Obsessed with Sex?

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Zzyzx
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Obsessed with Sex?

Post #1

Post by Zzyzx »

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Why do Bible writers, Bible characters, and many Bible believers place so much emphasis on sex?

Most of the concern seems to be sexual activity of OTHER people. Does this suggest that they are themselves sexually frustrated or deprived (depraved?) -- or in the vernacular "not getting enough" OR "never got any" OR "kinky"?
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Post #11

Post by JehovahsWitness »

JLB32168 wrote:
Zzyzx wrote:Most of the concern seems to be sexual activity of OTHER people. Does this suggest that they are themselves sexually frustrated or deprived (depraved?)
They were “obsessed� with it because everyone else is obsessed with sex. It’s called “being relevant.�

As someone else brought up, there are about 31,000 verses in the bible. There are even more in the Roman Catholic canon since it contains more books and even more in the Eastern Orthodox Bible, which contains even more. JW is being charitable when he gives the number at 200. It’s less.

Saying that the Bible writers were obsessed with sex, when the condemnation of oppressing the widow, the orphan, and the stranger is mentioned as often if not more, only proves the point that the Bible reflects the issues of the time (and some which remain issues today.)

Of course it's less, but that would depend on what one counts as "verses about sex". A quick look at "I hate the bible dot com" er ... I mean.. septicsannotatedbible.com/sex/long.html (the link provided) counted as verses about sex

- any references to women becoming pregnant and giving birth.
- any reference to conception
- any reference to virgins
- any refereences to swearing an oath
- referneces to circumcission
- refernces to undergarments (underwear)
- references to idolatry
- any reference to wives. (I'm not joking, just mentioning "a wife" is verse about sex)
- any reference to marriage
- any reference to concubines
- any reference to breasts
- any condemnation of adultery

and the following verse...

Psalms 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." apparently a "verse about sex".


Go figure,

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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #12

Post by marco »

JehovahsWitness wrote: [Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]
Sex is part of life, and when sexual behaviour it is mentioned in scripture it is never presented in a way to suggest it should be taken lightly, but from there to suggest that there are a dispropotional number of bible verses dealing with sex is unfounded in reality.

Fair comment, JW, but the number of verses isn't as important as the appalling punishments suggested for sexual misdemeanours. I find Yahweh's contract involving circumcision weird. The suggestion that fathers should hand over their daughters to be stoned for some sexual offense is offensive to any decent reader. Nakedness itself seems to be regarded as something horrendous.
Yes, there is too much negative emphasis on sexuality.

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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #13

Post by OnceConvinced »

JehovahsWitness wrote:
Zzyzx wrote:Why do ... many Bible believers place so much emphasis on sex?
I can't really speak for any other bible believers but myself, so I cannot objectively answer that questions. Personally I have never in my 35 years of Christian ministry ever asked anyone about their sex lives or any other personal matter.
I never did either and I was in positions of leadership.

However growing up as a Christian, we were always being told about abstaining from sex before marriage. And when I had my first girlfriend we were continually hounded by church leaders because our relationship appeared too physical.

There is no doubt Christianity is obsessed with sex. However there is an obvious reason for that and that's we evolved as sexual creatures. It's a big part of human nature. It's just that religion turns it into something dirty and sinful.

JehovahsWitness wrote: In short, if I were looking for somewhere where people are obsessed with sex, it would not be within my organization
Do you really think were gullible enough to believe that? Maybe your people are just extra good at repressing their obsession?

I find it very hard to believe that JWs are any less, obsessed with sex than any other person. It's part of our human natures. JWs are no less human than anyone else.

For you to say that your people are not obsessed with sex would mean that you would know what their minds dwell on and everything that goes on within their personal life... what they do behind closed doors.
JehovahsWitness wrote: but rather in a world outside of it where sex, nudity, prostitution a booming sex slave trade, sexualization of children, provocative clothing, sexually suggestive advertising, explicit movies and a growing addiction with pornography seems to be the new norm.
One would expect this from sexual creatures. Ones with inherent desires and urges to have sex. Not saying it to justify those things. Just that it shouldn't be surprising to anyone why humans are obsessed with it. It doesn't require any devil. If we were created then we were created with those urges. With evolution though, it will be the species with those urges that will thrive. That is why we as humans survive.

Society and its morals evolve and will continue to evolve. The bible however remains the same and just requires more and more apologetics and claims of "metaphors" and "symbolism" to justify it.

Prayer is like rubbing an old bottle and hoping that a genie will pop out and grant you three wishes.

There is much about this world that is mind boggling and impressive, but I see no need whatsoever to put it down to magical super powered beings.


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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #14

Post by OnceConvinced »

Peds nurse wrote: [Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

Hello Mr. Z!! You are still my favorite letter of the alphabet :-)

Perhaps it is an issue in the Bible, because God knew how it would trip us up!
Hello Peds. Happy to be arguing with you. ;)

why would God make us sexual creatures then? Why did he create within us urges to have sex? It is part of our human nature.

It would be ludicrous to put inherent urges into us that will trip us up and then condemn us for tripping up. That would be like me creating a robot with an urge to kill every other human it comes across and then blaming the robot for all the killing.
Peds nurse wrote:
Sex is a huge driving force,
Yes, a huge driving force that we were all endowed with from birth that would kick into action once we reached puberty (something also designed by God). If we did not have this driving force, we would most likely not be the dominant species on this planet. It would be silly of God do design us with such drives if he wanted us to repress those drives.
Peds nurse wrote: not just in the past, but currently, that causes a men and women to do some pretty crazy things.
Which would be expected if we were endowed with such drives. God should surely take responsibility for making us this way?
Peds nurse wrote: It has been the downfall of many men and women.
Which would surely have to be God's fault for designing us with such powerful sex drives?

Society and its morals evolve and will continue to evolve. The bible however remains the same and just requires more and more apologetics and claims of "metaphors" and "symbolism" to justify it.

Prayer is like rubbing an old bottle and hoping that a genie will pop out and grant you three wishes.

There is much about this world that is mind boggling and impressive, but I see no need whatsoever to put it down to magical super powered beings.


Check out my website: Recker's World

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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #15

Post by JehovahsWitness »

OnceConvinced wrote:There is no doubt Christianity is obsessed with sex..
Obsession is a pysycologicaly harmful disorder and you have yet to present scientifically peer reviewed evidence that the majority of the so-called christian population on earth (ie more than 50%) suffer from sexual obsession. Having not established your premise, the rest of your arguments can logically be dismissed.

obsession
: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; also : something that causes such preoccupation—compare compulsion, phobia
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsession

Good luck with finding any actual hard evidence to support your views that over 50% of the Christian population suffer from this condition.

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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #16

Post by logical thinking »

Zzyzx wrote: .
Why do Bible writers, Bible characters, and many Bible believers place so much emphasis on sex?

Most of the concern seems to be sexual activity of OTHER people. Does this suggest that they are themselves sexually frustrated or deprived (depraved?) -- or in the vernacular "not getting enough" OR "never got any" OR "kinky"?
You occasionally see religious zealots ranting against movies like the davinci code, against Harry Potter, and recently even against PokemonGo, which they called "demonic.

See this video:

They genuinely see these things as competition for their religion.

In these case it's absurd. But they also see sex as a competitor for devotion to their institution. Indeed many pagan rites pre-christianity had sex and orgies as part of their rituals.

Christianity seeks to control sex, because in so doing they get to control one of the most powerful biological imperatives of humanity, and in so doing they get to control people.

I say stick it to them, and go have wonderful guilt-free kinky interracial promiscuous sex. Be sure to include as much sodomy as possible!

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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #17

Post by Zzyzx »

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logical thinking wrote: Christianity seeks to control sex, because in so doing they get to control one of the most powerful biological imperatives of humanity, and in so doing they get to control people.
I agree.

According to Christendom sex is FORBIDDEN except between married male / female couples (and probably where pregnancy is not avoided).

That encompasses more than half of all US adults. "No sex for you unless you are married to the person" is an idealistic / irrational religious belief.
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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #18

Post by Peds nurse »

OnceConvinced wrote:
Peds nurse wrote: [Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

Hello Mr. Z!! You are still my favorite letter of the alphabet :-)

Perhaps it is an issue in the Bible, because God knew how it would trip us up!
OC wrote:Hello Peds. Happy to be arguing with you. ;)
Hahaha...that made my day! Hope you are just wonderful!
OC wrote:why would God make us sexual creatures then? Why did he create within us urges to have sex? It is part of our human nature.

It would be ludicrous to put inherent urges into us that will trip us up and then condemn us for tripping up. That would be like me creating a robot with an urge to kill every other human it comes across and then blaming the robot for all the killing.
So, you don't enjoy sex? It is for our enjoyment, to procreate. It wasn't meant to trip it us up, but it does. Not everyone is tripped up by sexual urges, so obviously, we are capable of having control.
Peds nurse wrote:
Sex is a huge driving force,
OC wrote:Yes, a huge driving force that we were all endowed with from birth that would kick into action once we reached puberty (something also designed by God). If we did not have this driving force, we would most likely not be the dominant species on this planet. It would be silly of God do design us with such drives if he wanted us to repress those drives.
I don't think anyone said anything about repressing those drives, but rather we need to control them.
Peds nurse wrote: not just in the past, but currently, that causes a men and women to do some pretty crazy things.
OC wrote:Which would be expected if we were endowed with such drives. God should surely take responsibility for making us this way?
Should we not take responsibility for our actions? I mean we could wipe out all the guns in the world, but the guns are not the problem, the people using them for destruction are.

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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #19

Post by Zzyzx »

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Peds nurse wrote:
OnceConvinced wrote: Hello Peds. Happy to be arguing with you.
Hahaha...that made my day! Hope you are just wonderful!
That is debate as it should be. Thank you both

OC, I also thoroughly enjoy debating with PN.
Peds nurse wrote: I don't think anyone said anything about repressing those drives, but rather we need to control them..
PN, over 50% of adults in the US are not married – many never have married and never will. According to Christian lore they are forbidden to have sex – even solo sex. Right?

It would be expected that a very high percentage are Christians (since 70% or so of the adult population self-identifies as Christian).

Are you really prepared to tell them that they should “control� their sex drive and that it is not repression to remain celibate unless they marry -- perhaps for a lifetime?
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Re: Obsessed with Sex?

Post #20

Post by iam1me »

Zzyzx wrote: .
logical thinking wrote: Christianity seeks to control sex, because in so doing they get to control one of the most powerful biological imperatives of humanity, and in so doing they get to control people.
I agree.

According to Christendom sex is FORBIDDEN except between married male / female couples (and probably where pregnancy is not avoided).

That encompasses more than half of all US adults. "No sex for you unless you are married to the person" is an idealistic / irrational religious belief.
Idealistic? Sure. Irrational? Not at all - there is zero reason why people can't restrain themselves till marriage.

Marriage is a very rational approach to dealing with the realities of sex in a constructive way. For starters: if pregnancy occurs, the fundamental natural result of sex, then marriage provides a social structure that supports the mother and child. After the child is born and grows a bit older, the child has the benefit of both a mother and father. The man can't be surprised with alimony down the road, and he has a say about his own child. More can be said, but this is sufficient to show how marriage serves to protect all involved: the man, the woman, and the potential child.

Something to consider is the age at which people are allowed to marry; culturally we think it wrong for a teenager to marry. Yet we endorse them having sex, getting knocked up, and then aborting their children... somewhere along the way our priorities became seriously messed up. If you think it too much for teenagers to be asked to not have sex, then consider allowing them to do so in the context of a marriage where the boy and girl have the social structure in place to support it.

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