Uncouth PerspectivesNot on the rug, man.

The Bible has shaped and influenced a lot of American culture and society.

The stories can be shown to affect thoughts, actions, perceptions, and more in people around us. I find it interesting when I pick up a copy of Weekly World News (I love it!) and find an article entitled “Bad Girls of the Bible?” This article covers four “bad” girls:

Eve – Seduced by the Serpent and tempted Adam into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Lot’s Wife – Turned and saw Sodom and Gamorrah destroyed.

Delilah – Prostitute and cut Samson’s hair.

Jezebel – Seduced Ahab, king of the Israelites, into worshipping Baal and Asherah.

I’m not going to get into what I think of these stories right now (I will definitely give you my thoughts on the story of Adam and Eve at some point!), but I will say that I find it bothersome that we have to point out the “bad” girls of the bible. What about the “bad” men? What about just the fact that there are bad people in the bible? It is not necessary to highlight how “bad” women are.

“But, women are vile creatures! They are temptresses! They play with your emotions! They are dirty, sexual creatures!”

The important thing here is to look at what is really going on. Stop worrying about someone else, and start worrying about yourself. If women are such dirty, sexual creatures, why do you have sex with them? (And why are you having sex in the first place? If these are your thoughts, you still need to grow up!) If they play with your emotions and are temptresses… just remember this, who let them? You happiness will start when you take some accountability for your actions and learn that there is only one person worth judging–yourself. Even if every woman was a “temptress” you would have to give your permission to be tempted, and more likely than not you are just as guilty of doing what you claim they are doing.

Editor’s Note:
Check out http://witcombe.sbc.edu/eve-women/1evewomen.html for some great background to the story of Eve!

Hugging. Touching. Snuggling. Feeling. There are very few physical pleasures which can be more rewarding or satisfying.

It is sad for me to think that there a number of people who cannot enjoy it the way I do. In every little gesture, it can be present. In every true friend relationship it can be there. Have you ever sat with a dear friend at a close range for hours and talked? Nothing but just sat close and enjoyed the presence of another person? It is truly an amazing thing.

It can be more powerful than any sexual intercourse type act. Sex is a byproduct of a mental relationship. Sex is the physical gesture and affirmation of love. And so is kissing. And so is hugging. And so is touching. We need touch. We love touch.

I need touch. I love touch.

Back to that sex thing. People use sex as a way to make up for the lack of a mental relationship or closeness instead of looking at it like it really is–something the is not only beautiful and majestic, but something to physically enact the mental relationship. That’s why we call it love making. And it is not as important or as powerful as true hug. A true foot massage. A true snuggle and falling asleep. I think there is nothing I like more with a partner (or friend/etc) than to fall asleep together… or maybe waking up together.

Your family, your friends, your lovers all need your touch. And you need theirs. Enjoy who they are, the person, the beliefs and values. And enjoy their presence. Rub each other’s backs. Hold hands. Just sit close and talk. Fall asleep together.

In all of your relationships, whatever you do, never let go.

Today I was discussing validation with a new friend.

I was talking with her about how people do not validate each other enough. And how they do not validate themselves. I got into how women tend to be viewed negatively and how they view themselves as bad. They view their bodies as bad. And how wrong this is. When had just reached the topic of menstruation and how it is NOT a bad thing (if it wasn’t natural, if your body was not meant to do it… guess what? It wouldn’t!) and this guy turned to us and said:

“My philosophy is this–if it bleeds for more than two days and lives, I don’t trust it.”

Needless to say, I bristle at this comment (when does something not get my blood flowing?). First, I think I must sum it all up with a retort later made by Jeff,

“You mean like Christ?”

Yup. We are going to burn in hell for that one.

Anyways, yes this upsets me! What does bleeding (Or more importantly, the natural process’ of the vagina and body) have to do with TRUST?! Nothing. And, hey, guess what, we all do bleed. It is just blood. It is just, oh, natural. When will people get off the loathing couch and start to love themselves?

Hey, women, I am very glad to say that your vagina does not make you bad. It also does not make you dirty. It actually is quite a beautiful thing, just as the penis is. Just as the thumb is. Just as the brain is. Just as humans, life, whatever, is! Do not hold yourself or anyone down for something that is wonderful!

In fact, run as fast and furious with it as you can.