RoR: Forum

An excellent article, Matthew.

I've seen sex always as a very good and almost sacred part of life. How could it be bad? The more you give, the more you put yourself into it, the better the rewards are...sex truly is in everybody's rational self-interest.

Controlling sex has always been about power for the churches. The flock had to be kept in check through guilt and humiliation. Matters of family lineage were of course very important before the days of medical birth control. The pill and the condom are some of the very best inventions ever;)...

But philosophically speaking sex has been a battleground of individualism vs. conformism...

Post 1

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 5:06am

Very good article. Spot on. Thanks.

"I do not know of any male celebrities pushing chastity to the masses."

There is a celebrity in the UK by the name of Gareth Gates. He came second in the UK "Pop Idol" (that became "American Idol" in the USA). He is loved by many female fans of all ages. At the end of Pop Idol he was 16 years old. For the next year he fostered a sweet innocent young boy image. When confronted by offers from female fans or models he always declined and stayed by his sister for protection. Consequently all his female fans wanted to be his mother.
Now after a year Newspaper stories are starting to emerge of his amorous sexual encounters with the likes of Jordan.
So maybe there is a market for young pure innocent young men looking for female fans to mother them? We usually assume that such men are gay, but who knows?

Post 2

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 7:35am

Sex - that's what was missing from this website. Now, I'll subscribe.

All kidding aside - that was a wonderfully written article on an obviously important part of life: good sex and romantic relationships.

Aside from the double standard you mentioned, Catholics seem to be totally against enjoying sex. The Pope, no big fan of sex himself, sees sex in purely functional terms: for procreation only. If you aren't trying to have children (in marriage, of course), you shouldn't be having sex.

I checked out that website you linked to. Here's a quote: "You have the chance to be part of an international stand for purity from now through the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece." Purity? So, married or not, sex destroys purity?

This group's intended appearance in Athens is a sacrilege. I propose that our athletes compete while naked just like during the real Olympics.

Post 3

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 1:25pm

Hi, Matt, Great article. Like yourself, I too frown upon the idea of keeping oneself sexually pure for religious reasons. However, those who do it to avoid STD's have a point although there are ways to avoid them. However, no method is totally foolproof. It seems that our society presents the message of "Go all the way or don't touch at all". I once knew a girl back in college who claimed that she was a "promiscuous virgin". When I asked what that meant she replied, "I'll do it with any guy, any time, and any place, but I won't go all the way". Paul M. Kay

Post 4

Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 1:33pm

Naked athletes? That would get me to Athens! :-)

Post 5

Friday, August 15, 2003 - 2:17am

I must confess to being rather altruistic when it...comes...to sex. When ever a beggar-girl "comes a-rattling [her] bowl", I can't resist but to throw a few bones her way. Go sex! Yay!

Post 6

Friday, August 15, 2003 - 6:33am

Thanks for a very, um, topical, article, Matt!
Coincidentally, I had sex for the first time two days ago! And it was really, really good, surpassing my expectations.

Post 7

Monday, August 25, 2003 - 5:08am

"In order to remain "pure", you must repress your natural sexuality and avoid intense physical contact (no more than a light kiss) with your lover even if you value that person as highly as you value yourself."

WRONG, what Denomination were you part of?

Sex is a gift from God, which was designed to be enjoyed within the legal bounds of marriage. It should not be assumed that in every good and meaningful relationship you should have sex.

In the western world, all our morals, and all our boundaries are being removed, all western nations used to be related to a religeon, mainly christianity, and from which the laws were formed. But as we, the western world strays away from all things that constrict us, and tell us how to act, the rest of the world gets tighter, and imposes more Laws, cos they see whats happening here, and they don't want it.

Is all that you see in Christianity rules?? Rules that restrict your fun and pleasure??

If you love someone Passionately enough to have sex with them, what stopping you getting married?? you obviously like them enough... why can't you wait? or is Patience a lost virtue.

Post 8

Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 11:58pm

I've got some bad news for you, 'Alien Youth'.

God doesn't exist.

Post 9

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 9:58am

Oh wow, it looks like lots of people enjoyed this article. To Martin Michael, Marchus Bachler, Rick Zuma, eprime75, Mark D. Fulwiler, epyon and "not just solo anymore..." : THANK YOU!

Post 10

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 10:14am

Alien Youth, I used to be a nominal Catholic. I had been baptized, and knew a few of the prayers. I had even attended mass once. My parents are lapsed Catholics, however, and never pressured me to accept religion of any kind.

Let me see if I have this right: sex is a "gift from $DEITY", but to enjoy this gift one must be legally married? Why must I seek permission from other men in order to enjoy one of $DEITY's gifts? That makes no sense, Alien Youth.

No, not every good and meaningful relationship requires sex. In fact, in some relationships sex is inappropriate. I have a fairly close relationship with my parents; but I have no intention of having sex with them.

I see more than just rules in Christianity, Alien Youth. I see a religion that condemns me as evil because I possess reason, emotion, and volition. I can think, feel, and choose -- and by Christianity's standards that makes me a sinner. Remember the myth of Adam and Eve? Original sin?

I see more in Christianity than mere rules. I see pure evil. A truly loving god would not demand servility, blind faith, fearful obedience, and self-negating worship of its creations. Considering what your Bible says God demands of his followers, I can only conclude that you worship a demon.

What's stopping me from marrying somebody I love? Nothing at all, unless I'm gay (which I'm not). Remember, in the People's Socialist Republic of Amerika, gay people can't marry. They can't even formalise their union before a judge. This condition can be blamed on Christians, by the way.

Patience? Sure, it's a virtue -- but only in moderation.

Post 11

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:59am

Besides, 'sinning' is half the fun of being alive! ;)

Pianoman

Post 12

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 12:27pm

Matt,

Hear, hear!

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 1:34pm

/me takes a bow.

Thanks, Jeff. By chaos, I'm getting tired of Christians going on and on and on about God's love. I'm sure wife-beaters "love" their victims too, in some twisted way.

"I had to beat her because I love her," says a wife-beater. "I had to send her to Hell because I love her," says the Christian $DEITY. Just a matter of scale, right?

Man, I hate Christianity. How can such a blatant pack of lies receive any credence at all?

Post 14

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 1:36pm

And Pianoman, if all pleasure is a sin, then I'm going to raise my middle finger to the heavens and say, "Give me sin or give me death!"

Post 15

Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 1:41pm

I heard this thing once:

"Jesus died for our sins...if we don't sin, Jesus died for nothing. So sin away!"

Post 16

Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:43am

I love the quote, Epyon! I shall now lead by example...

Pianoman

"I believe in only one god� ME!" -Pianoman

Post 17

Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 6:47am

Whoops I'm getting too happy with the option key!

Original Message:

I love the quote, Epyon! I shall now lead by example...

Pianoman

"I believe in only one god... Me!" -Pianoman

Post 18

Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:08am

Here's one I used to use on people who accused me of worshipping the Devil: Of course I worship myself.

Worship real women, not imaginary gods.

Post 19

Saturday, September 6, 2003 - 11:40am