Topic : An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs

I agree with Judy on this one. 

Peace, 

Fredi 

Blksheepy and JoeyJohn, 

I am swamped with work, school and home - life right now, but I will be answering your questions about Adi Da in full as soon as I get a break. 

Peace, 

Turtle Love 

I guess what you are saying is that first of all you don't believe sex outside of marriage is a sin, but you're not 100% sure (neither am I by the way).    If it is/was a sin, then the fact that it was done for a good reason (you could marry someone who was not matched sexually)  then it is/was acceptable?  Acceptable because the result has been a long, happy marriage.   

Please know that when I say the word  "acceptable", I am thinking acceptable to god,  not acceptable to people.    I am certainly not in a position to judge anyone and I get that the people on this board feel the same way. 

Here's an example that just leapt to my mind.   If a person has hungry children, and is in a position where they can't feed them.   Would it be a sin to go out and steal the food because the end result would be fed children?   Nobody wants to see hungry children, OR unhappy marriages.   I would personally steal the food, but ask for forgiveness.      Do the means justify the end?   

I actually think it is sinful for people to use the concept of sin to justify a difference of opinion-even a difference of opinion of a theological issue  It is misleading and trivializes the whole concept of sin.  A true understanding of sin is an important part of having a relationship with God. 

My own view is that God wants us to have one day a week where everyone rests where families can all be together. I doubt if he is hanging on whether it is Saturday or Sunday. 

I would personally beg for the food and trust God to soften up the hearts of those I approached.  

I do understand what you meant but deciding that the ends justify the means is a bit slippery, no? And you were also failing to have faith in God and that was a problem for Abraham even when Abraham only gave up waiting for his promised baby when Sarah was 80!! 

I am a new christian so I guess I have to learn that "have faith in god" concept.  

Do you feel the ends justified the means in your case? 

It is hard to grasp that concept but the failure to trust in God is a sin.  It is called the sin of dispair (again a catholic concept).   It is probably the hardest thing to do when your life is painful or difficult, but resting your trouble on your faith in God can really be a relief...and I honestly have never had Him fail me.  He has helped me in ways I might not have anticipated but I've never been abandoned. 

Let's clear something up. My husband is GREAT in bed.  No question about that-he is generous and giving and skillful.  He gives massages and pampers me too and I am pretty great, too even if I do say it myself.  We didn't need other partners because we were failing to get each other off. 

I can't really explain about our other needs without getting too personal and I'm sure it would just sound weird to people who don't have those needs.  It wasn't lust that caused us to need to include others and we were not just playing around with other people's bodies.  There was love and commitment in those relationships that still last to today.  We were bound together in a more mental way than you are thinking. 

However, having explored relationships of dominance with others and having been able to come to a better understanding of our own dominant charactoristics, we have been able to engage with each other in that way now.  It certainly isn't the same, but it is satisfying and it is even more satisfying to be able give that to each other.