Another perspective on Religion and sexuality

[lovinher]

The only thing I believe is nobody knows a thing. Other than that, I'm staying out of this one.

[intuition897]

Lovinher...I couldn't agree more!

Originally Posted by Chicup

So please keep your smarm on this one to yourself, I feel sorry for religious people, I don't enjoy making them squirm but I think we would all be better off if we dropped our respective mythologies and that requires some squirming.

Dude...who's squirming?
Feel sorry for me/us if you like. I'll take my delusions any day over, what would be for me, a hopeless, empty, meaningless existence. I'm sorry if my beliefs make you uncomfortable, but I'm truly not hurting anyone with them. If we were talking about swinging on another forum, your arguments would be the ones who swear that swinging will be the ruination of marriages everywhere, and the downfall of mankind. Lots of blind, stupid, cowardly, fearful people out there using religion as a crutch and a shield to hide behind. I share your contempt for them. I'm just saying that, just like there are swingers who are in the lifestyle for the right reasons as well as those who are in it for the wrong reason, not all people who believe in God are alike because they happen to believe in the same God.

Originally Posted by Spoomonkey

Are you prepared to drop yours?

I would assume that by "mythologies" you mean that which you can not prove, but accept by some measure of faith. In which case, we are all in the same boat - with your mythologies no better than anyone else's.

Atheism is only another form of faith. And if it works for you, gives you some sense of intellectual comfort, I will not put you down for that. But thinking it makes you somehow superior to other people (i.e. you know the "truth" that others seem unable to grasp) is nothing more than reverse fundamentalism.

Spoomonkey

Wow. Well...I can't argue with that logic. Well said, Spoo!

[Ave Satanas]

Wow... This is like alienation waiting to happen...

I got off lucky; I practice a religion that is bases sexuality on whatever the person desires, be it heterosexuality, homosexuality, swinging, asexuality, whatever. Lucky me

[interested-05]

If I were Abraham when he (formed?) religion, I wouldnt have started one that restricted sexuality. It would have required everyone to get undressed, blindfolded, and feel what was going on in the room. Afterall Abraham was married to his sister Sarah.
This leaves me with two other perspectives as to why sexual restraint within religion came into being. One is that somehow something outside of human nature, provided a moral ethical framework, in which humanity could or should be able to work within and provide some guidance for humanity to begin to relate beyond simple animal instinct.
The other is that Human nature being what it is, most people cant deal with among other things,the jealousy issues that frequently come up with swinging. Many people need some sort of guidance as to right and wrong. Religion in its earliest form was an simply a type of government, which provided some sense of order out of chaos. An extended family if you will.
I suppose we could live in a world without restraint, but then that also creates problems. totally free sexuality creates other problems within society, ie. spreading std's, unwanted pregnancy, which modern science hasn't eradicated, even if it has brought major improvements. Before such medical advancements the only restraint on any of this was, religion teaching at least some restraint. You can kick religion for it or you can accept it.
Religion for its failures, is still Human beings being what we are. WE have a tendency to never meet the highest goals of religion, That doesnt mean the goals of true religion are wrong, just humanity in our ultimate nature falls far short of perfection.

[intuition897]

Originally Posted by interested-05

Religion for its failures, is still Human beings being what we are. WE have a tendency to never meet the highest goals of religion, That doesnt mean the goals of true religion are wrong, just humanity in our ultimate nature falls far short of perfection.

I couldn't agree more.