Sex is the mysticism of materialism and the only possible

"Sex is the mysticism of materialism and the only possible religion in a materialistic society." These words, spoken by Malcolm Muggeridge, pierce the veil of our modern world with a clarity that cannot be ignored. In them, he speaks of an age where the pursuit of the physical—where materialism reigns supreme—has displaced the search for deeper, more spiritual truths. Sex, in this context, is not merely a biological act but has become a form of transcendence in a society that has lost touch with higher ideals. It is the only avenue left for many to experience mysticism, to reach for something greater than themselves in an age defined by the tangible and the immediate.

At the core of Muggeridge's observation lies the idea that in a materialistic world, where everything is measured by its physical utility and its connection to wealth or pleasure, the sacred has been replaced by the profane. In ancient times, mysticism was found in the pursuit of wisdom, in spiritual rituals that connected man to the divine. Philosophers like Plato sought the divine through the pursuit of knowledge and the contemplation of the heavens. Religion was a bridge to something greater than the self, a force that transcended the physical world and opened the soul to the eternal. But in the world Muggeridge describes, this mysticism has been reduced to the act of sex, an earthly act that promises a fleeting transcendence, a momentary glimpse beyond the physical, only to return to the void of materialism.

The historical example of Rome in its decline serves as a vivid illustration of this transformation. As the empire crumbled, so too did its spiritual foundations. The pursuit of wealth and pleasure became paramount, and the great philosophies of the past gave way to indulgence and excess. Sex—once a natural part of life—became a symbol of power and control, a commodity to be bought and sold, with emperors like Caligula indulging in depravity in an attempt to assert their dominance over the world. In this materialistic culture, the physical body and its pleasures became the highest form of expression, the mysticism of the age. And yet, this search for transcendence through the body led not to fulfillment, but to a deepening sense of emptiness and decay.

Muggeridge’s words point to a modern society where the very idea of the sacred has been lost, replaced by the endless pursuit of pleasure and consumption. Today, advertisements and media preach the message that happiness lies in the material—the new car, the latest fashion, the most thrilling experience. The mysticism once found in the divine has been transferred to the fleeting highs of sexuality, where people seek meaning not through spiritual enlightenment but through temporary satisfaction. The religion of this society, as Muggeridge suggests, is built on these moments of physical ecstasy, but it is ultimately hollow—offering no lasting peace, no lasting truth.

The act of sex in this framework becomes a ritual, a way to transcend the mundane, if only for a moment. It is the only means available to the people of this society to experience something that feels like spiritual awakening—an ecstatic release that, despite being rooted in the physical, promises a glimpse of something beyond. But it is, in truth, an illusion—a mysticism that is grounded in the body, but never truly elevates the soul. This is the tragedy of a materialistic society, where the soul is starved of true meaning and finds only temporary sustenance in the superficial.

So, what lesson must we take from Muggeridge’s sharp observation? It calls us to awaken to the emptiness of our modern pursuit of pleasure and material success. In a world where we are bombarded with images of fleeting ecstasy, we must remember that true fulfillment cannot be found in the physical alone. It is only through the pursuit of spirituality, through the quest for deeper truths and higher ideals, that we can hope to find lasting meaning. The act of sex may offer temporary transcendence, but true mysticism lies not in the body, but in the soul’s connection to the divine and to the greater truths of existence.

Let us, then, heed the call to seek a deeper, more fulfilling path—one that does not rely on the fleeting highs of materialism or the body’s desires. It is the search for wisdom, compassion, and the understanding of our place in the world that will bring us closer to the mystical experiences that Muggeridge points to. And as we walk this path, let us not forget that true transcendence comes not from the indulgence in earthly pleasures, but from the mastery of the self and the pursuit of higher truths that elevate us above the material and into the realms of the eternal.