Sex, religion and guilt

[trotsky]

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/family-relationships-and-sex/sex-religion-and-guilt-20160218-gmy3yb.html

It's always surprising how many of my clients have acquired sexual problems because of their religious beliefs or cultural backgrounds. Often they are completely unaware of it which is not surprising when people are taught confusing values from an early age.

It's difficult to grow into a healthy sexual being when you are told by religious parents, and/or church leaders that "God created sex to be something beautiful, and pure but should only be enjoyed in marriage" – and only between a man and a woman. And that you have to be a virgin, preferably having no sexual activity before marriage, no masturbation and definitely no homosexuality.

...

In 2006 US marriage counsellor and sex therapist Dr Marty Klein, wrote this interesting book: America's War on Sex: The Attack on Law, Lust and Liberty. He explains how the religious right faction is successfully censoring what people should read, hear, and see; by limiting access to contraception; legislating "good" moral values, and brainwashing teenagers that God hates premarital sex.

"Sexuality is religion's worst nightmare," he says, "because it offers the possibility of personal autonomy. Anyone can be sexual – rich or poor, old or young, tall or short, educated or not. Religion attempts to seize sex as its own domain, claiming a monopoly or morality which primarily is about limiting sexual expression (rather than ethical or rational decision-making). Religion's ideas about sex centre on 'don't do this and don't do that'."

[Major Nikon]

1. Amazing that so many people believe destroying lives is the "moral" thing to do

Think about how many suicides, substance abuse, broken relationships, bullying, shaming, and other assorted harassment is directly attributable to the promotion of fucked up religious dogma. It might be one thing if people were just too ignorant or stupid to know better, but in an age when information is readily available to just about anyone in the civilized world, that just doesn't fly as an excuse anymore.

Of course we can't point out these abuses and/or mention they are largely subsidized by tax benefits without being accused of "distorting" religion and being intolerant. As if tolerance requires one to ignore the intolerance of others.

[cleanhippie]

2. +1