Self restraint and discipline are key to a healthy lifestyle. I see the Church(or any religious entity) as a parent figure. A parent must be firm and consistent. I believe it would be more harmful if the Church backed down from it's stance on sex. It is better to ask forgiveness later then ask for permission now. The answer will and always will be; "No, you can't smoke." and "No, you can't sleep with your boy/girlfriend." Even though we as parents will break the rules we'd prefer our children didn't. Religion was created for those who need and/or desire parental guidance into adulthood. How many adults do you know that have never grown up? I was slow to accept responsibility. Some never do. It's a comfort to put one's self in the hands of a more powerful being. I actually sometimes resent the fact I can't believe. I think I might be happier. I certainly don't begrudge others their chosen path to security and happiness. Just so long as it doesn't interfere with mine.
dj On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 12:46 PM, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > > "I never understood the restraint placed on physical pleasures, > especially religious condemnation of it...." - SD > > While I don't know for sure, it is my understanding that much of this > is based on a gross misunderstanding of ancient gnostic views of the > two main realms, physical and divine. Some one some where...and most > likely even more, decided that to reach the divine, one must reject > the physical....a clear misunderstanding. > > On Mar 24, 6:05 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: >> I never understood the restraint placed on physical pleasures, >> especially religious condemnation of it. There are other concerns >> regarding good health, emotional and physical, that sexuality and the >> pleasure of it provides. Maybe the Pope should milk his prostate on a >> daily basis. The abstinence policy of catholicism has only succeeded >> in creating a pedophile factory. I don't see the connection of condom >> use and fidelity but more so see promiscuity amongst the non marital >> sector as the issue. >> We need to do something about AIDS and religion is not going to >> accomplish much at all. If anything the church is actually a failure >> without any accomplishment, thousands of years gone by and they are as >> weak as ever and losing out on abuse settlements. >> >> On Mar 23, 2:07 am, Vamadevananda <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> > On the face of it, Pope's command barring use of condoms for Aids >> > prevention is unacceptable. There are multiple reasons why, the >> > primary of which is the well - known effect : condoms are an >> > effective means to prevents Aids. >> >> > But, I recently discovered Pope's reasons for his commandment : that, >> > the practice of condoms absolves individuals of their responsibility >> > towards their spouse, of Fidelity towards them. It's a moral most of >> > us live by, barring exceptional circumstances when we fail to uphold >> > the fidelity value. >> >> > The Abstinence part, as I understand, is fundamental to Roman Catholic >> > precepts. It, perhaps, calls upon individuals not to indulge in sex >> > for the pleasure of it, but only if one desires to procreate. That is, >> > if procreation is not purpose, then one should abstain. >> >> > I understand abstinence as a matter of practice laid down for >> > practitioners of Roman Catholic faith, for realisation of whatever it >> > is for which the Church was set up. People who disagree are free to >> > quit the faith. There is therefore little to be critical of the >> > practice, it being a part of the Roman Catholic path, unless one is >> > not free to quit the faith, in which case the forceful adherence would >> > be in contravention of Fundamental Rights guaranteed in all modern - >> > day democracies I know of. >> >> > It is the Fidelity vs Condoms stance that we might find interesting >> > enough to discuss. The Pope would have us see cheaply available >> > Condoms as both an inducing cause for licentious ( read, >> > irresponsible ) behaviour and as a an easy crutch on which we can rest >> > and carry on with our infidelities ! >> >> > I see merit both ways : that of the Church and of Condoms. Clearly, I >> > stand confused. Rescuuuue meee ... ! ! !- Hide quoted text - >> >> - Show quoted text - > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
