In doing so, we recover a sense of purpose and meaning in a world that often seems to lack both.

Conclusion

Sexuality, gender, marriage, and family, when viewed through the lens of the Structure of Being, are revealed not as mutable, transient constructs but as eternal, necessary expressions of the truth of existence. The contemporary separation of sexuality and gender is a symptom of the broader tendency to sever the necessary from the contingent, replacing the eternal with the fleeting. Marriage and family, in turn, express the fundamental relational nature of being itself, affirming the necessity of unity and continuity.

By grounding these aspects of human life in the unchanging nature of being, we gain a deeper understanding of their role in our lives and challenge the nihilistic worldview that sees all things as fluid and malleable. In this way, we rediscover the inherent meaning and stability that underpins our existence, finding in the eternal Structure of Being a source of truth, unity, and purpose.