DavidHawthorne wrote:Yes, but couldn't that "feeling of closeness and intimacy shared between a dating couple" be an additional reason to exercize caution since it is "hardwired" within us to lead to an intimacy not naturally shared between brother and sister?
Most definitely, my friend. That doesn't mean that kissing can't be shared within moderation and reason.
Peace.
Perhaps instead of looking at things in the negative as in "Why can I NOT do this?", we instead should as of our behaviour, "Why should I do this?".
Νικολάος Διάκ wrote:"Why should I do this?".
Kissing can be a healthy expression of love and affection between two people.
Answer --
If you put a male and a female on a desert island with no other influences or past experiences, anything that will occur between them could not possibly be sinful. Romance, kissing, sex would occur as natural God created acts. There is nothing sinful in them - by themselves.
All of these taboos were created by Men who saw their daughters simply as bargaining chips in order to obtain wealth and power. "Damaged goods" are worth nothing in the marketplace.
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They say that I am bad news. They say "Stay Away."
I get it- a man who is chaste is treating women as bargaining chips, one who is not is simply being natural. And all the Scriptures which enjoin chastity, purity (even in our thoughts), fidelity, etc. are man-made taboos? Tom, television and the movies are not the best place to be forming our values from........
As for the stranded couple on the island- they can pray to be rescued. And I am sure if they fall in love and "marry" as best they can, the Church will have some type of economia that will cover their UNIQUE situation. If we try to make common norms from such one-of-a-kind situations we destroy any ability to know anything. As a matter of fact, I think I remember the Church excercizing this kind of economia in regards to people who lived in the wilderness of Alaska and other places. They came together as husband and wife and regularized their marriage as soon as they were able, sometimes years after the fact due to their remoteness from society.
In Christ,
Rd. David
P.S.- my apologies to Orthodox6 for mentioning my past experiences. My purpose was not to offend but to say to Matthew, "Of course it's pleasurable! So what? The question is, "Is it right behavior for Christians before marriage?" Again, I apologize for any offence given....
Orthodox6 wrote:I don't know why my request should puzzle anybody. This is a mixed-gender board.
This discussion would be fruitless if it didn't have the input of both men and women. I'm sorry if I have offended you.
Orthodox6 wrote:"Pensees' " confessor should be his first point of reference.
Will do, that is a very good idea.
Peace.
