Masochists: Have you ever felt spiritual conflict?

[Mr Blonde]

This is a question for the masochists.

Have you ever felt a spiritual conflict about enjoying pain? What sort of doubts did you have and how did you overcome them? Or did you overcome them?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[Etoile]

I have never had this kind of conflict because I do not consider myself a spiritual person. I am an atheist and do not practice any religion, and prefer to put my faith in science. I enjoy masochism because it is sexually arousing to me, and that doesn't have any connection to religion for me.

 

[Limbhugger]

Let me first premise this with the fact that I am approaching this from the point of view of a Christian. There are many religions and I respect them (well almost) all.

I am a spiritual person and have strong faith in God. For this reason you will never see me capitalize "he" in referrence to a Dom. Well for that matter I'm not huge on the capitalization and slash thing anyway. I get it and use it when appropriate but don't get hung up on it. But that is a different thread.

Back to the subject at hand...

Simply put, no. Why would I feel such conflict? I think the only bondage the bible speaks to is slavery of the Jewish race. Not sure I can recall it condeming Wife roping me to the bed and whooping me...lol.

I think one of the first misconceptions about the bible or religion is that we are only allowed to have sex in the missionary position and it has to be quick and only for making babies. That is BS perpetuated by the Puritains and the EARLY Cathololics (no offense meant to anyone). This idea was man-made and meant to attempt to thrust control over difficult situations.

The bible is riddled with stories of deep love and wonderful passion if one reads it closely. And from my male subbie point of view there are a whole bunch of strong women in the bible. Look up Rose and of course Mary.

For me I find much more quandrary in the aspect of same-sex sexual relations. Science (coincedentally that group of people consumed with disproving God) shows that over-populated mice become homosexual. Well that isn't good enough for me. Be it my own secret urges that occassionally spring forth or the COMITTED lesbian couple, I cannot see over-population as an explaination.

I know an outward lesbian woman who has made it in corparate America while all the while being very blunt about her life. As she holds numerous patents and a couple PhD's, she is probably the smartest person I will ever meet. She aslo one of the friendliest and naturally sincere people I've ever encountered. When I say I know her is to say I pass her once in a while and we say hi and chit chat for about 60 seconds and move on. But despite the fact that I'm sporting long hair and holey blue jeans she acts just like I was driving a Lexus and wearing Dockers. And you can just feel that it is real. I really, really admire her and genuinely like her. Shit finding a mucky-muck in business that will give a blue-collar guy the time of day is rare enough let alone her background!

I don't pretend to have all the answers and I'm CERTAINLY no biblical scholar. I can only talk with God and ask for His guidence and His forgiveness for what I perceive as my true sins. My anger, my resentment, my hatefullness, and so on.

And I can only thank Him for my blessings and stand in wonder of His gifts to someone as small as me.

All my doubts of spirituality were erased the day my first daughter was born. Since then it hasn't been a question of "if" but "how". There are those who will say that God will not accept "my best shot" and they can back it up with scripture. I'm not so sure I agree with them. I believe, if in your true soul you do your best to be the best person you can be then you shall be rewarded. Well, aside from the acceptance of Him and so on, but that is my particular faith.

Will I be condemned for my sexual actions? Maybe. But in my heart I don't think so.

Damn broke both the hard rules. Got caught up in a political thread and now this...I'm glutton for punishment. No pun intended.

LH

 

[catalina_francisco]

Definately worth exploring more and one I will contribute to hopefully when more awake.

Catalina

 

[A Desert Rose]

This is a question for the masochists.

Have you ever felt a spiritual conflict about enjoying pain? What sort of doubts did you have and how did you overcome them? Or did you overcome them?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Never. And that's funny since I'm Catholic... we feel guilty for everything. ;-)

(For those who are humor impaired: the last part of that sentence was a joke. But I really am Catholic.)

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

This is a question for the masochists.

Have you ever felt a spiritual conflict about enjoying pain? What sort of doubts did you have and how did you overcome them? Or did you overcome them?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Hmmm I am not part of the *spiritual elite* as I practice no standard religion. I am a pagan through and through. That said, I have never felt conflicted Spiritually for my sexual enjoyment of pain. I have had conflicts in the past, but that comes from my past *nilla relationship and the abuse I dealt with while involved in said relationship.

My belief in God (and in his counterrpart the Goddess) has nothing to do with my sexual kinks. I never had the need to internalize my desires. I did have to work through them, but that has nothing to do with my spirituality.

So the basic answer would be "No i have never felt a spiritual conflict about my enjoyment f pain."

pet

 

[catalina_francisco]

OK, I am a bit more awake though one would not say overly. LOL. Can't say as someone who basically follows Buddhist philosophy and spirituality that I have found my masochism in conflict, for a number of reasons. I am not harming another, in fact am helping answer a need they have, which comes under the belief system. I am doing something which I need to do to bring peace to my life which also is OK. And also pain and suffering is not seen as such a bad thing, it is all in the mindset and the motivation.

Catalina

 

[s'lara]

i can't say that i have had a serious conflict with my masochism and my spirituality.

i am as spiritual as the next person. i once read that priests and nuns used to flog themselves for punishment/purging of sins and that surprised me as my masochistic mind couldn't fathom how this would be a bad thing. To put it simply, i don't see the practice (masochism) as something morally wrong unless it is inflicted upon an unwilling person. By unwilling, i mean someone who is uncomfortable and conflicted with being the Sadist counterpart.

What i believe in spiritually is separate my masochism. i don't believe my masochism was formed due to a deep-seated religious guilt. Rather, i realized my masochistic tendencies (not just pain mind you, humiliation, debasement, etc.) were about my personal need for relief and satisfaction on natural and/or instinctual level. To my way of thinking, that is wholly unrelated to spirituality as it does not give me the same sense of peace i find in being a religious person.

lara

 

[JooJoo]

spiritually? i dunno if it would count but a when i first discovered it i scared the crap outa myself (not literally for those of u who are into that...) but i guess i got over it.... i guess i just realized that there's worse fetishes out there then enjoying being degraded and slapped around a bit... well, ur welcome if that helps any of ya

 

[Mr Blonde]

Thank you for the very detailed and honest answers. I appreciate these perspectives and they have been insightful.

If anyone is interested, I found this article which discusses masochism as a spiritual path:

http://www.sexuality.org/l/bdsm/masasp.html

 

[Justina123]

Limbhugger, you said it really well for me. I am a Christian as well. When I first began dabbling in bdsm several years ago, I did a lot of Bible searching and found lots of sexy passages and verses which could be used to support both d/s and masochism- the Bible often speaks positively of those who suffer for their faith, etc. I even compiled some of them, but won't bore the non-Christians with it here, ha!

And though I can't say in my s&m experiences I am "suffering for my faith", I am doing nothing that does not ultimately bring me pleasure and please my partner. I, too, have had lots of talks with the Lord on this one and can honestly say I have come away guilt free and feeling very loved.

-justina

 

[gman23]

Shamanic traditions have always used pain as doorway to spirituality and levels of higher consciousness ,espially native American tribes. Certain Shiite muslim sects flog themselves to reach states of religious ecstasy , and members of Opus Dei a catholic sect regularly practice "corporeal mortification "., one of their favorite tools being the cilice, a leather strap with metal barbs on the inside that they strap to their thigh.. And we all know that torture has long been a tradition in the Catholic Church .Look at some of the description's of Torquemada's inquisitional practice's. Of course his subs weren't there willingly
though

 

[landcruisergal]

Nope, sufferring is a Catholic tradition, look at the flagellates for example.I dont practice catholicism any more but being raised as a R.C. has residual effects on my psyche I daresay.I just consider myself a spiritual person now.
Pain for me, as I have mentioned in other threads, reminds me of my own mortality, and makes me feel so very alive in the moment. Many spiritual paths have trials of pain, discomfort, deprivation and endurance. I dont seek a higher "plane of consiousness" through pain, but neither do I see it as any sin to indulge in masochism.

 

[ethereal~minx]

Shamanic traditions have always used pain as doorway to spirituality and levels of higher consciousness ,espially native American tribes. ...

I do not enjoy the pain so I do not feel spiritually conflicted. but

I have found spirituality and higher planes of consciousness through pain, most definitely.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

and bumpity.

 

[snowy ciara]

I've never done anything really masochistic, but I have no conflict between my subbieness and my spirituality. (I'm of anOld Anglican sect, btw, think Catholic lite with married clergy..)

Not wanting to sound snarky, by why should I? My religious beliefs tell me that I must strive to be the best person I can be; so if my best person, the one that is truly the essence of Ciara is a subbie masochist, then where is the conflict?

I know that some sects are still rather Puritanical and try to control a persons sexuality, thereby creating all sorts of nasty internal conflicts, but I guess I got lucky cause that's not an issue with me/us.

And now I'm gonna be rude and turn this around. Sadists in the company, is there a spiritual conflict within you between your sadism and your beliefs?

 

[AvaAdore]

I have never had this kind of conflict because I do not consider myself a spiritual person. I am an atheist and do not practice any religion, and prefer to put my faith in science. I enjoy masochism because it is sexually arousing to me, and that doesn't have any connection to religion for me.

Same here.

 

[Netzach]

Don't really have an issue on either end, certainly never felt like my masochistic pleasure was bad karma nor my sadistic pleasure *as long as the outlet was consenting and sought out the sadism*


Do I think I racked up some bad sado karma before I found appropriate channels and would tear into lovers/family uncontrollably, yes.

 

[Xelebes]

I am agnostic. Fed up with being forced to see that I have a soul or anything, when in fact I don't see a soul but rather only one piece, that cannot be separated. My thoughts are of my body, my deeds only effect my body, the pain I endure is only strain on my body. I am me, and there is no line between the mind and the body other than the complete A is A dealie.