tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72072623390476650802024-02-20T03:40:08.052-08:00Christians Talking About PolygamyAlthough most Christians would agree that polygamy is a sin, always was a sin, and always will be a sin, many disagree. Some claim polygamy was allowed in the Old Testament, but not in the New. Others say that nothing in the Bible forbids polygamy. Who's Right? Who's Wrong? and Why? All comments from sincere Christians are welcomed.Tom Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15024941591382297688noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207262339047665080.post-85921950858377104862008-07-30T07:41:00.000-07:002008-07-30T07:46:36.314-07:00<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Description: Does the <em><strong>Bible</strong></em> say <em><strong>Heaven</strong></em> is sex-free? Should <em><strong>Christians</strong></em> believe in <em><strong>heavenly lovemaking</strong></em> in the <strong><em>afterlife</em></strong>?</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I recently published a book entitled </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/3342841"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>Is There SEX In Heaven?</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> through lulu.com The reason I wrote this book is because I was always taught that Heaven is a sex-free zone reserved exclusively for celestial monks and nuns. That was disturbing. Giving up sex for lent is one thing; giving up sex for eternity is a homiletic of an entirely different color. I told a friend of mine that I was writing a book entitled </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/3342841"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>Is There SEX In Heaven?</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> He said, "I sure hope the answer is yes; otherwise, I wouldn't want to go there." </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I've heard others express similar sentiments. I, too, used to feel the exact same way for many years. But after doing my homework, I've come to the conclusion that most of the reasons most people give for a sex-free eternity do not hold water. That's because most of them are not even softballs; they're whiffle balls. Whiffle balls don't hold water. But there are a couple of objections that seem like hard balls... at first.<br />Jesus said there is no sex in Heaven. (Actually, Jesus said no such thing. I explain what Jesus "really" said; and what Jesus meant in </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/3342841"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">my book</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />Sex outside of marriage is a sin; no exceptions. (Actually, the Bible does give us a few exceptions, which I also explain in </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/3342841"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">my book</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">.)</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />I hope you'll check out </span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/3342841"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">my book on sex in the afterlife</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">. After all, eternity without sex is kinda like coffee without a doughnut.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />That's my opinion. What's yours?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><div style="WIDTH: 430px"><object height="300" width="430"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=gWTYAZIssj"><embed width="430" src="http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=gWTYAZIssj" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><a class="mcrmeebo" href="http://www.meebo.com/rooms/" target="_BLANK"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="45" alt="Create a Meebo Chat Room" src="http://widget.meebo.com/b.gif" width="430" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Christians Talking About Polygamy is an interactive site dedicated the discussion of the pros and cons of polygamy and the ethical issues pertaining to polygamy from a Christian perspective. I encourage your participation to join the discussion. Please stay on topic, and be considerate of the views of others. No profanity.</div>Tom Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15024941591382297688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207262339047665080.post-13286923165841035262008-07-23T08:37:00.000-07:002008-07-23T08:41:28.292-07:00Are We Naturally Monogamous? Consider "The Coolidge Effect!"<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Many of us living in this modern-day Western civilization take monogamy for granted. This is especially true for most Christians... even though Abraham, King David, Solomon, and other Bible heroes were polygamous.<br /><br />Regardless of whether you believe in polygamy, polyamory, or swinging, chances are, most people you know outside of your subculture regard your non-orthodox lifestyle as an aberration. Welcome to the club.<br /><br /><strong>Consider "The Coolidge Effect"</strong><br /><br />One of the biggest challenges to the notion that humans are naturally monogamous is what is known in scientific circles as "The Coolidge Effect." In biology and psychology, this term describes a peculiar phenomena seen in nearly every species whereby males show continuously high sexual performance given the introduction of new receptive females.<br /><br />The term "Coolidge Effect" originated as a joke. Legend has it that President Coolidge and his wife were visiting a chicken farm. Mrs. Coolidge asked her tour guide how often their roosters have sex.<br /><br />"Several times a day," was the reply.<br /><br />"Be sure to tell that to my husband," the First Lady insisted.<br /><br />Later, the tour guide relayed her message to the president.<br /><br />"Mr. President, your wife asked me to give you this message. She insisted that I tell you that our roosters have sex several times a day."<br /><br />"With the same hen?" President Coolidge asked.<br /><br />"Oh no, Mr. President... with different hens. Roosters like variety."<br /><br />"Well, you be sure to tell THAT to the First Lady."<br /><br />Many Christians who are critical of multi-partner love styles might agree that most men, and even many women, have a natural proclivity for a variety of sex partners. But they would also insist that that proclivity is a result of The Fall. They claim that God made us monogamous, but when we inherited Adam's sinful, fallen nature, a lust for variety became a part of our fallen state.<br /><br />I, on the other hand, believe that variety is the spice of life, not only in other aspects of life, such as food, entertainment, and other pastimes, but for sexual partners as well. Of course, sexual variety must be used responsibly.<br /><br />That's my opinion. What's yours?</span><br /><br /><div style="WIDTH: 430px"><object height="300" width="430"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=gWTYAZIssj"><embed width="430" src="http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=gWTYAZIssj" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><a class="mcrmeebo" href="http://www.meebo.com/rooms/" target="_BLANK"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="45" alt="Create a Meebo Chat Room" src="http://widget.meebo.com/b.gif" width="430" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Christians Talking About Polygamy is an interactive site dedicated the discussion of the pros and cons of polygamy and the ethical issues pertaining to polygamy from a Christian perspective. I encourage your participation to join the discussion. Please stay on topic, and be considerate of the views of others. No profanity.</div>Tom Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15024941591382297688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207262339047665080.post-13895049150976357042008-07-19T08:27:00.000-07:002008-07-23T08:15:50.852-07:00Is Polygamy A Sin?<span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>One of the greatest challenges facing Christianity today is the question of polygamy. Is polygamy a sin? If so, why? If not, why not?</strong></em></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The polygamy issue is both complex and controversial. Since there are plenty of good arguments on each side, Christianity has reached a stalemate regarding whether or not polygamy is a sin. Even giants of the faith have been divided on this issue. Luther and Calvin, for example, took opposite views. Sincere Christians today are still divided.Why Is Christianity Divided On Polygamy?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">There are several reasons why Christianity has been divided on this controversial topic.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">First, nowhere in the Bible does God clearly and explicitely state whether or not He prohibits polygamy. Even theologians on the anti-polygamy side admit this. Therefore, when making their case, those on each side of this issue use implications from Scripture that seem to support their side. Here are two prime examples:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">PRO: God never criticised the patriarches for having multiple wives. Therefore, God approves of polygamy.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">CON: God created Adam and Eve. He did not create Adam, Eve, and Betty. Therefore, God disapproves of polygamy.Second, this is a complex issue and nobody is infallible; not even the giants of the faith.Third, everyone has biases. Few people approach Scripture without some built-in pre-suppositions.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">But there's also a fourth reason why anti-polygamists cling to their position with tooth and nails. Beyond the interpretation of complex biblical passages, there are also complex ethical ramifications which could have a major impact on both Christianity and society as a whole. This is why many are reluctant to surrender to the position that polygamy just might be an ethical option.America is a melting pot of various cultures. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that various groups are pushing to make polygamy both ethical and legal within the United States. Truly, polygamy is a hot potato!</span><br /><br /><div style="WIDTH: 430px"><object height="300" width="430"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=gWTYAZIssj"><embed width="430" src="http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=gWTYAZIssj" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><a class="mcrmeebo" href="http://www.meebo.com/rooms/" target="_BLANK"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="45" alt="Create a Meebo Chat Room" src="http://widget.meebo.com/b.gif" width="430" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Christians Talking About Polygamy is an interactive site dedicated the discussion of the pros and cons of polygamy and the ethical issues pertaining to polygamy from a Christian perspective. I encourage your participation to join the discussion. Please stay on topic, and be considerate of the views of others. No profanity.</div>Tom Gruberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15024941591382297688noreply@blogger.com1