The sins of the flesh
As soon as one decides to use the word sin many will call up the history of their religious teachings. Of course, not all religions use the term sin, but most strive to control the behavior of others by suggesting that their particular god or gods is going to be displeased if one does not reign in sexual behavior, gluttony, jealously, anger and other behavior.
Obviously gluttony is available as a sin to the very wealthy or those who only have access to unhealthy food which results in the appearance of gluttony or those who need to use food to suppress their anger at those who refuse to share their excess of goods with one’s family. Jealously is available as a sin to those who want what others have, but here again most who express jealously are not wanting the spiritual peace of others. Many are more likely to want “the more” which has failed to bring spiritual peace to those who have more.
One might assume that most of the sins of the flesh are related to physical or spiritual behavior and not the underlying pain. Ironically, many religions have focused on the symptoms of the pain rather than the pain itself. Surely no one could comfortably posit a god or gods who responded to pain with anger and punishment. Yet, by pretending as if they are not human and, thus, have no experience with pain, religious leaders attempt to control others by focusing on the symptoms of pain. Daily, of course, we hear more revelations about those very same religious leaders who have the very same symptoms of “dis ease”. Then some religious leaders point fingers at other leaders as if they themselves are exempt from the same symptoms and the same underlying pain.
Interesting that the sins of gluttony – mega churches, huge salaries, gold chalices, expensive cars, planes, clothes, etc., acute overweight- do not usually bring the same reaction from religious leaders as do the sins of sex. Although science has long debunked the myth of the shortage of sperm, the sexism which mutilates females as an attempt to take away the sin of sexual desire and, thus, the temptation to behave sexually as do males, worldwide religions continue to act as if the need for sexual intimacy can be restrained or controlled with angry, punishing gods and even legal systems which carry out the will of these very same gods.
We move in every evolving circles. We do away with the extended family system for raising children and then justify the restriction of sexual pleasure by suggesting that poor people will have more children than they can take care. Of course, the nuclear family does, for the most part a poor job of raising children. It takes a large extended family to do this well. There are, in some communities some wonderful examples of extended families raising children. This may be a biological family or an intentional family. Those with more assets often do not raise their children. They use nannies, boarding schools and a host of other paid resources. Love may or may not be an ingredient in child rearing which is considered necessary for such important community members who are using money and position to get their temporary fix.
We know to prevent pregnancies. We know how to prevent many sexually transmitted diseases. We know how to create clean, safe brothels (only for those who can afford them). We know how to celebrate the sexuality of children while still teaching them safe sex and about not confusing control with intimacy. We know how to support billions of dollars of porn, including child porn, but not how to massage the pain which leads some to use sex to control small children or to get some human connection without having to be intimate. We do not teach the safe use of porn.
The sins of the flesh are:
Written August 26, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
As soon as one decides to use the word sin many will call up the history of their religious teachings. Of course, not all religions use the term sin, but most strive to control the behavior of others by suggesting that their particular god or gods is going to be displeased if one does not reign in sexual behavior, gluttony, jealously, anger and other behavior.
Obviously gluttony is available as a sin to the very wealthy or those who only have access to unhealthy food which results in the appearance of gluttony or those who need to use food to suppress their anger at those who refuse to share their excess of goods with one’s family. Jealously is available as a sin to those who want what others have, but here again most who express jealously are not wanting the spiritual peace of others. Many are more likely to want “the more” which has failed to bring spiritual peace to those who have more.
One might assume that most of the sins of the flesh are related to physical or spiritual behavior and not the underlying pain. Ironically, many religions have focused on the symptoms of the pain rather than the pain itself. Surely no one could comfortably posit a god or gods who responded to pain with anger and punishment. Yet, by pretending as if they are not human and, thus, have no experience with pain, religious leaders attempt to control others by focusing on the symptoms of pain. Daily, of course, we hear more revelations about those very same religious leaders who have the very same symptoms of “dis ease”. Then some religious leaders point fingers at other leaders as if they themselves are exempt from the same symptoms and the same underlying pain.
Interesting that the sins of gluttony – mega churches, huge salaries, gold chalices, expensive cars, planes, clothes, etc., acute overweight- do not usually bring the same reaction from religious leaders as do the sins of sex. Although science has long debunked the myth of the shortage of sperm, the sexism which mutilates females as an attempt to take away the sin of sexual desire and, thus, the temptation to behave sexually as do males, worldwide religions continue to act as if the need for sexual intimacy can be restrained or controlled with angry, punishing gods and even legal systems which carry out the will of these very same gods.
We move in every evolving circles. We do away with the extended family system for raising children and then justify the restriction of sexual pleasure by suggesting that poor people will have more children than they can take care. Of course, the nuclear family does, for the most part a poor job of raising children. It takes a large extended family to do this well. There are, in some communities some wonderful examples of extended families raising children. This may be a biological family or an intentional family. Those with more assets often do not raise their children. They use nannies, boarding schools and a host of other paid resources. Love may or may not be an ingredient in child rearing which is considered necessary for such important community members who are using money and position to get their temporary fix.
We know to prevent pregnancies. We know how to prevent many sexually transmitted diseases. We know how to create clean, safe brothels (only for those who can afford them). We know how to celebrate the sexuality of children while still teaching them safe sex and about not confusing control with intimacy. We know how to support billions of dollars of porn, including child porn, but not how to massage the pain which leads some to use sex to control small children or to get some human connection without having to be intimate. We do not teach the safe use of porn.
The sins of the flesh are:
- No access to healthy food, shelter, health care and other necessities.
- No community sharing of child care.
- Teaching shame of bodies and sexual intimacy instead of how to celebrate our bodies while being responsive and responsible to each other.
- Using weapons which kill as a means of controlling others and as a means of profit, profit, profit.
- Pretending as if some of us are exempt from the need for intimacy and sexual pleasure.
- Pretending as if sex is just for procreation and every time a sperm and egg decided to hang out with each other god or the gods has ordained that a child be born.
- Pretending as if philanthropy is possible without some having an unequal share of the wealth.
Written August 26, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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