What good are church teachings on Sex?

[blackout]

For obvious reasons,
I saved this excerpt from a chat with Phil.

UltraViolet 2:38 am: you know what I realized today?
Sunstone 2:39 am: nope
UltraViolet 2:39 am: the church didn't keep me from "having sex"
Sunstone 2:39 am: It seldom does
UltraViolet 2:39 am: but it kept me from knowing myself.
Sunstone 2:39 am: Brilliant!!!
UltraViolet 2:39 am: which kept me from ENJOYING sex.
Sunstone 2:39 am: You should post a thread on that
Sunstone 2:40 am: You really should
UltraViolet 2:40 am: yes?
UltraViolet 2:40 am: what should I call it?
Sunstone 2:40 am: yes! That's a brilliant observation
Sunstone 2:40 am: What good are church teachings on sex?
Sunstone 2:41 am: Just say exactly what you said to me -- and not much more
Sunstone 2:41 am: Add only this line : Does anyone else feel this way too? Why or why not?

So here it is...

You know what I realized recently?
The Church didn't keep me from "having sex",
but it kept me from KNOWING MYSELF,
which kept me from ENJOYING sex.

Does anyone else feel this way too?
Why, or why not?

 

[+Xausted]

For obvious reasons,
I saved this excerpt from a chat with Phil.

UltraViolet 2:38 am: you know what I realized today?
Sunstone 2:39 am: nope
UltraViolet 2:39 am: the church didn't keep me from "having sex"
Sunstone 2:39 am: It seldom does
UltraViolet 2:39 am: but it kept me from knowing myself.
Sunstone 2:39 am: Brilliant!!!
UltraViolet 2:39 am: which kept me from ENJOYING sex.
Sunstone 2:39 am: You should post a thread on that
Sunstone 2:40 am: You really should
UltraViolet 2:40 am: yes?
UltraViolet 2:40 am: what should I call it?
Sunstone 2:40 am: yes! That's a brilliant observation
Sunstone 2:40 am: What good are church teachings on sex?
Sunstone 2:41 am: Just say exactly what you said to me -- and not much more
Sunstone 2:41 am: Add only this line : Does anyone else feel this way too? Why or why not?

So here it is...

You know what I realized recently?
The Church didn't keep me from "having sex",
but it kept me from KNOWING MYSELF,
which kept me from ENJOYING sex.

Does anyone else feel this way too?
Why, or why not?

i think there is a fundamental fear of sex in the west. we are taught by the church and state that it is a lower base instinct and we are too intellectual for those base emotions in society. we loose how to feel, how to be physical beings in this world.
go back in time to some of the eastern religions, then there is an emphasis on the beauty of the mind AND body...sex was to be celebrated not feared, to be enjoyed not tolerated/avoided.
i grew up a strict pentacostal and it was having sex that forced me to evalulate my beliefs and subsequently leave...i would not be a hypocrite and feel guilty. so i left , and had fun!!!!!!and never looked back

 

[zenzero]

Friend Ultraviolet,
None kept anyone from doing anything.
The root is your own mind which is the satan which makes you do or not do and provides you with reasons that you just gave.
Get real.
Drop that mind.
then live in eden doing everything you like iuncluding sex.
Love & rgds

 

[Dunemeister]

Are you saying that by preaching against extramarital sex (the church doesn't say not to have sex at all, it says to avoid sex outside the bonds of heterosexual marriage), the church kept you from knowing yourself? If so, please explain a bit because it seems odd to me that one implies or results in the other. If not, how exactly did the church prevent you from knowing yourself? Because that seems odd to me too.

 

[tomspug]

The problem is that the church has historically put too much value on singleness and not enough value on sex. While the Bible doesn't talk about sex much, it talks about marriage a lot. Since the two are basically one and the same (as in, sex is REAL marriage, as opposed to a formal ceremony), the Bible actually places a high value on sex.

There's a good book called The Act of Marriage that does a good job of unifying sex and a relationship with Christ. It's worth a look, in my opinion, even if you're not a Christian.

 

[Father Heathen]

Are you saying that by preaching against extramarital sex (the church doesn't say not to have sex at all, it says to avoid sex outside the bonds of heterosexual marriage), the church kept you from knowing yourself? If so, please explain a bit because it seems odd to me that one implies or results in the other. If not, how exactly did the church prevent you from knowing yourself? Because that seems odd to me too.

Many churches also teach that masturbation and oral/anal sex is sinful and forbidden, and that sex is strictly for procreation only.

 

[Starfish]

Sex is for two purposes. To procreate, and to strengthen the bonds of marriage.
If the Bible didn't put enough emphasis on it, then we certainly are making up for that today.

 

[Father Heathen]

Sex is for two purposes. To procreate, and to strengthen the bonds of marriage.

 

[Hexaqua_David(II)]

Sex is for two purposes. To procreate, and to strengthen the bonds of marriage.
If the Bible didn't put enough emphasis on it, then we certainly are making up for that today.

From the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (bows): "If I didn't want it to feel good when you did it I would have added spikes, or something". Sex comes naturally to us, it is one of the most natural and exciting expressions of ourselves there is, and it should not be treated as some activity exclusively for those in a Christian marriage. It is an animal instinct and a basic right. Gosh, think of all those dogs and cats and rabbits living in sin...

 

[Storm]

Is that from the TWoP motivator thread, Father Heathen?

 

[Father Heathen]

Is that from the TWoP motivator thread, Father Heathen?

Nope. I've seen it before on the net, so I googled it up.

 

[tomspug]

Sex is for two purposes. To procreate, and to strengthen the bonds of marriage.
If the Bible didn't put enough emphasis on it, then we certainly are making up for that today.

I'm not saying your wrong, but there would be no desire to procreate OR strengthen the bonds of marriage without love. You make sex sound like a tool. No, it is no more a tool than a kiss or a hug.

Procreation and increase in the bonds of marriage are RESULTS of sex, but sex's purpose is NOT the result. Sex is an expression, either a positive or a negative one (depending on the intentions behind it). And I think that sex only achieves its real purpose if the expression is honest and positive.

 

[Starfish]

From the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (bows): "If I didn't want it to feel good when you did it I would have added spikes, or something". Sex comes naturally to us, it is one of the most natural and exciting expressions of ourselves there is, and it should not be treated as some activity exclusively for those in a Christian marriage. It is an animal instinct and a basic right. Gosh, think of all those dogs and cats and rabbits living in sin...

1. I never specified Christian marriage.
2. We are expected to live at a higher level than animals.
3. God gave sex to us with boundaries. Using it properly brings great joy, and blessings. With it, came a great responsibility. We are not to misuse it or degrade it.
Scoff if you like. It's true.

 

[Father Heathen]

I don't see how life long monogamy and archaic ritual has to be a prerequisite for matters of love and lust. It might work for a lot of people, but not everyone. And what about people who can't afford children, can't/shouldn't bare children for medical reasons, or simply don't want to have any children? Why should they have to repress their libido?

 

[Starfish]

I don't see how life long monogamy and archaic ritual has to be a prerequisite for matters of love and lust. It might work for a lot of people, but not everyone. And what about people who can't afford children, can't/shouldn't bare children for medical reasons, or simply don't want to have any children? Why should they have to repress their libido?

Like I said, there are two purposes for sex. Part of strengthening the bonds on marriage, is expressing love for your spouse.

 

[Azakel]

Like I said, there are two purposes for sex. Part of strengthening the bonds on marriage, is expressing love for your spouse.

Nope there a thread reason for sex. It just must don't know what it is.........

 

[sandandfoam]

The knowledge we have of the sexual activities of some church teachers (including some supposed celibates) provides us with a context within which to evaluate their teaching.

 

[Father Heathen]

Like I said, there are two purposes for sex. Part of strengthening the bonds on marriage, is expressing love for your spouse.

I know what you said. I'm asking why.

 

[Starfish]

I know what you said. I'm asking why.

Sorry, I thought I answered you. If married, there's no need to repress one's libido. Express your love to your spouse. Sex isn't just for bearing children.

 

[Hexaqua_David(II)]

Sorry, I thought I answered you. If married, there's no need to repress one's libido. Express your love to your spouse. Sex isn't just for bearing children.

I'm not sure I fully understand your viewpoint. Why is there any need to repress your libido if you are not married but in a loving, committed relationship with a person you'd do anything for?