A Raymond J Lawrence Commentary
“The current attempt by Anglicans at self-immolation over homosexuality is only superficially related to homosexuality as such.”
Commentary:
The current attempt by Anglicans at self-immolation over homosexuality is only superficially related to homosexuality as such. (New York Times, Feb 20, p.1) The underlying struggle is over the place of sexual pleasure---and women--- in the religious life. Women are, after all, the most lethal objects of sexual pleasure! It’s a very old debate in which goes back at least as far as Plato, and the disdainful have largely carried the day in Christendom, just as they continue to carry the day in worldwide Anglicanism.
It is noteworthy that the Bible exhibits little of this disdain for sexual pleasure, and only a modest amount of gynophobia. Generally the biblical texts are positive toward sexual pleasure, and in spite of a rather entrenched patriarchy, generally unafraid of women.
Commentary:
The current attempt by Anglicans at self-immolation over homosexuality is only superficially related to homosexuality as such. (New York Times, Feb 20, p.1) The underlying struggle is over the place of sexual pleasure---and women--- in the religious life. Women are, after all, the most lethal objects of sexual pleasure! It’s a very old debate in which goes back at least as far as Plato, and the disdainful have largely carried the day in Christendom, just as they continue to carry the day in worldwide Anglicanism.
It is noteworthy that the Bible exhibits little of this disdain for sexual pleasure, and only a modest amount of gynophobia. Generally the biblical texts are positive toward sexual pleasure, and in spite of a rather entrenched patriarchy, generally unafraid of women.
The spiritual followers of Plato co-opted Christendom, rendering the Judaeo-biblical tradition irrelevant on matters of sexual pleasure.
posted by Raymond @ 11:16 AM
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