The book is devoted to the study of the origins of the negative attitude towards human sexuality in the Christian world. The emergence of the tradition of asceticism and celibacy, the promotion of virginity and opposition to the laws of nature - these are the range of issues that are addressed in this book. The study is based on contrasting the Old and New Testaments with each other, as two diametrically opposed traditions: joy and rapture in earthly life, asceticism and denial of earthly existence for the sake of eternal life.