Faith BDSM & SPANKING (53)

I'm a Christian, with a strong faith, and I think you pose an important question. For me, I spent a lot of my life feeling 'guilty' about a lot of things to do with sex, even vanilla things. However, over recent years, I have realised that my judgment of self was wrong, and was actually quite distructive.

I believe I have 'balance' by enjoying (and celebrating) my BDSM interests and activities but within my own boundaries and limits. For me, my actvities have to be within some sort of commited relationship. I don't think I could 'swing' - but I don't judge those who do.

There are lots of things that our upbringings, social conditioning and religion/faith may consider wrong ... but I actually now think that my God won't have as much of a problem with them as many of society around us. I don't think Jesus would have difficulty with the fact that I enjoy a good spanking. (He might have serious issues with it being given in an abusive, non-consensual situation).

Thoughts, any one else?

I think most people are aware that believers don't tend to sin any less than non believers. What believers do is rationalise their behaviour when it contradicts a religious rule. Cherry picking religious teachings is nothing new for the religious. Making perverse sexuality ok in the eyes of the Lord is a piece of cake to most believers.

I think there may be a slight advantage to being a believer, more things seem 'sinful' and naughty, for those who get off on 'taboo' there is a much wider choice for most religious people.

The stereotypical Catholic girl is a perfect example, fuck like a bunny, then cry with shame at her behaviour and require a cathartic beating to redress the balance. Perfect.

If that love just happens to be displayed by roping your consenting partner to a bed and pouring hot wax all over then, for example... Then it's still love, so it's still in keeping with your faith.

Personally, I'm not sure if I agree with this viewpoint or not. Should make it clear that although someone explained it to me like this, I'm not necessarily endorsing this opinion. Still, it's an interesting point.

Stop asking me if I'm emo.

I find it inconceivable that the criteria for entering the Kingdom of Heaven are 'suppress your sexuality and make yourself miserable', in fact beyond the issues of consent and constancy, I don't imagine that Jesus of Nazareth would have been romotely bothered.

And if there is a God, why in Heaven should He judge people on what they do to get their rocks off? Even if it's not a 'good work' there's not really enough of a victim to make it a bad work; I'd say SM is morally neutral at worst.

What I do find sad is our tendancy to reject the whole of a doctrine just because we dislike one or two aspects of it; I don't like the attitude of some Christians that I should modify my sexual behaviour to fit a very narrow norm, but that doesn't invalidate the principle of 'Love they neighbour as theyself'; similarly, just because I don't believe the walking on water story, doesn't mean that a rich man can get into the Kingdom of God.

It's a 2000 year old book; some of it is going to be nonsense, but that's not a reason to abandon the whole lot.

Night of the Cane will take place on Saturday 30th October at The Factory, Romford. You can book tickets online at http://www.joannalark.com/store/categories/Ticke...

What is now developing is a new moral dimension in which guilt is being replaced with an acceptance and understanding of our individual desires. Whilst many of us now feel comfortable with that I suspect few have reconciled the matter with their spirituality.

No one defines sexual misconduct.... as the person taking the precept is taking it voluntarily, it is up to them to define it, as seriously or as deeply as they wish. It is a personal choice, depending on how deep their Buddhist practice is, and what of it they believe.

I was once present at a conversation between a Buddhist scholar, and a lay person, both relatives, where a question on sex outside of marriage was discussed, and the only thing which would make it an akusala karma, or bad action, would be if people were lied to, or hurt...

So where does bdsm or gay sex come in? If its consensual, if no one is being hurt, then its all good. And in the very conservative society I came from, most of the people who are out as lgbt are Buddhist. The rest are atheists.

in time take time when time doth last, for time is no time when time is past.

Edited 19 Oct 10, 3:00 PM by alpinehappyfly

Guilt still there, just shifted from sex to the environment.

Not just churches that play the guilt card to manipulate us.

I suppose I admit to a form of hypocrisy here being a fully paid up atheist I would take joy in others suffering from religious guilt and wanting it purged through pain......but I do and don't fell guilty about it!

Not so sure there's much acceptance and understanding in that argument.

All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.