Using sex to sell religion...

Everyone knows that sex sales, that's why you can't get on a bus or turn on the television without having some variation of it shoved in your face. Still, Is it fair for religion to use sex to get new members?

I ask this because a local church in my hometown is doing just that. They have placed ads in papers that were so risque that some papers refused to run them. They put up a website that almost sounds like porn, in order to garner the attention of possible new members.

They are conspiring to use sex to spread the message of Christianity.

There is nothing graphic in this link, just some serious flirtations with sexuality.

I am turned on

What are your thoughts on religion using sexuality to win converts?

[edit on 24-1-2007 by mrwupy]

at some point in this week the infamous ted haggard said that evangelical christians have the best sex lives in the world... (wonder if it has something to do with the meth and male hookers)
obviously, sex will always be a selling point for anything
even religion

If they're using sex as a sign of faith, then they can't say anything bad about premartial sex, since after all, they consider it part of being faithful.

Originally posted by mrwupy

What are your thoughts on religion using sexuality to win converts?

[edit on 24-1-2007 by mrwupy]

To tell the truth, I'm not suprised, as some of the "Christian Rock" kicks and gives you that good ole rock and roll feeling down in your loins. I wonder if that is the bands intention. Certain tribal beats used in Rock and Roll are definatly sexual and maybe the videos/graphics are just an extension of the new contemporary youthful approach to Christianity.
Using sex to win converts probably works much better than fear and damnation, guilt etc.

Christian rock in reality should not be categorized as "Christian." Rock has stood for rebellion, and sometimes sex and drugs, and incorporating that into a religion mostly defies its teachings. Christianity is supposed to preach humbleness and love, not greed and profit. When Jesus (pbuh) overturned the table at the temple, because one of the priests was making money off of the people's faith, he did it because he did not advocate the commercializing of faith to produce profit.

i work at a coffee shop by a christian college. over the years i have noticed an increase in "Warrior of God" type fads. has anyone else obsereved an increase in a militant style amoungst young christiants.

What got me is that they are referring to Christianity as an "ancient" faith... Ummm, Christianity as we presently consider it has only been in existence since 325 A.D... there are several religions that are much,much older than that..

As far as this "ad" goes, it doesn't bother me.. Although, I will say that I don't condone it.

Seems like a case of bait and switch to me.

I know it's not Catholicism, but should Christianity be allowed to use sex or even sexuality to promote it's religious values?

Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of the whole sex thing and of course am not Christian so as a heathen ya know...where ever you be let your freak flag fly free and so on...but I digress.

The website certainly is a bit misleading as it seems to open up with two people (nekked sinners!) in bed then wham here comes the dramatic music and I'm not quite sure but I'm almost positive the basic gist of the opening flash movie thing was "hey spider stop being a whore and get to church...where you can have more fulfilling sex".

From the website:

The culture has lied to you. The church has lied to you. Who is going to tell you the truth about your sexual identity? Find some true-to-life honesty in the love story told by God about how he designed us as deeply sexual and spiritual beings.

Great but I'm pretty sure "Disco Jesus" will not be greeting me at the door and I find it hard to believe that it'll be all glow sticks and house music.

So is the message have sex, have lots of sex, just not meaningless sex?

I don't know...I'm not advocating meaningless sex mind you...but...well...ahem moving on.

Where does the church stand on role play?

Just curious.


Spiderj

It also seems they're using some very interesting key words to drive traffic to their site...bait and switch...IMO.

I think this is just wrong.

That "peace" sign sure does remind me of the playboy bunny.

I work really hard to respect the beliefs of others, but this one takes more work than most.

The atmosphere of Buddhist Thangkas shows the Sexual Union to be something Divine.


But the way that this "I am turned on" church presents sexuality, seems to stimulate lust more than devotion.


So it looks like this "I am turned on" church might be another religious group under the influence of a certain Arch-Demon:

From the Aquarian Message

All Religious organizations which are presently known in this physical world that do not teach the path of Scientific Chastity are controlled by the Black Lodge. When they know about Scientific Chastity and they do not teach it, it is because such organizations fell into the hands of Javhe.

[edit on 26-1-2007 by Tamahu]

Here's a really great explanation of the place that sexuality has within Christianity, and Religion in general:




www.gnosticvideos.org...

Google Video Link

Really, the Foundation of the Christic Path, is learning how to separate Love(Divine eroticism and Chastity) from lust(Satanic eroticism and fornication).







Regards

With a ministers daughter. They repress so much that they are usually the biggest freaks in bed.

Hi, I read your post and thought of this article, Porn and Pancakes. It's hosted by a church.

Church Hosts Porn and Pancakes

Seems to me we live in a sexual induced society. There is no escape from it, not even in the house of God.

I'm sure curious about what position these bodies are in


I'm on a dial-up connection so I got to look at this image for 2 min. while it loaded.

The fact is that the only reason any of us are here is because of sex.
Sex is one of the most interesting aspects of our lives and has always, and will always, be used as a vehicle to promote products.

Just look at our history and the influence sex has on all our lives.
If you don't like it it's not like you can crawl back up the birth canal and make it go away.
Teach your children well, teach them to respect other people, but what they do after sexual maturity is out of your hands.

I think it is high time that the church stopped treating sex like a taboo. There are serious concerns that couples have about their sex lives. Many need to know their church's position on porn, masturbation, celibacy before marriage, etc. . .

The Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) is one of the most erotic books in the Bible. You didn't really think he was talking about her belly button did you?

Hmmmmm, I looked at the link and thought this, that the ad was about being unfulfilled, having that aching, empty spot in your heart/mind/soul that you are trying to fill. This ad zeroed in on sex, as some people might wonder why they're having so much sex, yet feeling still unfilled. This ad could attract those people. The fabric of sex in American culture still has many loose ends.

There could just as well have been a presentation about shopping, substance abuse, etc, as these are dominant themes in American culture. Sex just seems to be the theme chosen for this presentation.

It might make me want to go to church every once and awhile. I tried to write a valid reply but I thought about it and just came to the conclusion, does it really matter one tiny bit at all?

Nope it doesn't unless they are in your hometown and trying to do creepy stuff to people you know etc...But even then you can't really do anything because you would end up being arrested and they would go free.

My opinion, of course they are creeps, having to use sex in religion as a new gimmick to get people. But there are so many ways this conversation can go that it is not worth it to even figure it out. Things are coming to a head and it's ready for this festering, diseased, puss ridden, zit to explode! That is the best think I can think of for this topic.

They are true scum, but there all all kinds of "VALID" religions that use sex. They are smart though and disguise it so it looks like they are pure and wholesome and that is the last thing they would ever do. We are all God's whores, when it comes to the Evil as Evil can be leaders from Religions and Governments, Etc...

I dont think most of the posters in this thread get it at all.

THere are two basic types of churchs in history...Pagan churchs and Christian Churchs. If you want to throw in the Hebrew form of worship so be it.

The key in understanding this issue of sex in the church is understanding the standard given to the Hebrews and continuing on into the Christain age after the significance of the Cross.

THe simple truth/facts avoided so assiduously by educated peoples today..meaning public education into college professors....is that no where in the instructions to the Hebrews...OLde Testament ...nor the Christians in the New Testament ..do you ever see an instruction to define ones self by their sexuality.
These people to whom I describe here are instructed to define themselves by the God who lives in them...or sometimes called the "Living God."

You never see this instruction...to define ones self by sexuality...why.

The Hebrews of the olde testament were told not to do as the nations surrounding them did..for the land was defiled by the previous inhabitants.

Simply because this was already being done carte blanche by the Pagans and the Pagan Churchs surrounding the Hebrews of the Olde Testament and the Pagans surrounding the Christians of the New Testament.
They were instructed specifically not to do as the nations surrounding them did...including runaway sexuality particulary around the festivals and Pagan Holy days.

Someone is attempting to bring this fingerprint back today...carte blanche. This is obvioius to those who can think further than television/movie programming.

I am not saying that a Christian or a Hebrew or others are not to have sexuality ..not a all. I merely say that for these people this is not the focal point of thier lives. When you look around you in all the communications media where sexuaility is so heavily promoted and accelerated ..even in our public schools ...such that it becomes meaningless ...valueless. Also the people involved in this prostutution of values themselves become meaningless and valueless like a new pair of shoes..like a new handbag..a new car...they are interchangable.

Runaway sex is the tool used by merchandizers to sell everything marketed in this nation and across the Globe. It is also used in the process to sell the very souls of a people.

The very intresting omission to me is that this concept is so very seldome taught to the public for what it really is.

What I detect now is that this soul selling technique is now being infiltrated into the very Churchs which are supposed to be teaching a different line...for lucre.

I can recall being so insulted to see on the marque of a church that they promised to get thier flock home by kick off time!! What a bunch of dummies...both the ministers and the flock in this church.

So now it comes down to this..I am not surprised here. It was bound to happen with todays brand of educated ministers.

You do not ever as a human being define who and what you are by your sexuality. A proper human being is so much more. When you fall prey to being seduced into buying this or buying that ..not buying this or that by sexuality or sexual programming ..you are quickly a puppet on a string.
This itself is a seduction. It is even more low life when a church uses this technique. They are declaring themselves Pagan.

Thanks,
Orangetom

To understand the Hebrew teaching, we have to understand that the Hebrew Temple was just as the Khemetian Temples, and Buddhist teachings; meaning that there is an Outer(for the profane), Inner(for Intiates) and Secret(Holy of Holies) levels of teachings.


So in the Hebrew teaching about Sex, the psychology of Lilith and Nahemah need to be understood:


www.abovetopsecret.com...


See the quote titled "The Abyss" from that^^^ post.



Only those who received the Inner and Secret teachings, were able to understand the true meaning of Chastity.


Luckily for us who are willing to change, the teachings are availible for the public in these last days.


See also the video excerpt from my last post.





Regards




[edit on 10-2-2007 by Tamahu]

Originally posted by Tamahu
To understand the Hebrew teaching, we have to understand that the Hebrew Temple was just as the Khemetian Temples, and Buddhist teachings; meaning that there is an Outer(for the profane), Inner(for Intiates) and Secret(Holy of Holies) levels of teachings.

Sorry Tamahu,

This stuff you are posting is precisely what the Hebrews were told in the first five books not to do. THey were not to glorify the sexual roles. The pagans including the Egyptians and other nations surrounding them were already doing that.

Those things you describe are from Occult Pagan religious traditions.

This method of behavior of the Hebrew instructions was to show clearly that these people ..these peculear people did not do as the nations surrounding them did ..including the comparison to the initiates, profane, etc etc. This is Talmud...a proceedure or protocol which the Hebrews were also told not to do. This Talmudic proceedure was already in effect in the other nations surrounding the Hebrews. They came into contact with this big time in the Babylonian captivity though other nations were practicing this too..such as the Egyptians.
The Hebrews were not to do as the nations surrounding them did..All these specifications in the Olde Testament conduct including the sexual prohibitions were to show that these people did not belong to the traditions as did the Pagans surrounding them. THey were not to be a part of this practice or traditions of the Pagan nations..also sometimes called Heathen.

It is very common in todays '"fit all under the broad brush" philosophys to try to make all religions the same religion ..this just is not true. It can also be amply demonstrated from a historical perspective by those who know the history and rationale behind it.

Most Believers today are so dumb it is easy to confuse them on this concept as they know so little Bible and even less history.

Thanks,
Orangetom