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Your right. It's actually been about a year since I read all the arguments and text associated with it. I couldn't remember if the word "sodomy" was actually listed in the text or it was a stretch. Thanks for correcting me.

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ORIGINAL: dcnovice

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Your right. It's actually been about a year since I read all the arguments and text associated with it. I couldn't remember if the word "sodomy" was actually listed in the text or it was a stretch. Thanks for correcting me.

Glad I could help! The tendency of some folks to use the Sodom story as an antigay text is truly bizarre, imho.

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ORIGINAL: Justme696

oh "god" more to read

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ORIGINAL: IrishMist

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ORIGINAL: takenbyjohnr07

that it is against God to do any BDSM. Does anyone know why? Is it because of the sexual pleasure that they object to or is it something else? Thanks

RELIGIONS are not against BDSM.

PEOPLE are against BDSM.

There's a huge difference.

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ORIGINAL: MissSCD

I don't think the Ten Commandments state thou shalt not commit BDSM.
There are parts some religions have to astain from; however, I have found the mix to work as long as you are true to yourself and your creator.
 
Regards, MissSCD

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ORIGINAL: OmegaG

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ORIGINAL: dcnovice

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Your right. It's actually been about a year since I read all the arguments and text associated with it. I couldn't remember if the word "sodomy" was actually listed in the text or it was a stretch. Thanks for correcting me.

Glad I could help! The tendency of some folks to use the Sodom story as an antigay text is truly bizarre, imho.

They latch on to the passage where the men of the cities ask Lot to send out the visitors so they may know them better.  But there are so many examples of people using the Bible to suit their personal purposes anyway.

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ORIGINAL: OmegaG

What he most objected to was those who followed the letter of the law rather then following the spirit of the law.  He felt that people should know why it was good for them to follow certian practices and the Pharasise(sp) were more interested in dictating protocol for it's own sake.

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ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

This is Darcy.

Ahhh, religion, the one topic that I'm guaranteed to piss somebody or other off with due to the devil's advocate line of questioning that drives the.dark up the wall at times. [:D] (and yet she still loves me [;)])

Personally I think that religion, meaning organised religion, is dangerous, and little more than a ploy to keep the easily-led and gullible financially and emotionally enslaved to the various figureheads that dominate their lives.

Take Catholicism, for example - if everybody is equal in God's eyes, then why does the Vatican remain the richest nation on the planet while it stands idly by and lets its own disciples die of starvation? I am not sure what you are talking about here.

Why does it need all that money, own all those properties, and openly flaunt all of its wealth while across the globe its followers often struggle to give a percentage of their meagre incomes to the church for fear of being looked down upon if they don't? Because most christan organizations will take anyone, regarldless of their income, but all must tithe. Unlike some which will only take you if you are in a certain tax bracket or maintain a higher standard of living.
Why do we do it, because or clergy cannot work. In the last 2000, have their been a few that were motivated by power, or money-- you bet.But the Vatican is the Vatican because it has been there for almost 1000 years. You must admit that is a long time to be building a City, with the best that money can buy. And why shouldn't they live like that, I wish more of our scholar were treated so well, I know a few history professors that could use it. You would be surprised to find out that they do not give for fear of anything, not even Gods disapproval, they give because they are blessed, from Catholics to Shintos an offering must be made.

I openly admit there is much about the Bible and religion in general that I just don't understand (unlike the.dark who is the most knowledgable person I have ever met in relgions and faiths, and often patiently explains to me when my line of questioning becomes muddled and illogical), but I find that by asking what may appear to be incendiary questions at times, that I can learn and try to understand what drives a person's faith.

Now faith itself, that I can believe in (so to speak) - while I am vehemently anti-religion, I do respect faith and a person's individual beliefs, but I also believe that those beliefs should be personal to the individual. By all means come together with like-minded souls to worship, but do you really need to be terrorised by an organisation that keeps you in line (and itself in pocket) by threatening you with eternal damnation if you so much as think of stepping out of line? I liked that line from Dogma, "It is better to have an idea, then a belief."

I know that I don't - I know the difference between right and wrong, I know the difference between good and evil, and if it turns out that there is a God, or some kind of eternal resthome, then I'd like to think that on the whole I've been a good person and will get a nice room with a view. Conversely, if I'm turned away, then I'll just sign up with the army of the damned and party like it's Armageddon. [;)]
There is "Good" and "Bad" in all, both are created by Him, both serve His purpose. The real trial comes when we seek to balance those facet.
Now for those 'difficult' questions.......

If Mary and Joesph were 'married', whether in the conventional sense, or by way of the fact that they merely slept together, and then Mary suddenly becomes pregnant with God's child, without her consent, then does that not make God a rapist? She had a choice, she consented to it. You can not rape the willing.

Or what about an adulterer, thus breaking one of his own commandments? She was betrothed to Joey, not yet married. she gave birth not knowing the touch of a man.
Then again, by smiting various folk then I guess he already broke his 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' commandment, so maybe it's one rule for God, another for the rest of us? Who exactly did he smite? I do not recal a passage where it says God came down and cut him down w/ his sword...now a few plagues or angels on a mission... I don't know my mother always tolod me" I'll take you into this world so I can take you out" maybe it's a creator thing.

Regarding the OP's question about whether BDSM (and the wider issue of pleasure generally) is a sin, then as I understand it God has given us all free will, and therefore (and I'm being slightly cynical here....) surely providing I say my required number of Hail Mary's and finger my rosary in the correct manner (or whatever confessional guilt cleansing works for your particular religion) then I'm forgiven my sins and my place in Heaven is assured? No? (And just how many confessionals are you allowed? Is there a set number after which time you're damned beyond redemption? Or will God forgive you no matter what?) No need to worry, Jesus didn't say anything about BDSM being a sin but after what he went through I'm sure he can not see the attraction to flogging.

The consensus seems to be that Eve was created from Adam, and then they went on to have children. Doesn't this make this relationship somewhat incestuous? It might go a long way to explaining why the human race is so messed up. [;)] 
I would recommend looking into the "Founder Effect".

OK, enough questions, I've probably dug myself a nice deep hole as it is [:D]

Finally, if the above comes across as disrespectful of your particular religion, then I mean no personal offense, and believe that if your personal faith is strong enough then someone like me asking a few dumb questions will merely give you the opportunity to point out the error of my ways.

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ORIGINAL: Dari

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What kind of sick Bastard sets us up to fail, creates a 'forbidden' tree so that He can blame every evil thing, every damnation on His own innocent victims?

An interesting stance, and not really one I'd expect to find on these boards.

The way of thinking of it that has always made sense to me is:  If you believe that God created everything, then everything belongs to him.  And following that, he has the right to decide whether or not we are allowed access to those things he considers his.  If he wants something kept especially for him (like the tree), what right do we have to say him nay?

In the Biblical account (focusing on the good as you say), he gave them everything in the garden - all the trees, fruits, everywhere to live.  He gave them a purpose, and a goal, and everything they needed to be satisfied and taken care of, and he kept only one tree, out of the entire garden/earth, especially to himself.  And that makes him a "sick Bastard" who "sets us up to fail" in your estimation?  And it's not like you're alone in this opinion either.  But here's a story for you.

A sub comes to the board and posts in one of the forums, and tells the following tale:

"My Master is awesome.  I am absolutely secure, I know that he loves me, and I am provided for in every way.  He cares for my physical and emotional needs, and makes sure I have lots to keep me busy and entertained.  He's good about pushing me to grow as a person, and I know he really cares.  My problem is - he has this box that he keeps in the house, and I'm not allowed to open it.  I don't know what's inside, though he said what's in there is dangerous.  He told me not to touch it, but I can't help being drawn to it.

Should I open the box?"

How long, exactly, do you think the thread would be telling that sub to not open the box?  How many times would it be repeated that the box is the property of the Master, and it wasn't her place to open the box.

And how many people are going to flame the Master for daring to have something of his own, that he keeps from her?

They weren't starving.  They wanted for nothing.  They just couldn't bear it that God had something that they couldn't have, and so, like a wicked, willful sub, they went behind his back, ignored his express instruction, and did what they want to anyway.  He released them immediately, for the breach of trust and lack of respect and obedience.  Seems like a rational, logical thing to do.  In point of fact, putting more of our terms into the account - he did say that this rule was tantamount to a hard limit, as he said the penalty for eating from the tree was death.  They didn't physically die in that moment, but when they did 'fess up, it was the death of their relationship.

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ORIGINAL: Jeffff

The best thing about being raised Catholic.......it makes sex dirty..:)
Jeff

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ORIGINAL: girlygurl

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ORIGINAL: Jeffff

The best thing about being raised Catholic.......it makes sex dirty..:)
Jeff

Oh Jeff.... I'm sure there's lots of things one could find to make sex dirty [;)]   hmmmm I wonder, what does it make me if I love dirty sex?

girly

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ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

using fast reply...........

Such an interesting thread.

The best thing about being raised with an open mind, even though in a strict christian religioun.........is growing up to realize that all modern day religiouns, especially the christian faith based ones, are full of caca. Purposely twisted and bastardized, just as the bible is, to give a bunch of greedy power hungry men, more power over the ignorant masses through fear.