Society for Sacred Sexuality – Sacred Sex from Mid-East to West

Gary Joseph · Posted: December 7, 2004

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This Topic will teach:

An eye-opening look at sacred sex symbolism in the 3 major religions of the middle east -- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Also, an overview of western sexuality and how it is evolving toward sacred sex.

russ · Posted: May 14, 2005

The West is defined as west of Rome. Migrations out of Asia and Russia heading both east and west brought civilization to Scandinavia then The British Isles and across The Atlantic to North America heading west and across The Bering Straight into Alaska and south into North America heading east long before The Roman Empire even existed. "In the Wayback Time" all of the present continents were one large land mass called Lemuria. It is reasonable to assume that in the cataclysmic break up of Lemuria the various land masses were populated
by the original Lemurians and their religious and sacred sexual traditions were carried with them. Stuff of legend /myth? perhaps but how to explain the universality of sacred sex traditions throughout the world? Critical Mass evolution?{ the theory that when enough people/members of a species learn a new skill all of the species throughout the world acquire the skill} but where did the people spread throughout the world come from? Atlantis is referred to by Plato . More stuff of legend and myth? Where did it come from?
The Holy Roman Empire{ the original non Christian Roman Empire was far more tolerant of local religious customs and practices } and the Holy Spanish Empire worked very diligently to eradicate native religions and practices in their conquests. Where did these native religions with their earthy and very open and relaxed sexuality come from ? They proved to be very tenacious and in some cases wholesale slaughter was required to eliminate them. What is the source of the predominance of Mother Earth /Goddess religions throughout the world and particularly in North, Central and South America?
Mother Earth/Father Great Spirit cultures always embodied a sacred sexual tradition regardless of where they were/are found. It is the hallmark of these cultures to reverence the Earth and women as the producers/sustainers of life and it's mysteries . In these cultures earth and women are protected and nurtured not raped and pillaged as in our so called civilized society which were considered uttterly barbaric by our so called primitive /unenlightened native forefathers and mothers.

Gary Joseph · Posted: May 15, 2005

Yes, the question of our true origins needs a lot more conscious examination and exploration, with input from experts who have studied various ideas. Just a few interesting tidbits that I've run across:

1) On a visit to Chichen Itza in Mexico, our tour guide pointed out some sculptures (pre-dating America's 1492 'discovery' by Columbus) showing men dressed in clothing that clearly resembled Roman/Phoenician warriors.

2) Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, built before Columbus's discovery of America, has aloe vera and maize plants sculpted into its decorative relief; these plants are native only to the America's, and could not have been known in Scotland at that time unless others were here before Columbus.

The relationship between the Holy Roman Empire and native pagan or earth goddess cultures also needs examination. One troubling revelation:

There was a Phoenician god named Mithra who was widely honored among the pagans at the time Christianity became the 'official' state religion. The story of Mithra's birth is of interest: he was born in a manger on December 25. Apparently, the Church officials, in an effort to win popular support for Christianity, adopted the traditional day of celebration as Christ's so as to appeal to the pagans...who they later so rabidly preached against.

These are a few things I've come across, and it's not even a major interest of mine, so I'm not well read on the subject. I'm sure there are many more dark secrets that have been swept under the rug over the centuries. If we're to have a conscious and enlightened society, we need to put all this out on the table and let the people know the truth about what they 'believe' in.

russ · Posted: May 17, 2005

Until the declaration by The Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. { A.C. E to secularists} of Christianity being the State religion of the Roman Empire, Christianity thrived on a "last days " possibility of death for being a Christian. With the acceptance and ascendence of Christianity a "settled and secure belonging" settled into the faith. Leaders compromised the intensity of the transmission on the one hand and the removal of immanent death for being a follower of Christ on the other mutually contributed to the dilution of the message AND the expunging of the role of Masters of Initiation from the essential practice of Christian Discipleship.
These events led to the rise of monasticism a literal "going into the desert" in order to regain the intensity of the practice. St Antony of Egypt who was a Coptic Christian { The Coptic faith traces it's establishment to the exile of Jesus , Mary and Joseph in Egypt to avoid the slaughter by Herod the Great and venerates various landmarks as holy because Jesus was there as a child} is credited with being "The Father of Christian Monasticism" . Monasticism wa seen as "becoming a Eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom of God" in reference to Christ Jesus ' declaration "there are some who are eunuchs for God's sake"
The establishment of "Christmas" as Dec . 25 th coincides with the "pagan" celebration of the birth of Mithras who was also virgin borne and the celebration of the Roman Festival of "Saturnalia". The practice of fasting twice weekly has both Jewish and Roman roots and the days of fasting were merely changed from the "pagan " and Jewish fast days to other days of the week. The assertion that Jesus is the Sun/Son of God changed the sabbath from Saturday {Saturns day} to Sunday. As an aside our names for the week are derived fron Norse mythology and Astrology as follows: Monday -Moon's day, Tuesday- Jove's{Jupiter's}day , Wednesday-Woden"s day, Thursday-Thor"s day, Friday-Freia's day Saturday- Saturn's day and Sunday -Sun's day. Sun. Moon. Jupiter , Woden, Thor, Freia and Saturn a very interesting weekly constellation!
The Christian Initiatory transmission was taken underground once again and carried in plain sight by "The Gypsies" in the form of the Major Arcana of The Tarot . The Christian Initiatory transmission was a continuation with amplification and complete out picturing in the events of his life ,death, resurrection and ascension by Jesus "The Christ" of the 'Ancient Mysteries" of The hebrew esoteric teaching of "the Kahbahlah" and of the Egyptian Mystery School which produced the now ascended ,once on Earth , Great White Brotherhood {Christ Light Beings, not race } of which Jesus "The Christed One" is the High Priest.
Secular Christianity continued to be built upon "a memory" not " a living transmission" of direct experience and the millenia long antagonism between various secular Christian "denominations" was launched and continues unabated to this day.
Secular Christianity became the religion Jesus never intended to establish and it is no wonder that this totally exoteric form of rule by fear has turned countless millions away from both Jesus Christ and God the Father as it's practice is antithetical to The Gospel of Jesus Christ which is "God LOVES All Human Beings ABSOLUTELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY and there is NOTHING TO FEAR . EVEN DEATH{ once the Final Answer for humans} has been overcome by the Messiah/ Savior CHRIST .
Jesus Christ's attitude toward women was revolutionary in the Patriarchal jewish faith. Women were equal in stature and practice. Women were part of Jesus's inner circle and were equally initiated as Teachers/Apostles. {Much of the record of the female Apostle's of Jesus Christ is preserved in the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church.}
Once again the historical secular practice of Christianity differs radically from it's roots and women struggle to be accepted in a religion whose "founder" fully accepted them and now it is discovered even married one of them! { MUCH to the chagrin of the established ROMAN CATHOLIC church hierarchy who are looking at over 2000 years of Doctrine being FLUSHED down the tubes over this and will NEVER endorse it as truth} Have you ever wondered why it was Mary Magdeline and not his mother or the male Apostles who went to Jesus' tomb on the day after the sabbath and was the first to see The Risen Christ?

russ · Posted: May 19, 2005

The founding fathers of our country were ADAMANT that there would be no STATE/GOVERNMENT official religion for the United States but that each person be free to worship or not as they saw fit personally. Our constitution grants freedom of religious expression; not from religious expression . Remember that our country was initially populated by Puritans who were persecuted in England because they did not follow the Church of England{ established by King Henry the 8th because the Pope of the Roman Church excommunicated him for marrying his brother's wife or was that Herod? The names and circumstances may be different but the outcome is the same}.
There has always been an effort by government to allign with religion as a means of influencing{controling?}the citizenry{ witness the Republican party and the "religious right" and the Democratic party and the "non religious left"} Our constitution specifically prohibits a State Religion precisely because of the historical abuses of such government/religion alliances. Promulgation of fear is a hallmark strategy for introducing repressive government in the name of "security" .
{ Witness The Patriot Act , the non stop fear mongering of "color alerts" and the draconian, and comically ineffective efforts, of 'airport security" since 9/11. For a sobering view of this tragedy see the article "What if everything you know about 9/11 is wrong?" in the August 2005 issue of Hustler magazine. This is an interview with "David Ray Griffin a professor of Theology, a well respected scholar and the author of more than 20 books including 'The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions '
and ' The new Pearl Harbor: Disturbing Questions About the Bush Administration and 9/11' "}
Why should sacred sexuality be concerned? Because it is viewed as threat by the establishment, both political and religious, and established power always opposes a new paradigm such as Sacred Sexuality which seeks to "heal the seperation" within individuals , relationships, and the society at large. The established power maintains it's influence through perpetuating the very seperations within and between people and cultures which Sacred Sexuality among many spiritual , although not religious, practices seeks to eliminate.

Gary Joseph · Posted: May 25, 2005

As usual Russ, you cover a lot of ground with sweeping statements. It's also clear that you have, um...a bone to chew with the 'establishment', which unfortunately leads me to take what you say with a grain of salt.

You definitely speak to a lot of issues that need to be openly examined and discussed, but you gloss over so many details that you don't really prove your point. For example:

Board Moderator · Posted: December 1, 2005

[ MODERATOR'S NOTE: In response, Russ has posted a lengthy discussion of Tarot, which has been moved to the Open Forum. It includes an interpretation of Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) that is relevant to the current Topic -- click here to read.]

londheart · New Contributor Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

I've noticed a tendency for the celebration of Christmas to be like a bad orgasm. Not only is it commercialised, but this leads to 1) a very long build-up or anticipation and b) a sudden falling-off after the exchange of presents. The actual 'religious' Christmas is very different - a period of twelve feast-days, starting from Christmas Day itself and culminating approximately in the Old or Eastern Orthodox Christmas Day. Thus what could be a sacred holiday, with the potential to unite East and West, is reduced, apparently by the influence of commerce, into the social equivalent of a bad orgasm.

Gary Joseph · Posted: January 5, 2009

Yes, I think we can extend that to all of life when we get caught up in transitory material values and lose sight of the lasting spiritual ones. We're always chasing after the next best thing, and never satisfied when we get it.

The true best thing is within -- free and always there.

That's why when you get it, life's a 24/7 Orgasm!