Why is sex a sin?

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Yeah, that's pretty much it. It's about avoiding such things in excess, which would make sense to codify that in biblical times when they didn't have the resources we are so accustomed to now...

As for me too. Although I think Jesus would rather have someone who was a w*ker than someone who never helped the needy. There's certain priorities to enforcement of certain laws.

Against women 'seducing' men into sexual activity that men, being the 'good' sex, didn't actually really want! There's a very strong undercurrent in the early Church that men could easily be pure and chaste if only those filthy women didn't lure them into it. Eve offering Adam the apple was turned from her simply making him her accomplice in disobedience, into a kind of metaphor for the act of seduction. It's a very persistent attitude. It's the origin of the notion that rape victims are 'asking for it', and the idea that prostitutes are somehow far more morally culpable than the men who pay them for sex.

As for female promiscuity and the breakdown of society, how far should a society be prepared to go? Should it kill its women if they step out of line? Keep them locked up? Not allow them to work, drive, read? There are, of course, societies that believe this is necessary and moral, but I personally wouldn't want to live in any of them, however 'stable' they may be.

Sex is a sin for several reasons, the most important in my opinion being that it is a sensual pleasure that one can very easily become addicted to. People become addicted to sex, or even if they aren't addicted, oftentimes the desire to have sex can outweigh proper judgment. Until the 20th century, there was no contraception, so any time someone had sex outside of marriage, there was a good chance extramarital pregnancy would result. Most people believe that children should be raised in a stable family environment, so this was a problem. Nowadays, with good contraception readily available, the main problem with sex is the whole sensory pleasure/addiction thing. Of course, not all pleasures are bad, but they can be abused. Some Christians think moderate drinking is ok and some don't, but few would say that alcohol abuse is ok. Perhaps if contraception had existed at the time of the Bible, today's Christian's would have a similar attitude towards sex.

In general, I think sex with someone who isn't considered a loved one is a bad idea. Of course some people do it and enjoy it without a lot of visible negative effects, but a lot of problems can come from it.

SEX IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT A SIN.

I know it is off topic as the topic seems to be about the christian approach, but interesting fact is that Islam has a different approach. The Quran clearly indicates that sex is a pleasure and should be approached as such, so recreational sex is seen as a normal and healthy thing and the duties of Islamic marriage clearly indicate sexually pleasing your partner. Sex outside of marriage is considered wrong, but sex on itself is considered a joy that should be enjoyed. Masturbation is also explicitly allowed when somebody feels the need, this is also mentioned in several Islamic teachings and scripts.

Not sure about Judaism but all Jews I know are very much loving and practicing sex, or "kochi mochi" as Israeli slang would call it

Sex itself isnt a sin, just as eating isnt, but eating can become a sin as in gluttony.
When sex is used outside its proscribed setting of marriage, it can be one of the most devestatingly evil acts short of murder.
You see, sex can produce children, where you ever brought up in a Childrens home where the 4 and 5 year olds would stare at the light bulbs trying to make themselves go blind because thier "mummies" didnt want them?
I was.
God made sex, and he made sex to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of humanity, but unlike those of us who see it as a bit of harmless fun, God sees the results of its misuse in the broken lives of the innocent children it produce's.

Adultery and fornication are unlawful Biblically. Sex isn't.

Biblically, missionary heterosexual sex inside marriage, seems to be the only lawful sex.

Last edited by greenblue on 23 Sep 2008, 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Agree. The damage can be devastating.

But it doesn't just happen out of wedlock. Unwanted children are also born into, and brought up in, 'respectable' marriages. Not as bad as growing up in a children's home, but still deeply damaging in its own way.

Bringing a child you don't want into this world is immoral. Period. No matter what your domestic situation.

What I never understood is why some non-catholic christians consider birth control to be sinful AND why masturbation is regarded as a sin...

This is not true. You lie.

I think that you're confusing mainstream Christianity with Puritanism.

A Puritan is a person who frets over the idea that somewhere, someone is having fun, and that there is nothing that can be done to stop it.

Well, this thing seem to differ from different denominations and depending how conservatives they are, the birth control, seem to be seen bad for some, and perhaps due to allowing more freedom for sex outside marriage getting around the consequences.

Masturbation also seem to differ, in which some may argue that you have impure thoughts while you are masturbating, the "adultering in your heart" would be taken as the reason for being a sinful act, mostly if you have fantasies with a woman who is already married, although if she is not married, probably it would not be that different.

Last edited by greenblue on 23 Sep 2008, 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It would mean all living things are sinners.. ;-0

According to that reasoing.. hell must be full of cute fluffy bunnies..

Marriage is just a human tradition.. based on some stranger saying some magic words.. I don't believe in it myself.

Jesus was.. clearly.. against such traditions.. not for them..

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“The children of this system of things marry and are given in marriage, but those who have been counted worthy of gaining that system of things and the resurection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.” - Luke 20:34

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And then.. after the nice ceremony.. the happy couple go off believing these magic words actually mean something.. for the rest of their life…

In reality.. it doesn’t often turn out that way.

Then.. when it comes to divorce.. the courts rub their hands together.. and make a hansome profit from the disintegration of the relationship.. which often happens after a few years.. when mutual boredom kicks in..

Would Jesus have agreed with this practice.. ?

Wasn't he more concerned with a spiritual union.. a "marriage" to the supreme values.. that exist in human hearts.. and minds..?

Loving kindness.. righteousness.. justice.. peace.. wisdom.. truth and freedom.

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"And I will engage you to me for time indefinite, and I will engage you to me in righteousness and in justice and in loving kindness and in mercies. and I will engage you to me in faithfulness; and you will certainly know God." - Hosea 2:17

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I confess....... I’ve had lots of sex.. but never been married..

Do I feel guilty about it.. ?

Why should I.. ?

I have never harmed anyone.... it was always consentual.


If we closely examine the sexual terms used in the bible.. we see that they are being used comparatively.. not literally..

The problem with talking about spiritual (heart and mind) matters is that they are intangible values.. and so they are represented comparatively.. using worldly examples.. to illustrate spiritual ideas.

Ironically.. the sexual terms are mostly being used to condemn the corruptive practices of organized religion..

Or.. leaders.... governments.. and judges.

All of them.. acted as if they were deaf.

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"And even to their judges they did not listen, but they had immoral intercourse with other gods and went bowing down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way in which their forefathers had walked by obeying the commandments of God. They did not do like that.”

Judges 2:17

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Last edited by Accelerator on 23 Sep 2008, 5:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Agreed, bringing a child, wether you want it or not, is always an immoral act.