This question is as old as the world’s most ancient profession. Around 70 A.D. the Roman army burst into Jerusalem, swinging the Temple of Jerusalem into an orgy of destruction. So what does Rome have to do with Jerusalem?
Rome was a world power with its genius for conquest and distant administration. Jerusalem was a spiritual and cultural center of a small state (sometimes two) with no aspiration to bend other lands to its will.
Roman sexual morality and family law were remarkably liberal and pragmatic. Law and custom entrenched the privileges of aristocrats: free men over slaves, and men over women.
In Jerusalem, Jewish law had its roots in Abrahamic spirituality. It was far more autocratic and conservative in its attitude to sexual mores, believing the highest source of legislation was divinely ordained.
The debate between these views carried forward for more than 2000 years. Societies continue to struggle with the issue -- how liberal to be. Prostitution has created a wide spectrum of rules and laws around the world.
On the one hand, t is punishable by death in some Muslim countries. In those countries, usually with great deference to their tribal traditions, the debate over whether to legalize prostitution has no space to develop.
In other countries, prostitution is a legitimate business activity with unionized industry workers. A UN convention was adopted in 1949 and 89 countries signed up to declare that forced prostitution was incompatible with human dignity. The United States, Germany and The Netherlands did not join the convention. In some countries, it is treated as a fact of life. Governments provide heath checks and social services for taxpaying prostitutes.
Even in traditional societies like Iran and India, however, social taboos are gradually being relaxed. It is not unusual to see an investigation of underground sexual activity or stories of “temporary marriages” in an Iranian newspaper or a serialized television program. Unlike 20 years ago, Indian movies also engage sex more liberally in their movies.
This is due in part to great communication across country borders, and exposure of these societies to suggestive, sexual behaviour in Western advertising and pop culture.
American pop culture, like Rome in bygone years, has practically conquered the world. But the message is not entirely clear. Does American society tends to be more liberal, like Romans, or does it fall back on strict codes of religious values of 2000 years ago?
Prostitution exists in just about every society. More tolerant societies tend to look beyond the matter to deal with more modern topics. Zealots that are stuck on the past make a big issue out of an ancient practice.
After 2000 years, the children of Abraham have not been able to reconcile their differences as they stick to their perceived revelations. So this debate, among others, will continue.
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