M/s and A Higher Western Power

There are a lot of folks these days trying to use their philosophical and reglious views to negate sexuality amongst adults.

Fortunately, there is also THIS web site.

And, some of the views this particular group advocates seem pretty darned good.

" A BDSM relationship between a dominant husband and submissive wife is actually the ideal of marriage set out in Ephesians 5:22-26 taken to its logical conclusion!"

"22 Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, 23 for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 to make her holy, cleansing her in the washing of water by the word. (Ephesians 5:22-26)
The husband and wife who choose to enter into a consensual Dominant/submissive relationship are choosing to fully enact this commandment in their sexual life, a choice that is valid and honorable, and may bring them both deep sexual and spiritual fulfillment. BDSM, practiced responsibly, can be a tool of growth for both partners in a Christian marriage, as it allows them to more fully explore God's plan for spiritual and sexual partnership."

"BDSM does not necessarily have to involve whips and chains, black leather, or dungeon gear, although if they find these props help them get in the mood, there is not reason why Christians should not use them. There's nothing sinful about these items. In fact, they are part of the Christian heritage. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, I beat my body and bring it into submission, for fear that by any means, that after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:27) Many SM devices, such as floggers, whips, clamps, chastity belts, and the cat o'nine tails, bear close resemblance to used a wide array of devices early Christian penitents to whip their bodies and mortify their flesh. They did this to submit their bodies to Christ, to emulate his suffering on the Cross, and purify themselves spiritually and attain a closer union with God. Many BDSM practitioners describe a feeling of spiritual union with their partners that transcends physical sexuality."

"Despite the misleading impressions that such common BDSM practices as spanking, humiliation, and name-calling may give, they are only performed in the context of a loving relationship to fulfill the higher purpose of strengthening emotional, sexual, and spiritual bonds. Just as we trust the Lord, the submissive partner offers total trust to the Dominant partner, knowing that the end result will be redemption and satisfaction: 29 Let him submit absolutely; there may yet be hope. 30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who strikes it, and receive his fill of insults. (Lamentations 3:29-30)
Nevertheless, we want to emphasize that consensual BDSM relationships are not abusive, either physically or emotionally, especially not in a Christian marriage. Because the husband is obligated to care for his wife as Christ cared for the church, he must always have her best interest in mind and treat her with the utmost love and respect. However, as we will see, that does not exclude well-reasoned and loving discipline."

There are several posts in this series about M/s acts and emotions and how they support and perpetuate religious views within the Western world.

WHY, you might ask, does this fall into M/s? Do you have to care? Well, not if you don't want to. Those that have either already squared their religious views with their relationships and lives need not go further. Those that do not feel that Christian view point is of any concern to them need not either.

**BUT** the vast majority of BDSM Americans were raised with western religion, and even those that have rejected the hysteria and rhetoric of the frightened puritanical masses still have questions. Conflicts. Concerns and guilts. Fears.

None of us within the BDSM realm need to nor should consider taking something as simple as the above and using it as a concrete debate form with a raving hate monger. This is offered for them to consider their concerns in a positive rather than negative religious light. A chance to sit and contemplate those nagging reasons that give fuel to doubt and undermine our otherwise rational worlds.

This is, simply, something to think about. Thank you.