Masturbation - am I going to hell?

I never did like that book, The Scarlet Letter.

 

I don't know; maybe the guilt/shame thing has it's place: Preaching financial responsibility doesn't seem to have an effect; and finance needs to be a factor here in the real world.

 

Guilt and shame are appropriate for exercising poor judgement or treating others dishonorably. This happens all the time in relationships, so in that regard I agree with you. But the artificial need for a "sex license" is garbage.

 

It's not really about having a 'license', although it appears that way on the surface. It's about radically increasing the value of sex, and the commitment and intimacy surrounding and supporting a sexual relationship.

 

My experience of marriage probably prejudices me a little bit on that subject. I use the term sex license because of the nature of condemnation that's directed at unmarried couples who freely express their sexuality to one another. That goes back to what I've said before about ideology "on paper" versus actual choices and behavior... An unmarried couple can experience the commitment and intimacy you describe just as a married couple can live in utter misery, deception and distrust. So I definately question people who give marriage this sort of supernatual power of "creating" a bond between a man and woman that they can only create between themselves. It can't be given by any external entity.

 

I agree -- getting married in and of itself really has no power. At the end of the day, a wedding is just a ritual and a license is just a piece of paper.

No, marriage is supposed to be an indicator of something else -- that ultimate, mutual commitment that has already been made by the time the wedding takes place (or should be), and is continually made every day. Rituals and pieces of paper cannot make that happen, nor can they tear it apart on their own. The relationship and every part of it comes from the heart, the mind, and the soul.

IMHO.

 

You're right with your assessment of marriage, civilly anyhow. But bottom line, IMO, it's a financial agreement linking to laws governing financial responsibilities; e.g. property settlement, child support, etc.

 

good thing you didn't say anything about sex

 

Whoops.

 

If there was a heaven it would be a very lonely place.