This article broadly discusses the building blocks of sexuality by referring to differences in brain development in the womb, specific genetic factors influencing sex-reversal phenotypes and how they give rise to different sexes and sexual orientations. Gender identity and expression are reviewed, and a practical road map is presented within which religious denominations can responsibly engage with human sexuality, especially same-sex lifestyles, within their spheres of influence. Our concerns, discussions and suggestions about this all-important facet of humanity are based on the intellectual richness and research of numerous scientists over an extended period of time in order to point out the most important building blocks of sexuality. Following a qualitative methodological approach, the article starts with the brain differences between men and women as determined in the womb. It is followed by a discussion of the ‘five sexes’ proposed by Anne Fausto-Sterling, the spectrum of human sexual characteristics and the birth of sexual orientations. The article then looks at bisexuality, gender identity and expression, and before our concluding remarks, at biology and how religion should deal with sexuality, more specifically homosexuality. However, we do not pay attention to animal sexual behaviour, paedophilia, bestiality, gender differences in behaviour and public response to research findings on sexual differentiations in the brain.Contribution: This article is part of a special collection that reflects on the evolutionary building blocks of our past, present and future. It is not only based on historical thought but also contemporary research. It fits well with the intersectional and interdisciplinary nature of this collection and journal.

Peer review declarationThe publisher (AOSIS) endorses the South African 'National Scholarly Book Publishers Forum Best Practice for Peer Review of Scholarly Books'. The manuscript was subjected to a rigorous two-step peer review prior to publication, with the identities of the reviewers not revealed to the author(s). The reviewers were independent of the publisher and/or authors in question. The reviewers commented positively on the scholarly merits of the manuscript and recommended that the manuscript should be published. Where the reviewers recommended revision and/or improvements to the manuscript, the authors responded adequately to such recommendations. Research JustificationThis book reflects academically on important and relevant natural scientific disciplines, important technologies and related media to determine and communicate the moral issues and challenges within those specific fields of study, and how to deal with them morally and from a multidimensional South African context. It aims to add scientific, technological and ethical value, locally and globally, by reflecting mainly from the viewpoint of specific scholars, writing about the most pressing moral issues or challenges raised by problems within their specific field of study. It is written mainly from a qualitative methodological perspective, including autobiographical and participatory views. The co-authors present in respective chapters their research systematically and intersectionally, based on profound theoretical analysis and reasoning. Current research in the basic and implied sciences and technologies requires sound ethical practice based on a defensible moral stance. Moral norms, in our view, are deeply grounded and evolved convictions about justice and injustice, right and wrong, good and bad. It is not about rules. This scholarly book combines the insights and expertise of established South African scholars from different disciplines and backgrounds. The contributors are all deeply committed to the value and validity of science and ethical practice across the moral spectrum. Open and responsible discussions around this topic can lead to the introduction of moral guidelines and regulations to protect the rights of individuals, animals and the environment, while simultaneously facilitating the growth of scientific practice. This collected work, with its very specific and carefully selected grouping of academic fields, aims to innovatively assist in alleviating the shortage of academic publications reflecting on the moral issues in these specific fields. Its target audience includes international scholars, peers, researchers and educators with an interest in the specific fields covered in this volume. As an open access publication, this book is meant to assist in countering the high costs of Western academic publications and directly benefit scholars in Africa. We can confirm that all the chapters are based on original research and that no part of the book was plagiarised from another publication or published elsewhere.

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The origins of agriculture lie in the distant past, approximately 12 000 years ago, when hunter-gatherers of the Palaeolithic embraced sedentism at the dawn of the Neolithic. The variety of life history transitions emanating from this unique phenomenon have had an enormous impact on the biodiversity of the planet, while subjecting humanity to a variety of life-changing physical and social challenges right up to the present. The ever-present consequences of the Agricultural Revolution continue to demand our attention, yet frustrate our efforts, on a seemingly perpetual basis, to effectively manage the outcomes. Here we review the origins and lasting after-effects of the Agricultural Revolution and its impact on the human condition, with reference to sedentism, nutrition, health issues, disease, gender discrimination as well as mythmaking and religion.Contribution: Our aim is to engage a wider audience with respect to the causes and consequences of the Agricultural Revolution. We discuss a broad spectrum of relevant phenomena implicated in this epochal event and consequently underline that the Agricultural Revolution precipitated not only major changes to the ecology of the planet, but also and most importantly to the social and cultural well-being of humanity.

No abstract available.