- No Recommendations yet - go add some!
- From a Christian POV: G_d gave us these bodies, with which to experience the world: if all parts of G_d's created world are perfect, then all manifestations of goodness within it are also perfect. The 'evil' unleashed by the "fruit of the tree of knowledge" is not simply 'pain and suffering' but misunderstanding, fear of the unknown, and heartache / lack of love. Jesus made no mention of sexual practice in his preachings? Why do we seek to add them? "fear of the unknown" ... at the root of all prejudice. Every bit of caring we provide to one another (or fail to provide) reflects both our own personal attractions and our willingness to go past what we already know. Our bodies are partly meant for work - to be able to feed ourselves and our children - AND our neighbors. Our bodies are partly meant for pleasure - or we would not have evolved that way, in G_d's great plan for the world and the universe. Some of the pleasure is procreative, and some is practical, and some simply adds to the goodness that _can_ be in the world ... and that is irrespective of who provides it to whom.
As for marriage ... as Jesus said, it is irrelevant in heaven ... it is a human institution to keep track of humans and to ensure for child welfare. Historically, this has been defined as between a male and female of consenting age. Historically, it has been used (and still is used thus - read HALF THE SKY) to subjugate a lot of people, in particular women. In biblical times, slavery had nothing to do with the color of one's skin. As a practical thing, useful for the welfare of a society, marriage can be defined however humans feel it would be useful. And it is _not_ a step toward "Sodom and Gomorrah" (cities of dominance and subjugation, for far more reasons than "sex") ... but rather, a step "back to the garden" ... back to where we can see each other with new eyes and a new heart.
- My sister (younger) and I are worlds apart, always have been, haven't talked to her in 6 years, since I took Dad's checkbook away, when she was stealing from our folks. She didn't even come to her parents' funerals. Despite her learning problems growing up, she's more properly labeled as Aspbergers, and is probably a closet sociopath. Won't get help either. I am 400 miles away from her, but am always a little in fear she'll just "show up" and I'll have to deal with her. Not fun.
