Includes bibliographical references.

The Magic Years -- Sin as Orientation -- Sexuality and Moral Living -- Fantasy and Act -- Masturbation --Premarital Sexuality.

The last hundred years have seen a slowly growing consensus among psychologist about the fundamental characteristics of Western man. But this common fund of information and insight has not yet been adequately confronted and assimilated by the majority of moral theologians. The authors' purpose is to show, in one vital area of human activity, how this relatively new knowledge about man can be fruitful and recreative both for self-understanding and for understanding others. They first outline this developmental process; then show its consequences for an older act-oriented morality, and the necessity as well as the reasonableness of an emphasis on general moral orientation. They do this through a orientation. They do this through a reconsideration of canon law and the and the age of reason, and the nature of sin as distinct from serious moral evil. This is followed by detailed analyses , from this developmental point of view, of morality and culture, fantasy, masturbation, and problems of pre-marital sex. The authors establish a realistic, adult and mature position from which anyone can consider the various aspects of the problem of sexuality.