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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 7:24:46 AM

Rover

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Stella, where is the part about someone paying homage? Huh???

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 7:42:37 AM

NorthernGent

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quote:

ORIGINAL: utopicus

could BDSM be defined or described as a religion?

Depends how you define religion and on the individual. For those individuals who look to BDSM as a means of forging an identity, then I can see the similarities with religion.

It isn't for me; it's nothing whatsoever to do with spirituality, a life changing 'lifestyle' or group conformity. It's simply a means to an end; a way of organising my personal life to meet my needs.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 7:47:22 AM

IrishMist

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I would not classify/define it as either.

BDSM-to me-is nothing more than 4 letters.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 7:48:32 AM

CalifChick

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Rover

Stella, where is the part about someone paying homage? Huh???

John

Everyone's a critic. Now we just need a bunch of men to come along and reinterpret the great Stella's words and really muck it up.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 8:11:12 AM

Rover

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rover

Stella, where is the part about someone paying homage? Huh???

John

Everyone's a critic. Now we just need a bunch of men to come along and reinterpret the great Stella's words and really muck it up.

Cali

Awww, c'mon Cali. Without us men, who would there be to pay homage to?

John

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 8:39:23 AM

DesFIP

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Sorry, I have a religion and BDSM isn't it. I don't think being wired for submission qualifies as faith anymore than being wired for heterosexuality. This is just who I am.

I certainly don't study it, he surfs bondage sites for fun and the occasional idea for a new tie. But that doesn't qualify as study. Hell, if that's required to be a religion, then a person taking golf lessons would be worshipping the god of golf. Although knowing some golfers, that might actually be true.

And we don't practice it either, we just do it. We don't have practice sessions versus ones that really count. I don't practice typing, I just do it.

As far as a leader, teacher goes in religion. Most religions have someone who leads the congregation. In some only the priest can talk to God and he is the authorized intermediary. In others, the leader is just someone who knows more. We don't need the rabbi to be there to hold services, we just need a minyan, ten adults of the faith.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 8:51:32 AM

subsong

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Granted , I've experienced some delicious things in the world of Bdsm , that could be said to be spiritual in their intensity and wonder - but a religion ? No .

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 9:30:30 AM

AquaticSub

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~Fast Reply~

Faith, in terms religion, is belief in something unproven and intangible. That's why a leap of faith is do something you aren't sure about. Valyraen is quite tangible - I was just touching him. Our dynamic is easy to prove. It requires no faith on either of our parts to see that he is the dominant and I am the submissive. My belief in G-d requires faith in something I can't see, touch, hear or have any "reasonable" proof of.

BDSM is certainly not my religion (though I did an e-mail lasting night asking if I believe in a master's divine right to choose anyone they wanted... ) or my faith. I do not worship floggers, treat any of the well-written texts as holy, or regard Val as some sort of holy man. One can incorporate BDSM as part (or even the whole) of their spirituality but that is a far cry from making BDSM an actual religion and faith.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 11:48:49 AM

oceanwynds

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BDSM is not a religion.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 12:57:15 PM

greeneyedreamer

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quote:

I think it's common for many of us, at one time or another, to have a pint (or ten) and think grand thoughts about BDSM. But the truth is, it's just not that spectacular. And I'm ok with that.

John

LOL good one... I agree. It's like saying green eyes could be a religion.. It's just something I am.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 1:02:28 PM

Aszhrae

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But, oceanwynds, you search through history and even in the present, there are aspects of BDSM that have been practiced for centuries for the purpose to gain enlightenment.
Not to say that the same does not exist here, but for some such aspects of BDSM could be used as not only testing physical limits, but expanding boundaries within the psyche and strengthening one's spirit.
As for most, it is about personal perception and individual beliefs.

To subsong,
Granted , I've experienced some delicious things in the world of Bdsm , that could be said to be spiritual in their intensity and wonder - but a religion ? No

Girl agrees with you.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 1:27:06 PM

oceanwynds

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quote:

But, oceanwynds, you search through history and even in the present, there are aspects of BDSM that have been practiced for centuries for the purpose to gain enlightenment.
Not to say that the same does not exist here, but for some such aspects of BDSM could be used as not only testing physical limits, but expanding boundaries within the psyche and strengthening one's spirit.
As for most, it is about personal perception and individual beliefs.

Aszhrae

I am a practing witch and do see how BDSM can contribute to my spiritual growth. I honor the Goddess and worship her, which I do not do in BDSM. I do agree that BDSM can help a person with enlightment, if it is sought, so does a lot of other things outside of BDSM. To me it is not a religion, there is no God-head.

blessings
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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 2:18:50 PM

awmslave

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It is personal: BDSM can be a game for some, lifestyle for others, or one can turn it into religion-like belief system. Do not ask for tax free status though.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 6:14:23 PM

DavanKael

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quote:

ORIGINAL: NihilusZero

That's an awfully loose parallel. Faith has nothing to do with how I conduct my BDSM (or other) activities. Despite Gorean and Old Guard protocols, there is no universal expectation for how to conduct one's self within the construct of it.

And lastly, save for perhaps more extreme power exchange dynamic endearments, no deity or deities exist or are necessitated by it.

NZ went exactly where I was gonna go with this: there's no deity.
Unless, we're going with something more along my own personal belief of "I am god, thou art god, all that groks is god".
And, screaming "Oh, god" doesn't count as deification. < giggle >
Davan

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 6:36:24 PM

E2Sweet

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I was going to add that since a massive army or two hasn't massed under the bdsm flag and killed, maimed and tortured scores of non-believers, we just can't call it a religion... But since I can't really add the tongue-in-cheek inflection that I would if we were all sitting around a table discussing this, I figure I'd better not go there.

Plus I don't really want any hate-mail in my cmbox...

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 6:43:28 PM

E2Sweet

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In all seriousness, I do believe BDSM can be as important in your life as you want to make it. If you do want to go so far as to make it a religion, I'm surely not going to stop you. Personally, I wouldn't do that as it seems an unnatural fit for me. I rather prefer it to be exactly what it is to me now... a unique and fulfilling way to explore sexuality and intimacy. OK, it sounds fairly corny, but it is what it is...

Sorry for the double post... I had more to add moments after I clicked OK...

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 6:49:05 PM

AStudyInScarlet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: E2Sweet

I was going to add that since a massive army or two hasn't massed under the bdsm flag and killed, maimed and tortured scores of non-believers, we just can't call it a religion...

does it count if they do it to each other?

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 7:18:29 PM

Aszhrae

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At least we agree on something 'oceanwynds'. And yes, the goddess takes on many forms, both mistress and submissive, crone and seductress. But, you know that already.
There is something also, where you speak of the psyche when it comes to D/s and BDSM. Girl speaks of the spirit as well, the goddess portrays a different role for each of us.

My own words: serving my mistress, honors the goddess. Thus it can be something of belief, that in serving a mistress in this life, that girl will be serving the goddess in the next.

Where has that existed before, Oh yeah, girl knows. RCC with nuns, faithful in their beliefs so that they may serve their god in the afterlife. And it still exists to this day.

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 7:39:50 PM

E2Sweet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: AStudyInScarlet

quote:

ORIGINAL: E2Sweet

I was going to add that since a massive army or two hasn't massed under the bdsm flag and killed, maimed and tortured scores of non-believers, we just can't call it a religion...

does it count if they do it to each other?

Maybe if all parties come out of it having felt like they indeed did have a religious experience....

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RE: BDSM - lifestyle or religion - 12/7/2008 8:03:04 PM

SassySarijane

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It's not a religion or a lifestyle for me, simply one part of my entire life and self.

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