sotto voce

It convinces one hell of a lot of people.

TedM

As I understand it, sex with desire and sex without desire were both permitted within the institution of marriage, and that children produced from the sex (with or without desire) were considered to be a blessing from God. Homosexuality of course was considered to be unnatural, and therefor against God's will for humanity. Sex outside of marriage was forbidden, as was adultry. Chastity for the sake of religious devotion was considered worthy of reward, as were other sacrifices of the flesh (ie fasting comes to mind).

So, to answer the OP I see no reason to conclude that sex among old people who were married would have been forbidden if it was inside a marriage. Of course, there would always be those who object if the end result would not/could not be children, but others probably concluded that it was ok since God could do anything and they weren't explicity instructed to stop having sex at a certain age.

I don't see the relevancy of Viagra or modern culture to the issue of what was acceptable in the past. I also don't see it being very convincing for those who still hold to those beliefs.

TedM

It was possible to have sex without making children in the past, so I don't understand your conclusion. Regarding desire, I don't know of any requirement by religion that sex be accompanied with desire, so I don't see the relevancy of sex without desire being made possible (if that is indeed the case).

The obvious change in culture is making sex for fun's sake only, more possible. But I fail to see how that makes religion obsolete, since religion makes up their own rules for their own reasons: People were able to have sex for fun's sake only before the modern age...They just 'pulled out', no?

sotto voce

By legalists, antichrists. Fasting, likewise. Circumcision, likewise.

TedM

What do you mean? Why do you say "antichrists"? Christ, in the gospels, was not married, fasted, and was circumcised.

sotto voce

Find where the NT says that there is reward for celibacy or fasting. One can very easily demolish this cockamamie notion of the OP without resorting to papist heresy. In fact that was done just before you arrived, wasn't it.

And he got crucified. I don't see too many volunteers.

TedM

I thought Mt 19:12 suggests a reward for celibacy, and the verses having Jesus fasting suggest a reward in the form of answered prayers. What are you driving at?


What is your point? Was Christ himself 'antichrist'?

sotto voce

Then read it again.

Answered prayers, ok. If that is what 'reward' means.

outhouse

jesus was the messiah, but only made so after the temple events that made him famous and dead.

marcionites was a weird sect off on its own tangent, and NOT relative for the whole movement


of course its not convincing, romans deified a peasant jew

outhouse

No paul did all the convincing


they dont worship real jesus, only a glimpse


most worship pauline christianity


in the vatican, jesus is like #6 on the list of most worshipped saints and deities, laughable that they even claim monotheism