Sex Worship has prevailed among all peoples of ancient times, sometimes
contemporaneous and often mixed with Star, Serpent, and Tree Worship.
The powers of nature were sexualised and endowed with the same feelings,
passions, and performing the same functions as human beings.
Among the ancients, whether the Sun, the Serpent, or the Phallic Emblem
was worshipped, the idea was the same—the veneration of the generative
principle. Thus we find a close relationship between the various
mythologies of the ancient nations, and by a comparison of the creeds,
ideas, and symbols, can see that they spring from the same source,
namely, the worship of the forces and operations of nature, the original
of which was doubtless Sun worship. It is not necessary to prove that in
primitive times the Sun must have been worshipped under various names,
and venerated as the Creator, Light, Source of Life, and the Giver of
Food.
In the earliest times the worship of the generative power was of the
most simple and pure character, rude in manner, primitive in form, pure
in idea, the homage of man to the supreme power, the Author of life.
Afterwards the worship became more depraved, a religion of feeling,
sensuous bliss, corrupted by a priesthood who were not slow to take
advantage of this state of affairs, and inculcated with it profligate
and mysterious ceremonies, union of gods with women, religious
prostitution and other degrading rites. Thus it was not long before the
emblems lost their pure and simple meaning and became licentious statues
and debased objects.
Hence we have the depraved ceremonies at the worship of Bacchus, who
became, not only the representative of the creative power, but the God
of pleasure and licentiousness.
The corrupted religion always found eager votaries, willing to be
captives to a pleasant bondage by the impulse of physical bliss, as was
the case in India and Egypt, and among the Phœnicians, Babylonians, Jews
and other nations.
Sex worship once personified became the supreme and governing deity,
enthroned as the ruling God over all; dissent therefrom was impious and
punished. The priests of the worship compelled obedience; monarchs
complied to the prevailing faith and became willing devotees to the
shrines of Isis and Venus on the one hand, and of Bacchus and Priapus on
the other, by appealing to the most animating passion of nature.