The power of ideas to do great good and great evil

On badscience.net Ben Goldacre says "there is something awe-inspiring about the power of ideas alone to do great good, and great evil". Very true.
A good example is the ancient linking of sex with shame and guilt which goes back to at least to the 4th century. Augustine of Hippo, a famous philosopher and theologian, wrote some of the most influential material on the subject. Reading his work, one is struck at how mentally tortured he was. He wrestled with his emotions, sexual feelings, hunger etc. and arrived at conclusions that by modern standards would give the impression of severe mental illness. The sad part though, is that his ideas have formed part of the social norms we still see across the western world and further. As a result of the acceptance of his ideas, women were seen as temptresses, sex as the source of shame and even that enjoyment of life for itself as being wrong. This has translated to the current position whereby legislation is required to force people not to treat woman as second class, legislation yet to be effective. Sex is seen as shameful by many and has linked simple nudity with temptation and sin. Even non-religious people follow these ideas, ignorant they are following the teachings of a tortured man from the 4th century
Eating was a "dangerous pleasure", sex only for reproduction, enjoyment for itself equalled sin. In chapter 31 of his Confessions, Augustine wrote "This hast Thou taught me, that I should set myself to take food as physic. But while I am passing from the discomfort of emptiness to the content of replenishing, in the very passage the snare of concupiscence* besets me. For that passing, is pleasure, nor is there any other way to pass thither, whither we needs must pass. And health being the cause of eating and drinking, there joineth itself as an attendant a dangerous pleasure, which mostly endeavours to go before it, so that I may for her sake do what I say I do, or wish to do, for health's sake. Nor have each the same measure; for what is enough for health, is too little for pleasure. And oft it is uncertain, whether it be the necessary care of the body which is yet asking for sustenance, or whether a voluptuous deceivableness of greediness is proffering its services. In this uncertainty the unhappy soul rejoiceth, and therein prepares an excuse to shield itself, glad that it appeareth not what sufficeth for the moderation of health, that under the cloak of health, it may disguise the matter of gratification. These temptations I daily endeavour to resist, and I call on Thy right hand, and to Thee do I refer my perplexities; because I have as yet no settled counsel herein."
*Catholics use the term concupiscence to mean "a desire of the lower appetite contrary to reason", whereas Protestants take it to mean "the innate tendency of human beings to do evil." So in using the word, Augustine takes hunger and sexual desire as conforming to either or both of these meanings.
The most chilling aspect of the sex ashamed legacy of Augustine is well described in Ben Goldacre's piece. Millions die as a result of the Augustinian beliefs.
Naturism reduces shame, it can only be a force for good.