this week's "Bible Study"

stillin

It started with the comparison of "porneia" (all sexual practices outside of marriage) being a ploy of Satan, as a "lure" that a fisherman uses to catch "fish." All kinds of comments were made regarding internet porn, adultery, oral sex, etc, all being a device designed to trap Jehovah's people, resulting in thier spiritual demise. I still have commenting priveleges, so I felt it necessary to mention LIVE bait also having a "hook." I believe that. But I also believe that the vast majority of "consumption" consists of actual "food" with real substance.

My feeling is that something good is being withheld and that Witnesses tend to dramatise and overstate the dangers that lurk where our natural inclinations take us. Don't get me wrong...I'm married and that's that, but DEADEN my body members???

Maybe I'm disqualified from the discussion because, well, because I still hope to recover my sex life WITH my lovely wife. Balaam sought to entice the nation of Isreal by getting them to indulge themselves with foreign women, incurring God's wrath, and it worked, resulting in something like 23,000 deaths among them.

This "study" bothered me. Not because I'm into porn, but because it seemed to condemn all sexual activity.

I guess that's why my wife is in bed and I'm here punching the keyboard. She's a good girl.

SirNose586

I wouldn't be surprised if it did condemn all sexual activity. Maybe even vanilla missionary sex is being looked upon as a necessary evil?

stillin

I envy those who have perfectly lovely marriages, though. It seems like something worth pursuing, through thick and thin.

Heaven

It started with the comparison of "porneia" (all sexual practices outside of marriage)

Were there young children at this 'study'? (I hope not)

Seems to me the JWs don't want anyone spending any 'extra' time in bed ... get out and pound that pavement!

undercover

nath, you're more cynical than I am...

I agree that marriage is given way too much status as a "happy barometer". And I agree to a point that marriage can be an erotica killer, especially if one or both parties don't work to keep the spark alive.

But OTOH, there are couples who are happy with each other, who love each other still and enjoy eroticism. They're out there, just not in abundant supply.

No marriage is perfect. There will be disagreements, arguments and hurt feelings. But a couple who do love each other find ways to work past the hard times and enjoy the good times.

But, it's not for everyone. Every young person I've known that was thinking of marriage, I've tried to tell them to wait. Live your own life for awhile. Do what you want, enjoy what you like. If you find the right person, great...if not, no big deal. You don't need a mate to validate your existence.

Religious pressure to make sex outside of marriage immoral has helped to create some of these unhappy marriages. Too many young JWs get married because they're horny. They haven't thought about 20 years down the road. All they're thinking about is getting laid. The Society puts so much stigma on sex...period, that these horny kids can't even masturbate without guilt. The only outlet is marriage. So they marry the first horny person that'll agree to marriage. And they're not even 19 years old yet. It's really sad....these poor kids have set themselves up for years of angst, pain and unhappiness. It's not their fault but they're the ones that'll pay.

undercover

Love doesn´t last 4-ever for most people. That is a Hollywood and Biblical myth. But I wish it did.

I tend to agree with that for the most part, but the romantic in me refuses to accept it completely.

The reason is that I've seen couples who did live that myth. But here's the thing, I don't see in in younger couples, or even middle aged couples. I see it in old couples. Those that survived 30, 40, 50 years together somehow finally figured something out. Those of us married just a few short years, we ain't figured it out yet...but I hope to.

Mad Dawg

People are surprised to find out that my wife and I have been married for 20 years. We love each other more and are more dedicated to each other now than ever. We are in no way bored with each other. I hope that the following thoughts are helpful.

Love is not an emotion. It is a decision. People who say they "fell out of love with" someone make me wonder if they ever truly loved them in the first place. Often we love the attributes of a person rather than the person themself.

Love is not the mushy feeling described in romance novels as Lars sweeps Maryjane off her feet with his rippling muscles and they ride on a bareback horse down the beach into the sunset.

Love is looking after each others' well being through Hell or high water. A good marriage is not the absence of conflict or disagreements. It is a matter of how conflict and disagreements are resolved. My wife and I function together like a well oiled machine. I could not function without her.

I do agree that young folks too often get married for the wrong reasons. They often date a person that they do not consider marriage material only to find themself married once they have become emotionally attached. I used pretty much the same approach in finding a wife as I do buying a car. If there was something about a gal that I knew was unacceptable or incompatable, I would never think of asking her for a date. Why waste time on someone that would not be a good match for me? Many of these women made fine wives for someone else, just not me.

My wife is the only one that I have ever so much as kissed. That was only after we decided to get married. Getting physical only gets in the way of figuring out if the person has what it takes to be a good mate. Too often, people confuse lust with love. Neither my wife or I have ever regretted the decision for a moment to delay sex for marriage.

stillin

.I tend to agree with that for the most part, but the romantic in me refuses to accept it completely

ditto that, UC.

Nath, I have fairly good radar and I do sense at least some of the depth of affection that others may (or may not) have for each other. The really good ones have sorted out the fluff and gotten down to substance, but that can only really be done with the passage of time. And of course our bodies may be headed the opposite direction.

I love the saying: youth is wasted on the young...

treadnh2o

My Wife and three young kids were there!

She told me about this and I blew a gasket. Her response is that they will hear this at school ( my oldest is 9)

. This religion is so f*d up.

I can't wait until my kids leave (and they will, they all do).

Cult! Cult! Cult!

Sorry, but this just stuck a nerve.

Chalam

Those that survived 30, 40, 50 years together somehow finally figured something out.

People were committed to things back then, marriage for sure.

I have only been married a couple of years so I am learning to live with the commitment.

That said, we've been together for nearly 20 years!

All the best,

Stephen

this week's "Bible Study"

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