The world’s gone mad
In the last few years sexual preference and gender orientation have become a hot topic. We are being told all kinds of extraordinary things. Who can fuck who, who can and can’t get married, rows over bathrooms and who can use them. Plus, a new dictionary of words have appeared to describe human sexuality: transgender, transsexual, gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, gender queer, etc. And, certain factions of the public are so hung up on gender pronouns that instead of saying he or she, we have to call a single person they.
Yet, the world’s obsession with sexual orientation and other people’s sexuality seems to be a relatively modern day phenomena. In earth based aboriginal societies there was none of the present day hysterical prejudices around gender. In a holistic, inclusive society, Creator doesn’t make mistakes.
An indigenous view of gender
In most Native American tribes ‘two-spirit people’ were considered neither men nor women and occupied a distinct, alternative gender status. Gender and sexuality were seen as a continuum and there was a recognition of the masculine and feminine in all people. There were two-spirit males and two-spirit females.
More than 150 Native American tribes recognized alternative genders in their communities prior to colonization, with many of these identities having unique names and cultural significance. Most tribes considered two-spirit males and two spirit females as a third and fourth gender variant.
Two spirit people filled special religious roles as healers, shamans, and ceremonial leaders. They were very important members of the tribe.
It was only after colonisation that the christian church condemned same-sex relationships and gender variance as sinful, and used these beliefs to further condemn, control, victimise and dehumanise indigenous people.
The disruptions caused by conquest and disease, together with the efforts of missionaries, government agents, boarding schools, and white settlers resulted in the loss of many traditions in Native communities.
Two-spirit roles, in particular, were singled out for condemnation, interference, violence, sexual assault and murder. As a result, two-spirit traditions and practices went underground or disappeared in many tribes.
A metaphysical view of gender
The metaphysical mind understands that in a duality you will have male at one end of the scale or spectrum, female at the other end, and a plethora of sexual polarities in between. This is normal. It is likely that some people have a male spirit that inhabits a female body and vice versa. We all know women who have male aspects and men with female attributes in varying degrees.
But religion as a whole is so hung up on the dogma that god created two genders: male and female (Genesis 5 v2) that they have suppressed and labelled different sexual polarities or gender variance as abnormal when they are not. And, this has led to the present day prejudices and confusion.
Suppressing sexual instinct
The main reason for sexual and gender intolerance is patriarchal control religions and their indoctrinated followers. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sufi Islam all preach that in order to get closer to Creator, sexual urges have to be suppressed. We have to be celibate and abstain from sex.
But sexual desire is built into our bodies by sensory demands and chemical instructions. Fundamentally at base level, we are nothing more than walking reproductive automatons controlled by our sex hormones just like any other animal. When we deny our sexual nature, we go through the torture and agonies of suppressing the basic urge of life that is programmed into us.
All about sex
God told us that he made man in his own image, and to go forth and multiply and fill the earth….but according to St Augustine and the christian church, sex is the original sin. And, to enter the priesthood one has to be chaste.
The suppression of the creative act has led to the sexual abuse of millions of children by Catholic priests, nuns, and other members of religious institutions. The church accused women of unrestrained sexuality and blamed them for ‘the original sin.’ Even in the 21st century, women are still regarded by religious fundamentalists as sinful Jezebels, second class citizens and the tempters of men.
Sex is sinful
The religious dogma that sex is somehow dirty has created countless numbers of heterosexual emotional cripples who feel alienated from their sexuality because they are caught between their desire (mostly out of fear) to be a good christian, and their all too human sexual needs. And so many of them spend their formative years, wanting, repressing, secretly touching, engaging in risky sex and living in a culture where sex appeal and bodily appearance has more value than their service to humanity.
Non binary individuals face an array of challenges trying to cope with their sexual orientation in the face of heterosexism, the religious ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity or relationship. Many non binary individuals fall prey to this insidious mind set and end up with depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health disorders.
Love and sex
“If I thought this would never happen again I would die.
But this is wrong, nobody dies from lack of sex. It’s lack of love we die from.”
― Margaret Atwood,
Love and sex are often seen as separate entities, but these two aspects of life are deeply interconnected. The presence of love and intimacy in any relationship can significantly enhance the physical pleasure of sex. Intimacy and love can add an emotional depth to sexual experiences that is unmatched by sex alone. Love can create a more holistic experience, as both body and mind are engaged in the activity.
Spiritual connection
Whether our partners are binary or non binary, love and sex can lead to deeper relationships, more fulfilling experiences, and an intimacy based on respect, and trust. Spiritual connections develop between two people when they can reach into their inner selves, share their feelings and belief systems. Together they can form a loving bond, a union beyond the physical realm that leads to something more lasting and profound.
So let’s get off the gender bender merry go round. Move forwards as a human family not backwards. Love each other. It’s that simple. Who cares who we love, whether its the same sex or the opposite sex. The important thing is that we do love.
“Merging “consciously” in sexual union is one of the most important moments in time. It is a contract of two souls. An expression of divine commitment to each other. If we stop dividing sexuality and spirituality, we can understand its sacredness.”
― .
Until next time. Stay in love with your life..
About the Author
CLICK HERE
Judy Nimer Muhn
February 12, 2023 at 5:20 pmAs always, your clarity and sharing helps us to see the ways we are “programmed” to think and act. Resistance is key to freedom – for each of us, for all of us.
Thank you, Elva, for shining the Light,
Judy
ethompson
February 13, 2023 at 6:18 pmMuch love, Judy.
It’s hard to deprogramme our inherited prejudices. But the first step is to realise we have them….and we all do.
Iam
February 13, 2023 at 4:34 pmGreat article Elva!
To me it is all about balancing the masculine and feminine within us all to transcend the human trait of gender identification, and embrace and become the embodiment of soul.
Good one!
ethompson
February 13, 2023 at 6:15 pmThanks Iam,
I just wonder how many people even realise they are both genders albeit in varying degrees. Apart from the extreme macho narcissist and its opposite.
Iam
February 14, 2023 at 10:35 amIndeed!
Not many.
Men who take masculinity to an extreme, repressing their femininity.
Women who take femininity to an extreme, repressing their masculinity.
Men who take femininity to an extreme, repressing their masculinity.
Women who take masculinity to an extreme, repressing their femininity.
There is a lot of unbalanced people who may wonder why they don’t experience fulfillment.
Not too different from extreme liberals and extreme conservatives, pigeonholing themselves into singularity.
ethompson
February 14, 2023 at 1:22 pmIn a duality we can expect to encounter a plethora of sexual polarities. This is normal. My point is that a religiously indoctrinated society has suppressed these tendencies and presented them as abnormal when they are not. And, this has led to the present day prejudices and confusion.
There was none of this gender hysteria in tribal life. It is a modern day phenomena.
Anj
February 15, 2023 at 1:44 pmIt’s nice seeing someone talk about this. And I love the fact you talked about sexuality and gender in Native American culture, because it always existed. It’s not something new Gen Z invented. I’ve read about people of two genders or non-binary people in Hawaiian and Indian culture too. And they often had an inportant place in their community.
I wish everyone would just be who they want to be, love who they want to love without having to worry about others.
And articles like these can help people feel more accepted for who they are.
Thank you, Elva
ethompson
February 15, 2023 at 2:28 pmMuch love, Anj.
Thank you for your comment.
ethompson
February 16, 2023 at 12:19 pmI was reading a comment on my article All Matter is Evil about the name Jesus and I came across this gem and I thought it was timely.
“The Christian “original sin” (also known as the “ancestral sin”, namely the sin of disobedience) is an oxymoron, a victim/rescuer mindset (a variation on the “Stockholm syndrome” victim/perpetrator mindset).”
ariel
February 17, 2023 at 8:30 amThe best place to hit the nail is on the head.
The best way to love is with your heart.
Whether in or out of time and out of bed.
It’s not too late to make this loving start.
Hit your fingers,
The pain lingers.
Doggerel Schmoggerel.
xxxx
ethompson
February 18, 2023 at 10:33 pmInteresting times, Ariel.
Two opposing polarities about to enter neutral. What then?
Much love xxx
ariel
February 22, 2023 at 8:03 amAs you say, there are two extreme polarities, and in between, a multitude, a plethora of Aspects. It takes considerable research to find out what resonates with what, and whether in disruptive or harmonious combinations.
I was, for example, a better mother in some respects to my first two children by my first and only ex-wife. For example, when Arly was 1 I actually had to threaten her (but not carry out) to stop her from trying to forcibly prevent him playing with his penis, which actions were apparently affecting her greatly. He was at that particular stage. She pulled many stunts, for which her justification was ‘I was upset.’ I won’t go into the worst bits.
I have loved many guys, but not sexually.. It just didn’t appeal to me that way. I can and could quite understand that my instincts and values were NOT the common denominator by which all others can and should be judged. It was quite clear that some were gay and some were ‘bi.’ In varying quantities.
It was tougher with my homosexual friends because some of them wanted to put the make on me.
It even came down to such a magical willpower battle on Glastonbury Tor on acid on the Hunter’s Moon 1970. (Original Glastonbury Festival Committee meeting). Big D has been dead these 30 something years, of alleged AIDS. He only tried the once, but it took the whole night to defeat him, (He said I was stronger than him) and the entire rest of the committee ran away. I didn’t blame them, but it wrecked what could have been a blissful night.
Well, are you talking Magnetic Repulsion here, opposite poles attract for example? (Animal) Attraction surely exists, but the rules are not the same. We have to learn to discriminate and handle the levels. We can easily be seriously attracted to people emotionally and sexually and then find we don’t like them at all, at all, or not very much anyway. But then, the whole thing, ipso facto, is ‘consciousness itself’ which is exploring itself. It is a great mistake to assume that the exploration will fold away neatly and tidily to be placed into the airing cupboard of personal history. It does NOT END with this life, clearly. If anything, it can and is getting MORE INTENSE as/and the levels go up. We are MORE sensitive now, if we don’t stupidly block it out with too much WiFi/EMF drugs alcohol toxic food etc etc. It means we HAVE TO FEEL MORE, like it or lump it.
xxxxxx
ethompson
February 22, 2023 at 8:45 amStellar comment, Ariel.
Much love xxxx
markfarrar
February 22, 2023 at 3:14 pmwell , I’ve always considered you a gay icon ,
Gandalf , G Z , Alexander ….or bandy Gandhi ,
as Elton and Freddy fondly remembered you !
Peony
February 17, 2023 at 1:20 pmYears ago my best friend in a ‘male’ body had great difficulties with his father and was suffering from the situation. Feminine spirit people in a male body were more accepted in the job we were making. I was a ‘gay pride activist’ at that time, we tried to show that we are all different and we wanted equality for all and that there is no judgement there. It was a fun time too…
I have seen some balanced people in ‘feminine-male body’ and ‘male-woman body’ especially when they can accept who they are and by so be accepted by others.
Gender is a body we have to deal with, it is an appearance not what we are. If we love each others there is no good and bad. Love is in everyone.
ethompson
February 17, 2023 at 1:58 pmAwesome comment, Peony.
Much love.
Gospel Yeshua
March 8, 2023 at 10:33 pmI found you through “New Agora” however I noticed that you have left a comment on a blog that I manage, a few years ago. I am your new biggest fan! What you have written is perfect. I condemn the current tide of shame/repression/guilt that is promoted as holiness by the evangelicals. I honor your work.
ethompson
March 8, 2023 at 11:18 pmGood to see you.
Much love.