The church is the "bride of Christ"- gender-bending metaphor?

reply to post by halfoldman


Ha!
Agreed.
But I'm NOT gonna be a bride's maid, no matter how nicely you ask.

reply to post by Matthew Dark

Nope, a man in a handsome suit belongs in a handsome suit.
There is little doubt however that marriage goes with divorce like a wild horse goes with a wonky carriage. It's also about power and materialism. Some blushing brides have their eyes solidy on the divorce prize.
Of course, no religious group signs away its rights to civil divorce, even as they agitate for "Biblical" definitions of marriage. Well withouth death or proven fornication there is no New Testament divorce, and most re-married Christians live in perpetual adultery in the eyes of their God.
In any case, to celebrate divorce, let us consider 31 beautiful divorce cakes: smaknews.com... .




[edit on 2-2-2010 by halfoldman]

reply to post by halfoldman


Hahahahahahaha!!!
Those are awesome!

reply to post by teapot

At least considering the Old Testament there is no Mrs God. That is interesting in itself. So effectively Jesus comes from a single parent household.
From a literary anlysis, the character of God finds companionship in his male devotees, kings and prophets.
In fact it is the free-will of man that God desires in a marriage analogy that begins long before the "bride of Christ" metaphor in the final NT. The lonely "God" figure also smites out of jealousy, often like an abusive husband. But God also feels regret, and even creates Eve to keep his companion Adam happy.
In the first "dispensations" of law between God and man, man dominates woman, as God dominates man.
In some very strict Abrahamic sects sex is a sacred act of procreation, in which the man may not think of lust, but he should focus on God.
These metaphors were not seen as strange, and erotic love (or as some Brahmins in India call it - knowing Godhead as a conjugal lover) was considered as sacred devotion. "Shafting" or the physical animalistic acts do not define the communion between lovers, or between a devotee and his all-attractive "God".
In the pagan mystery religions the priests and priestesses were thought to transfigurate into the gods via certain rituals, and their intercourse was seen as a fertility rite.

reply to post by halfoldman


Sex, gender and sexuality, have nothing to do with God. They are matters of the flesh, biology.

The metaphor of the Bride indicates partnership, equality even. Every other value attached to it, is the makings of Man and not the intention of God.

Organised or established religions use sex, sexual energy or sexual guilt as a means to controlling society.