ladychatterley
Posts: 132
Joined: 3/10/2006
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First of all, no one actually takes the Bible literally. The people who claim that they can't believe in evolution because they believe every word of the Bible is literal don't have a problem with indoor plumbing and they seem to live in Polyester blends. If I were to take the Bible literally, I'd have to stone to death all rebellious sons (but not daughters--you know, if I wanted to establish a matriarchy, this might be a good way to start), anyone who eats shellfish (which is treated the exact same way and with the exact same language [abomination] as male homosexuality--lesbians, of course, are fine, according to the Bible), and anyone working on the Sabbath.
I would have to stop anyone from rotating crops in fields, or wearing mixed fiber clothing. And, frankly, football. The Bible says you can't touch the skin of a dead pig. Does the fact that it is artificial really make it OK? I think not!
I'm Christian and kinky and I have to say that right now, at least in the States, there are huge questions about what "Christian" means. I find it much, much easier to be pro-kink and Christian than to be pro-war and Christian. But then I define myself as Christian because I try to follow the teachings of Jesus, not a single book of the old testament (Leviticus) which is where the fundies get most of their ammunition. For me, it means help the poor, "judge not lest ye be judged," and "HELP THE POOR." Funny, Jesus didn’t mention homosexuality once, and he didn’t really seem to be anti-any kind of sex, unless you consider stopping the death of a prostitute anti-sex? I guess he was too busy hanging around with 12 of his closest male friends! While the Bible is pretty clear about adultery, I have always viewed that as not betraying anyone. Personally, I’m a serial monogamist (SM?), but I think you can very easily argue that it isn’t adultery if your partner knows what’s going on. And I do think it is wrong to have sex with someone other than your spouse if your spouse doesn’t know what is going on.
Ultimately, for me being Christian means trying to have a little bit of a positive impact on the world, hold yourself to a higher standard than others, for you don't know what they are going through, be present in the community, and have some humility because us humans can't necessarily understand everything. Leave a little room for mystery in the world. But the way that Christianity is portrayed by the mainstream media in the US is antithetical to everything I believe--Jesus was not pro-rich or pro-war or pro-global-warming or anti-science. The idea that Jesus would support a capital-gains tax cut or the war in Iraq is idiotic and the idea that we are supposed to let the rest of the world get worse and worse (or make it get worse) so that everyone except the chosen (and I of course am a chosen one--Jesus told me to start judging my neighbors because God is too busy to get around to everyone) will be annihilated in an apocalypse is terrifying. But my church (Episcopal) is Exhibit A in what the fundies think is wrong with this country and I’m sure if I were prominent enough, I’d be exhibit B. I haven’t exactly been out at my church, although a couple of people know, but I’m one of the only straight people in my church, and our church welcomes everyone (sort of-- we would have a hard time welcoming Fred Phelps or Pat Buchanan and anyone that made other people feel unwelcome, so I guess we don’t welcome all -- that Tom Lehrer line “I know there are people in the world who do not love their fellow human beings, and I HATE people like that! wouldn't be out of place at my church.) But in some ways, Christianity is a Rorschach test and people (myself included) see what they are looking for.
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RE: Christian Kink - 
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