Sex and the Church

[nutshell]

This is classic dualism: "Flesh bad...spirit good." We're not here to rise above our flesh, but to make it what God designed it to be. There is a proper way and an improper way to handle desire. Desire GOOD...desire very good! But to unleash it in rampant dissipation is bad. As people who know ourselves to be God's people, we strive to deport ourselves in a manner consistent with who we were created to be.

I encourage you to read my post again - - obviously I don't consider Flesh bad - - it has it's place and you are right: Desire is good. We just need to act on that desire within the parameters God has set, not man.

 

[sojourner]

I encourage you to read my post again - - obviously I don't consider Flesh bad - - it has it's place and you are right: Desire is good. We just need to act on that desire within the parameters God has set, not man.

Ref. this:

Part of our purpose in this life, IMO, is to rise above the desires of the flesh and give ourselves to the Spirit.

I'm saying that we don't need to rise above the desires of the flesh. They are good! God made them, and God made them good. (That's where you fell into dualism.)
We need to acknowledge, however, that they are gifts of God, and, in acknowledging that, use them properly. It sounds as though you've changed your thinking in this post, away from dualism.

 

[Kungfuzed]

I believe that the purpose and proper use of sex is two-fold:

1. Procreation within marriage.
2. Strengthen the bond between husband and wife (including mutual pleasure).

I believe that religions that prohibit marriage and marital sex are in error.
I believe that anyone who uses sex for anything other than these (i.e. selfish pleasure, etc) pervert its proper use.

I agree that mutual pleasure is always better than selfish pleasure. Just don't make the assumption that marriage is necessary to have mutual pleasure or to have a strong bond.

 

[Polaris]

I agree that mutual pleasure is always better than selfish pleasure. Just don't make the assumption that marriage is necessary to have mutual pleasure or to have a strong bond.

I'm not, I'm making the statement that I believe that marriage is necessary for appropriate sexual relations period.