a slightly sarcastic break in the thread ... then, back to sewing
*Warning* Do not read if you are easily upset.
... ... No problem, Rev ... I've got Pepto-Bismol
By the way, "Warning" yerself ... my response is totally tongue-in-cheek. It's late here, I'm in my "wise guy" mode (eventhough this is a relatively serious thread that I, myself began ), and Rev. Salmanoid's post is just begging me for comic dissection. Here goes ...
This is a very important subject for visual artists let me start by acknowledging some obvious and universal facts (things that are ignored by much of those contributing to this thread).
1. All sex is pleasurable. (heterosexual, homosexual, monosexual, s&m)
... ... You never met my first girlfriend... sex with her was either "monosexual" .. or just plain monotonous. She turned me into a bi-sexual (I use
both hands).
Secondly, about "all sex is pleasurable" ... how did you like S&M ?
This simply is how we're designed as sexual beings. It is very mechanical, and we are not vastly different from one another.
.. .. .. you ever shower with Michael Jordan?
Rub Y, get X. That simple.
... ... You talkin' about sex, ... or fire-starting? Hope you keep the sandpaper away from your bedside
2. Pleasure can be destructive.
... ... On the other hand, destruction can be pleasurable (think of pyromaniacs or mercenaries)...
now where's the perversion? Actually, Rev, can't too much of
anything become destructive?
Just because something is edifying in one context, in another it can harm and destroy.
... ... Careful! Some have said that about religion!
For instance, fire does a wonderful job of roasting asparagus to that perfect softness/crispness to make it a pure pleasure,
... ... You
roast asparagus? I've never tried that. Got any secrets for artichokes?
but fire all over the kitchen, or all over the forest is a terrible producer of death and destruction.
... ... We can't seem to escape the subject of fire, huh? Well, I guess it's natural for a religious guy ... anyway, don't forget the benefits of burning the underbrush in certain forests (or behind certain refrigerators). As for producers of death and destruction, I've always thought that Irwin Allen did a great job on The Poseidon Adventure, don't you?
Examples: Abuse of drugs is pleasurable but it leads to self destruction. To much alchohol leads to death on the highway and destruction of your liver.
.. .. .. or the Presidency? (no flames, please ... yes I
know he no longer drinks. That's my point)
Licentious living leads to sexually transmitted deseases.
.. .. .. Not to mention back problems and tardiness at work.
3. Sexuallity serves the essential function of reproduction of the human species. This is a very good thing. Nuff said.
.. .. .. it also serves to keep a thread going for a reeel long time. Snuff is bad.
4. Children are dependant on a stable environment, and need protection from those who can easily harm them.
... ... Serious point with which I agree. No joke here, but see others, below.
Healthy and lifelong heterosexual relationships are the most complete and healthy relationship for raising children who become healthy adults.
.. .. ..because
we heterosexuals never harm our children ... only those evil homos or divorced, single parents
do. Oooo. I feel another thread coming on ... see you there, Rev, OK? Don't be shy ..
Our society wishes to deny this so that we can excuse our adidiction to sexual pleasure
.. .. .. or our "addiction" to divorce
at the expense of the healthy reproduction of our species.
.. .. .. Summary: sexual pleasure threatens the human race.
5. Men are aroused visually. Women much less so. This is were pornography comes in.
.. .. .. Of course, you're not saying that
all pornography is for men, are you? 'Cause if that's the case, I'm gonna start buying PlayGirl magazines and gluing different heads onto the pictures of those guys .. I'll leave the rest of the bod as-is and just imagine it's a transsexual....
6. Pornography is addictive to many males, and will lead to the foresaking of spouse and family for self gratification.
... ... Hey! "Self gratification" is
often a way for a guy to stay
faithful to his wife instead of catting around (especially after the fire has left a relationship ..oops, here we go with 'fire' again) Jeepers, Rev .. you really think that men pack up the Playboys and skip out on their families to wank-off in some log cabin in the woods for the rest of their lives? (actually.. sounds like an attractive lifestyle ... put I'd have to take breaks to do photography and order-out for pizza and stuff .. Ah, nevermind)
It is a well established fact that all sexaul preditors are users of pornography first.
.. .. .. and towels, second
Sexual arousal leads to sexual acts, most of which are destructive of healthy marriage, and nurturing of children.
.. .. .. or, on the re-write: Sexual arousal leads to sexual acts ... which lead to children .. .. and the destruction of the marriage from which they resulted and their subsequent nurturing. WHAT?
Now I certainly hope that no one here would argue with any of they truths.
... ... Nope. Scout's horror ..eh, honor
If they offend you, you should ask yourself why reality bites.
.. .. ..naw, Rev. The expression is, "reality sucks". Feels better than a bite. (Hope I don't offend you).
I would also hope that you would not produce art which leads to destructive sexual behavior,
.. .. ..nor destroy art which leads to productive sexual behavior
but would aim for a more edifying goal.
.. .. .. because art is about edifying, and nothing else. Plus, never create art because something pleases you ... create art to fulfill someone else's goal (aka, a "product shot", or now known as "the edifying shot":rolleyes
Stop being an animal, and be human.
.. .. .. That's what I would have said to the religious guys who burned Joan of Arc alive, or the religious guys who burn crosses and bombed churches, or the religious guys who today in Africa preach abstinence in place of advocating the use of condoms, putting religious dogma ahead of human suffering. I'd say, "Stop being religious animals. Be human."
[signed] Rev. Timothy Gordish . .
Father of an adopted child who was the product of fornication, neglected by her mother, abused by a boyfriend and used for child pornography. We are currently dealing the the devasting effects of her early sexualization.
.. .. .. Rev, it is admirable of you to have adopted that child. I mean that sincerely. However, you seem to be "using" this child to give yourself credibility for some of your questionable points (sorry, not "truths", but your opinions), above. As no-one even questioned your "authority" (yet), it's bit of overkill, don't you think? Leave the kid out of it, and best of luck raising her. Best of luck to her, too.
If some of my sarcasm has irked you, well ... then I've reached half my objective. The other half is to provoke you to think from another angle, or with more reflection. As my late, wise mother used to say, there's always some truth in humor. As a man of the church, you should be used to finding truth. Go for it.
Christopher Nisperos
PS - friendly suggestion: get SpellCheck