Sexuality & Spirituality

[Jonnyray]

First of all, thanks to all the supportive folks I met. I?m one the shy side in general and have begin to be a little more open thanks in part to some of you as my trust and comfort level grow.

THE POINT OF THE THREAD: I was raised as a member of a major Christian religion but now number among the ?fallen?. I also live in a community that claims to be diverse but the conservative minority really runs the show. I also have a job that involves a lot of public trust. I see myself drawn to a more sexual existence (not like I want to be a male prostitute or Mr. 1 Night Stand) but the morays I was raised with still cast a heavy blanket of ?taboo? over me. As I mediate more I can?t help but feel somehow our spiritual essences and our sexuality have merge at some point. I'm trying to reconcile sexuality and spirituality and other crap from the past.

For any of you who were raised in an organized religion of some kind (and even those who weren't), how does your sexuality -esp. as it relates to bsdm - fit into your spiritual and/or religious self? Hopefully this question makes sense and this isn?t too personal of a question to ask.



As I walk down the path of self-discovery
A fork in the road lays before me
One path calls to me pushed by my history
My awareness beckons me to the other - a mystery

Nudged forward by traditional pressures
Pushed on by the guilt of sins past
Pieces of the puzzle scarred with deep fissures
Looking for a place where joy can last

Will it be bliss? Is this something to begin?
What is this all mean? Is it a sin?
Oh to find a home for my soul to dwell in
When I think too long it makes my head spin

[Alas, I wax poetic. Blame my muse, she can be quite the taskmaster. ]

 

[Quint]

I was raised Lutheran and remained that way for my first 18 years of existence. During the past year I've deconverted based on matters totally unrelated to sex, but I do see why you are having this dilemma.

I never had a problem reconciling sex and God as a Lutheran because I've always believed that we have been given this one life to LIVE. My highest goal is my deepest happiness, not simply immediate gratification but a pure and deep joy attainable only by living with pride and knowing each day that I have earned that pride. There is a lot more to it than that, but suffice it to say that I take life very very seriously.

It would be a lie of the cruelest sort to pretend to be anything other than who and what I am, and this applies to sex as much as anything. I am a writer; I won't go apply at the engineering college. I am a bifem quasi-masosub; I won't force myself into a vanilla relationship. I live to discover more about myself, and to put that knowledge into practice.

I don't get into sin at all. To me, the only real sin is for your life to not equal what you deserve. I deserve a beautiful life, full of truth. I'm consciously striving for that. Sex is a means to that end. Does that make sense?

 

[Jonnyray]

Thanks Quint

My problems with organized religion go beyond sex too, but the doctrines we learn in our young still shape us to a degree. I geuss its one of those let 'it loose or it'll drag us down' deals...

 

[monster666]

Jonny,

you might try looking at these threads....

http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88719


http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=95600

First of all, thanks to all the supportive folks I met. I?m one the shy side in general and have begin to be a little more open thanks in part to some of you as my trust and comfort level grow.

THE POINT OF THE THREAD: I was raised as a member of a major Christian religion but now number among the ?fallen?. I also live in a community that claims to be diverse but the conservative minority really runs the show. I also have a job that involves a lot of public trust. I see myself drawn to a more sexual existence (not like I want to be a male prostitute or Mr. 1 Night Stand) but the morays I was raised with still cast a heavy blanket of ?taboo? over me. As I mediate more I can?t help but feel somehow our spiritual essences and our sexuality have merge at some point. I'm trying to reconcile sexuality and spirituality and other crap from the past.

For any of you who were raised in an organized religion of some kind (and even those who weren't), how does your sexuality -esp. as it relates to bsdm - fit into your spiritual and/or religious self? Hopefully this question makes sense and this isn?t too personal of a question to ask.



As I walk down the path of self-discovery
A fork in the road lays before me
One path calls to me pushed by my history
My awareness beckons me to the other - a mystery

Nudged forward by traditional pressures
Pushed on by the guilt of sins past
Pieces of the puzzle scarred with deep fissures
Looking for a place where joy can last

Will it be bliss? Is this something to begin?
What is this all mean? Is it a sin?
Oh to find a home for my soul to dwell in
When I think too long it makes my head spin

[Alas, I wax poetic. Blame my muse, she can be quite the taskmaster. ]

(Edited by RisiaSkye to remove a dead link)

 

[Jonnyray]

Monster,

Thanks, dude(tte?). They look promising.

 

[lilfrk]

monster is a Man

 

[Quint]

monster is a Man

Aren't they all?




Oops, think I got that one backwards.

 

[monster666]

Nope. I know a few monster women. How do you think I made a monster baby?

Aren't they all?




Oops, think I got that one backwards.

 

[Jonnyray]

My apologies to monster's masculinity. And to everyone for the "dude" - an 80s flashback I guess or maybe I've fallen victim to that annoying Dell kid...

 

[monster666]

No prob, Jonny, no offense taken.

My apologies to monster's masculinity. And to everyone for the "dude" - an 80s flashback I guess or maybe I've fallen victim to that annoying Dell kid...

 

[MissTaken]

I think as adults raised within any organized religion, we have to reconcile our spirituality with our adult life and choices in many areas.

The churches haven't evolved with their flock and perhaps they can't and shouldn't. However, it does create room for personal conflict.

It isn't BDSM that impacts my spirituality as much as it is sex, in general. Of course, I was raised Catholic and thier views on sexuality are very archaic.

One point to consider in any religious discussion is that many practices and codes weren't necessarily the result of good people trying to help the masses, their were political stressors as well.

For example:
This example caused me a great amount of conflict and stress until I spoke to a priest.
Baptism: I raised to believe that babies needed to be baptized soon after birth. If not, their souls went to pergatory in the event of their death. (Short and sweet version.) My ex would not permit me to baptize the children.
Baptism at birth actually evolved in England during the reign of such and such King. When royalty dictated religious practice and those not practicing suffered serious consequences, the nobles took to the practice of baptizing their new borns Catholic in an effort to demonstrate their loyalty to the crown.

As I ramble on, I do believe we have to find inner peace with who we are, the choices we make or are forced to make and God. It isn't always as easily done as with my Baptism tale, but it is part of spiritual growth.

 

[Jonnyray]

If were could just find away to bring up children to find out who they are FIRST, a lot of later in life crap could be avoided. Social and religous pressure to conform to what others want makes finding your personal identy a challenge.

 

[MissTaken]

However, I don't believe that children should be raised with no outside spiritual stimulus.

My ex's perception is and was very closed minded. He felt the children should not be exposed to any talk of any Higher Power and that they could just chose religions when they grew up.

How could they do so without some information and yes, faith in the unseen instilled at a young age?

BTW...the ex is an ass in many respects.

 

[Jonnyray]

However, I don't believe that children should be raised with no outside spiritual stimulus.

My ex's perception is and was very closed minded. He felt the children should not be exposed to any talk of any Higher Power and that they could just chose religions when they grew up.

How could they do so without some information and yes, faith in the unseen instilled at a young age?

I agree. My point was that too often there is too much of an insistance on 'this is right, this is wrong, because we say so' I think there needs to be guidance, especially spiritually. I have a hard time believing in a lot of Catholic doctrine, but it did provide the spiritual base for me to develop. I am greatful I have that base. even if I find myself at odds with the church I know that I am a spiritual being and have spiritual needs.

BTW...the ex is an ass in many respects.

I gathered that

 

[RisiaSkye]

Jonny, as we haven't interacted before, let me first extend a Welcome! Thank you for an interesting topic, and your candid thoughts on the subject. As I've already outlined my own experience of this subject at some length on one of the threads my boy (yeah, right. I wish.) monster linked, I won't get into it again and subject anyone who was there to reading it twice. But, I *do* have thoughts on the subject, and they're available to read if you're interested...

Be well,
RS

 

[artful]

As I walk down the path of self-discovery
A fork in the road lays before me
One path calls to me pushed by my history
My awareness beckons me to the other - a mystery

Nudged forward by traditional pressures
Pushed on by the guilt of sins past
Pieces of the puzzle scarred with deep fissures
Looking for a place where joy can last

Will it be bliss? Is this something to begin?
What is this all mean? Is it a sin?
Oh to find a home for my soul to dwell in
When I think too long it makes my head spin

I think your poem is not only beautiful,...but expresses what MOST open minded people have, as a dilemna in their lives also.

It is WE seekers of the TRUTH that have real purpose in our lives. We each search for it in many ways, and separate paths. The answers are easier to find, the farther we go.

Confusion, fear, doubt, worry,...these are things that impede our progress. You WILL find your answers as you keep searching for YOUR truths.

A warm, accepting welcome to you, as you pursue the knowledge you seek.

 

[RisiaSkye]

Clarification

Nevermind.

(see below)

 

[monster666]

As I've already outlined my own experience of this subject at some length on one of the threads my boy (yeah, right. I wish.) monster linked

Be careful what you wish for!

Jonny (and anyone else following the links)--I just looked over the threads monster posted for you, and I went back to honor a month-old request (which I just now saw, *sigh*) to merge the bottom two. So, the final link won't work, as that thread's been merged with the one above it. But, I didn't want to edit monster's post, as that seems kinda shady.

Edit away, if it helps.

 

[RisiaSkye]

All edited. Of course, now we have all these posts blathering about what is now a non-issue.

But, I'm not gonna delete them. I kinda like the absurdity of it.

 

[Unity]

This might come a little late, but I'd like to share some of my spirtuality to add to this experience. I was raised in an organized religion. That wasn't christianity, but it would be helpfull in your case. I am a Unitarian Universalist. In out church, or fellowship as I call it, we have no dogma or creed. The major belief that ties us together is each individuals right to search for THEIR OWN spiritual truth and meaning. The other main belief we all share is Tolerance.

Don't think that you can't be spiritual being who you are. There are alot of people in this world who think and believe in many different ways. I Haven't found the religion that calls bdsm a blessing... but if I don't maybe I'll create one. However I can guarantee tolerance from all UU's.

Best of luck on your journey.

 

[cellis]

I, too, have wondered how those who practise an organized, fundamentalist religion can reconcile what we do in BDSM with the teachings of the church.

I was raised in a fundamentalist church and have not been back in many years. It is not because I believe what I do is wrong, rather that I have found the organized church intolerant of what I do.

I agree that our sexuality and spirituality are interconnected. For me, many times what Himself and I do when we play is is spiritual.

 

[monster666]

Cellis, I like this AV much better. That thing doesn't look like it's growing there!

 

[Jonnyray]

Re: Re: Sexuality & Spirituality

I think your poem is not only beautiful,...but expresses what MOST open minded people have, as a dilemna in their lives also.

A warm, accepting welcome to you, as you pursue the knowledge you seek.

Thanks on both counts.

 

[cellis]

Cellis, I like this AV much better. That thing doesn't look like it's growing there!

LOL... Thanks Monster!

It wasn't until I sent Himself a link with the old av that he realized that I looked like a pony girl with a blue tail!

I do like this one better too. He is getting better with camera!

 

[artful]

666

Cellis, I like this AV much better. That thing doesn't look like it's growing there!

Once again,...I agree with you 100%

(yummy)