"SWALLOWING CAMELS" ::: © JTK.CA

"SWALLOWING CAMELS"
by JTK.CA
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Like Jesus said to the Pharisees, "You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel." I wonder if he'd say the same thing today.

When it comes to religion, nothing much has changed. They all manipulate people into either action, inaction, or guilt. I am writing this, as a Christian, but that doesn't mean I can't have a critical mind about my own religion. As a Christian man, I went where a lot of Christian men go -- to a PROMISE KEEPERS convention. It was a profitable time re-dedicating my life to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It was also very meaningful to go through the process with close friends. We even had a Porn Roast, in which we brought whatever was causing us to stumble in our spiritual walk, and set it on fire. I don't regret going, and I don't regret burning my porn. Once in a while, I need to walk away from things, regardless of their badness or their goodness. I've tried giving up soda pop a few times. That didn't last long either, but it's still a good exercise to break myself away from things that want to control me, whether good or bad.

On the other hand, I don't plan on going to any more Promise Keepers rallies. The reason is, I came away with an oxymoronic message from the meeting. "Your sexual imagination is God's gift to you, but don't you dare use it!" That's my paraphrase, but it's what I came away with. I have come to the conclusion there is a difference between fantasy and lust. I enjoy watching porn or reading the sexually stimulating Song of Solomon from the Bible -- does that mean I'm a pervert? No, it means I'm normal. Just because I enjoy watching porn DOES NOT mean I am obsessed with finding that particular woman and making her mine. It just means, I like thinking about being with a woman, in general -- especially if she's a General. Women in uniforms, giving me orders, turn me on. When I was puritanical, I thought I was addicted to porn. Now I realize, no, I just like it. Of course, it can, from time to time become addictive. Then, there's always the Porn Roast. But, generally the porn serves its purpose, takes care of my sexual needs -- yes, single male Christians have sexual needs -- and I'm on about my other duties in life, like sleeping, eating, visiting friends, going shopping, etc. I could feel guilty about sleeping, but the perfect Jesus Christ slept through storms. I could feel guilty about eating, but Jesus made his fishermen disciples breakfast after rising from the dead. The very first sin, in the Garden of Eden, was not sex. It was gluttony. That does not mean that food is evil. Gluttony is. Anything in excess is bad for you, including religious fervour. Note I DID NOT say that "religious fervour" is bad for you; I said, "religious fervour" in excess.

Christianity manipulates us into feeling guilty for having a sex drive which God created. The religion tries to control people through guilt.

Islam manipulates people by doing the exact opposite. It doesn't make you feel guilty. It tells you that if you blow yourself up and several innocent people, that you will be rewarded with 72 virgins. The suicide-bomber will be disappointed when he gets to heaven and discovers that his 72 virgins are 72 other men who fell for the scam.

And in Old Testament times, adultery was not so much a sexual sin as it was a property crime. Only men had the right to divorce. Women didn't have the right, because they were the property of the men.

These are my thoughts. They could be wrong. I'm just challenging you to think. And don't take my word for it. Look into things for yourself. Just remember not to choke on a camel while you're straining out gnats.

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Tad's Note: A friend corrected me on the term "gluttony." I agree, I used the word incorrectly. Adam and Eve eating one piece of fruit was not gluttony. Eating one hundred pieces would have been. Comments are always welcome.

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