500lbguerilla
06-16-2007, 08:28 PM
Biblical sex -- it could knock your socks off
What does the Good Book really say about divorce, abortion, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality and more?
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, June 16, 2007
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. For your love is better than wine.
Song of Songs 1:2
Almost everything we think we know about the Bible and sex is wrong.
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Instead of being a list of sexual shalt-nots, the Bible contains so much graphic eroticism that parents may want to keep the sacred text away from youth under age 18.
Indeed, that's what 2,000 Hong Kong residents tried to do in May when they called on a Chinese decency commission to restrict the Bible to adults only because it contains passages that seem to give the okay to incest, rape, adultery and a father offering his daughters to strangers for sexual gratification.
The Bible -- which has been the foundation for much of the world's sex-related laws -- is actually, it seems, quite erotic, and surprisingly soft on things like prostitution and polygamy.
And even though some Bible passages criticize homoeroticism, others non-judgmentally describe prominent men loving other men in a sensual way. The Bible, as well, frequently employs sexual communion as a metaphor for how humans can passionately relate to God.
As if that's not enough to shatter prim and proper stereotypes, the Bible contains sections such as the Songs of Songs, which highlight sensual delight in ways that could snap open the eyes of unwary adults, let alone children.
Even though the protesting Hong Kong residents were trying to make a wry point about the dangers of Chinese government censorship, The Song of Songs from the Hebrew Bible (which Christians call the Old Testament) is, really, quite hot. It makes 38 metaphorical references to male and female genitals and includes several cheery accounts of oral sex. It does not mention God once.
For good and ill, what we think the Bible says about sex matters a great deal.
In the U.S., the Bible and sex is at the root of the politically manipulated "culture wars." Canadian laws on everything from marriage to abortion were, until recently, governed by how people read the Bible.
What the Bible says about homosexuality continues to divide the worldwide Christian church -- with Canadian Anglicans next week taking on the thorny topic in Winnipeg at their once-every-three years General Synod.
What does the Bible really say about divorce, abortion, recreational sex, masturbation, adultery, prostitution, marriage, homosexuality and more?
The answers lie in Teresa Hornsby's handy new guide, Sex Texts from the Bible (Skylight Paths, $21).
Many deadly-dry books have been written about human sexuality and religion. But this look at selected texts stands out as an especially friendly and smart exploration of "what the Bible really has to say about sex."
Hornsby, a scholar at Drury University in Missouri, says, "The Bible isn't anti-sex. It honours celibacy, but it also urges us to have lots of babies, and sings the praises of sexual pleasure and desire."
Let's start, as Hornsby does, with the fun stuff.
Those include the Bible's wonderful sexual euphemisms -- in which genitals are described as "feet," "thighs," "mandrakes," "pomegranates" and "hanging fruit." Meanwhile, the most common euphemisms for intercourse are "to enter," "to lie with," "to know" and "to go
more...
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=9bda3966-48e8-476f-b2ae-6f81c0abb75c
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Song of Solomon 5:2-6 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Beloved
2 I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My lover is knocking:
"Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night."
3 I have taken off my robe—
must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
must I soil them again?
4 My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my lover,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the lock.
6 I opened for my lover,
but my lover had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure. [a]
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Saucy...
What does the Good Book really say about divorce, abortion, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality and more?
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, June 16, 2007
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. For your love is better than wine.
Song of Songs 1:2
Almost everything we think we know about the Bible and sex is wrong.
Email to a friend
Printer friendly
Font:
Instead of being a list of sexual shalt-nots, the Bible contains so much graphic eroticism that parents may want to keep the sacred text away from youth under age 18.
Indeed, that's what 2,000 Hong Kong residents tried to do in May when they called on a Chinese decency commission to restrict the Bible to adults only because it contains passages that seem to give the okay to incest, rape, adultery and a father offering his daughters to strangers for sexual gratification.
The Bible -- which has been the foundation for much of the world's sex-related laws -- is actually, it seems, quite erotic, and surprisingly soft on things like prostitution and polygamy.
And even though some Bible passages criticize homoeroticism, others non-judgmentally describe prominent men loving other men in a sensual way. The Bible, as well, frequently employs sexual communion as a metaphor for how humans can passionately relate to God.
As if that's not enough to shatter prim and proper stereotypes, the Bible contains sections such as the Songs of Songs, which highlight sensual delight in ways that could snap open the eyes of unwary adults, let alone children.
Even though the protesting Hong Kong residents were trying to make a wry point about the dangers of Chinese government censorship, The Song of Songs from the Hebrew Bible (which Christians call the Old Testament) is, really, quite hot. It makes 38 metaphorical references to male and female genitals and includes several cheery accounts of oral sex. It does not mention God once.
For good and ill, what we think the Bible says about sex matters a great deal.
In the U.S., the Bible and sex is at the root of the politically manipulated "culture wars." Canadian laws on everything from marriage to abortion were, until recently, governed by how people read the Bible.
What the Bible says about homosexuality continues to divide the worldwide Christian church -- with Canadian Anglicans next week taking on the thorny topic in Winnipeg at their once-every-three years General Synod.
What does the Bible really say about divorce, abortion, recreational sex, masturbation, adultery, prostitution, marriage, homosexuality and more?
The answers lie in Teresa Hornsby's handy new guide, Sex Texts from the Bible (Skylight Paths, $21).
Many deadly-dry books have been written about human sexuality and religion. But this look at selected texts stands out as an especially friendly and smart exploration of "what the Bible really has to say about sex."
Hornsby, a scholar at Drury University in Missouri, says, "The Bible isn't anti-sex. It honours celibacy, but it also urges us to have lots of babies, and sings the praises of sexual pleasure and desire."
Let's start, as Hornsby does, with the fun stuff.
Those include the Bible's wonderful sexual euphemisms -- in which genitals are described as "feet," "thighs," "mandrakes," "pomegranates" and "hanging fruit." Meanwhile, the most common euphemisms for intercourse are "to enter," "to lie with," "to know" and "to go
more...
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=9bda3966-48e8-476f-b2ae-6f81c0abb75c
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Song of Solomon 5:2-6 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Beloved
2 I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My lover is knocking:
"Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night."
3 I have taken off my robe—
must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
must I soil them again?
4 My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my lover,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the lock.
6 I opened for my lover,
but my lover had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure. [a]
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Saucy...