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Copyright © True Gnostic Church. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions
TOPICS
SEX / SEXUALITY
“Sexual expression between loving couples is important to a sense of spiritual fulfillment and well-beingness; and whenever such sexual expressions are rooted in love, respect, and mutual consent, there is no sin. We believe that a healthy sexual lust between loving couples is not evidence of a sinful and degenerate nature, but rather the wholesome expression of one’s eagerness to embrace life, love and sweet communion. As true Gnostics, we believe that to be truly and fully spiritual, we must be fully sexual.”
…for you know yourself already, that the first step in man’s spiritual freedom is to proclaim aloud the sexual liberation of both the man and the woman.
12. Come then and I will make known the ways of God regarding such passions as the flesh is heir to; and of that wisdom which even God would give unto all who seek concerning the sexual desires of both the man and the woman.
13. For you know full well how that there have walked among the children of men, a great many false prophets and teachers which did condemn most urgently, the natural passions of the body; declaring all the while that you were filled with judgments against them for the sake of it.
14. For such men as these did wrap the soul of man with all manner of guilt and shame, filling the mind with endless reproach and condemnation; knowing full well that through such shame and guilt as they might inflict, might they themselves have control and dominion in the affairs of men;
15. Using with most cunning guile, the natural passions of the body against the man and the woman continually; for they knew already, that even every man and every woman could not escape the urges within, thereby causing that they should feel continually unworthy, and eager to seek forgiveness and relief from those which would take control over them.
16. And not this only, for such false prophets and teachers did proclaim most fervently, that if a man or a woman should hope to serve God, then must the man choose celibacy and restraint; while the woman should remain a virgin throughout the days of her life;
17. Denying in both the man and the woman, the passions of the body; seeking through religious fervor to draw them away from the affairs of men; causing that they should become of no effect, being in themselves both sterile and empty within; being divorced from within towards the issues of life; becoming as someone dead, while yet they live on.
18. Thus did the false prophets and teachers of religion declare both celibacy and virginity superior above every other estate; making even the marriage of men and women suspect; making both the husband and wife continually dissatisfied and filled with remorse;
19. Having their passions seared with a hot iron, being devoured from within and consumed from without, by all manner of doubt and guilt; causing that both husband and wife should be filled with shame while yet they are married.
20. Yet in such a doctrine as celibacy is there found the nonexistence of all mankind; for you [Jehovah-Yahweh] hope most earnestly that all men should fear you, and thereby seek to please you through such celibacy as they would impose upon themselves; knowing full well that if every man and every woman should so believe, then would you bring to pass the eventual extinction of man.
25. For this cause would I make known unto the children of men, that in the coming together of both the man and the woman is there no sin, if it so be that they should give consent, each unto the other. For it is not good that the man or the woman should stand alone regarding the passions of the flesh.
26. For the passions which do move and stir within are blessed by the Father and the Mother which dwell forever in the light which comes from above, becoming by their union even as one God unto the children of men.
27. And if it so be that a man and a woman should lie down with each the other, to be joined together in the passions of the flesh, then are their souls commingled together; that by such a union there might spring forth together, both communion and joy.
28. For in the sexual union of both men and women would they make known unto each, their need for one another; finding in each the other the completion of all their hopes and dreams; moving with all tender affection, one upon the other; seeking through that gentle touch or softest kiss, the fulfillment of all their parts and passions.
29. Thus would I have you know that in such sexuality as might exist between the man and the woman is there found the affirmation of life and joy; becoming in each the greatest of wonders.
30. Take care therefore, my children, that you deny not the passions which move and stir about within the very soul of you, lest by your own zeal in conforming to the teachings and preachings of foolish men, you deny yourself all life and joy;
31. Becoming in your soul most empty and alone; being chased and driven about by all manner of frightful shadows; being weighed down continually by guilt and shame, of which there is no end; being caught within some endless struggle, being unable to let go, lest you be consumed in hell fire forever.
32. Therefore, if you would be wise in the days of your mortal probation upon the earth, then let each man and each woman seek to join themselves together, whereby they might find joy in the midst of harshness; giving unto each the other a place of refuge; being filled with all manner of tender affection and sweet communion.
33. For man is by nature a sexual being, and in this there can be no sin found, if it so be that a man will refrain from rape, and violence, and disease; for in the midst of these things are there found a multitude of sorrows which do afflict both the man and the woman together.
34. Therefore, let every man put away their anger against the woman; and let all women put aside such resentments as might spring up within them against the man; that each might come unto the other in joy and love exceeding, being bound together by tender words of soft affection.
35. By such means do the man and the woman, though being in themselves opposite, yet do they express in sweetest passions their need of each the other; mingling together in their flesh both heart and soul, joining and commingling, thrusting and receiving, even until they should find fulfillment; being swept together into the heart of God by all manner of tender wooing.
36. Thus in the loving of both the man and the woman is there found neither fornication nor sin; for such sexual union as might exist between them, if it be founded in love, and respect and equality, then are they become together both pure and innocent before God; being redeemed by love and joy together.
Come then and I will teach you; for you know full well already that the spirit children of God are born in the beginning male or female; and that entering into the mortal life, there is placed in the man a male spirit, and into the woman is placed a female spirit;
Knowing full well that in the days of their mortal probation upon the earth, in the season of their sexual awakening, that the man will seek out the woman, and that the woman will seek out the man whereby they might give love to one another.
Such are the designs of God regarding the man and the woman; for even God is most delighted when the man should love the woman, whereby he might tender unto her all manner of sweet affection; to wrap her round about in gentleness, and respect, and honor.
And likewise the woman, if she pursue a man whereby she might love him and honor him; to receive from him even all his devotion; tending by such soft and gentle longing the heart of the man, then is God most pleased. For in Heaven do the Gods and Goddesses give to each the other all manner of loving kindness and tender regard.
2. For it was determined from the beginning that the man and the woman should be born into the mortal life, even as sexual beings together; and if it so be that you should make full exercise of the powers therein, then shall your life be made rich in joy and deep perception; revealing through the workings of the flesh, the depth of the spirit within.
3. Yet, notwithstanding these things, still would I exhort most earnestly, that you act wisely and not amiss regarding such joys and freedoms as I would place into your keeping alone; that you might not make low and common such sexual passions as are come from God, being born in you already.
4. But that you should know with certainty that by such wisdom as you might use regarding these things, might you save your soul from hurt and sorrow;
5. For the foolish are afflicted always in both mind and spirit, because they know not that the body and spirit are bound together through such passions as do move most constantly within them.
6. Therefore, my children, take great care that you take not to your bed, the stranger whom you do not know, for the sake of some passion only, for promiscuity does make weary the affections of the heart; causing all that is good and beautiful within to appear as dull and common without.
7. But if you would love the one you know most deeply, to open wide both body and soul together, then shall such passions and joys as would pass between you make rich and filled with wonder the longings and desires within; for in the giving and loving of each the other is there no sin found, but goodness only;
8. Giving equally unto the man and the woman together, a treasury of feelings and understanding which do make joyful the lives of both; securing in each a gentle regard filled with love and wisdom whereby they might guard, most eagerly, such holy affections as do pass between them.
9. Being ever hopeful that by their union might both be blessed and made complete, being to each the other, the truest of friends and lovers whereby they might bear together the burdens of this life; being made most secure in the midst of all their kisses and gentle sighing.
18. For this I would have you know most surely, that there is a spirit deep in the midst of you; being in every hand and foot and eye; moving and unmoved, pushing here and touching there; seeking by most subtle means to reveal itself without.
19. For you are not the body which is seen, but rather the spirit which is unseen within you; for the flesh of the body is made the veil which covers the spirit of your truer self, which spirit does stir and move most constantly within you;
20. Seeking through the passions of your flesh to reveal itself again and again; being ever hopeful that you might be awakened to that light which burns most brightly within you.
21. For the spirit which breathes most subtly within has had elsewhere its beginning; having come from above, it does seek to touch again the light that comes from afar.
22. And unto every man and every woman wherein the spirit is made to abide, even it does seek some fair embrace through the passions of your flesh; hoping that in the joining together of the man and the woman, might the spirit within find some commingling of the light which comes from God.
23. Causing that there should cleave through the flesh the spirits of both the man and the woman; being entwined through gentle words and tender kisses the only true self within; fusing in most fiery passions the spirits of both the man and the woman.
Take care therefore, that you think not to satisfy the passions of the body only, to make as nothing the spirit within; neither look with disregard upon the needs and feelings of that one with whom you would have intercourse.
For if you should do these things, then shall the passions of the body find just little release; being devoid of that spirit which would make rich the union of both man and woman; causing that you should become no better than the beasts of the field.
For even God did ordain that both the man and the woman should come forth into life as sexual beings, having in themselves both powers and passions by which they would make each other to come alive.
Beware therefore those who would preach that celibacy is of God; for such as these would make weary and filled with bondage the whole of all your life; filling you once again with all manner of guilt and shame; causing that there should be a separation and distress between the man and the woman altogether.
Thus in sexual communion would the woman move most subtly upon the soul of the man, changing through her gentle rhythms, the hardness of the man altogether; to make him as still and peaceful within.
Therefore, as oft as you have desires, let the man and the woman come together in all manner of gentle embraces; for in such sexual communion do both make benefit the blessings of God; being dressed in joy and love forever and ever.
For this I would have you know most surely, that in the constant abundance of sexual intercourse are both the man and the woman made equally benefited; for the man, in communion with that woman whom he loves, is made most gentle and tender because of it.
While the woman, having received from the man the fullness of all his passions, even she does find within herself that very strength and power which would prove her the equal to the man; even until both shall receive together the very fullness of God in the kingdom of his glory.
Let the man and the woman love together often, moving in their deeper passions one upon the other, seeking and guiding with gentle words the movements of their bodies, thrusting and receiving from each the other, the joys of their commingling.
53. Consider then your sexuality, whether you would hide it away, to cover it up in darkness, and this because of such shame and guilt as you are made to feel through the doctrines of men and not of God.
54. Consider then the societies in which you live, for in your living do you pass to your children the things which you yourselves did learn through the living of your days, giving to your children the knowledge of your life, being content yourselves that they should improve upon it, to make it greater than before.
55. By such means is civilization made to progress through many advancements, one generation giving to the next the knowledge of things both past and present, to make brighter still the future yet to come.
56. For in your labors and occupations do you teach your children the skills of trade and industry, of science and technology, being hopeful that the children, when they are grown and full matured, might add to the knowledge which you yourselves did give.
57. What then is the greatest knowledge which you might give, whereby the children of men might grow in joy and rich fulfillment?
58. Behold I tell you truly, as if from God above, that the greatest of all knowledge is found in love and sweet communion; for the greatest knowledge which adds to every other, is the deepest knowing of relationships between men and women.
59. Becoming of itself the first and truest art, filled with endless beauty, being dressed in form and language, with romance and mystery and happy wonder. [...]
62. But if you will hide away your sexuality, to keep it in the darkness, benefiting neither yourselves nor your children, then shall the beauty of your inner selves be lost and tainted through endless guilt and shame.
63. Causing that each generation must discover anew the things which you already know, only that they might lose it again and again with each succeeding generation, and this through fear alone; effecting in your deeper selves a wounding of your soul, to be yourselves forever shackled by such shame and guilt as these [church leaders] would cast upon you.
64. To make of every man and every woman a stranger which you must scorn, becoming within yourselves, alone, and filled with deep suspicions; being yourselves constrained by many inhibitions, which inhibitions are as a wall of hurt and frustration, to separate you from those you desire to love.
65. For this I tell you, as if from God above, that beauty is born of love and passion; and if these two be constrained through the teachings of men, to become as filled with guilt and shame, then does the beauty of your life slip and fade away, to leave you empty and alone.
~ 4th Endowment 26:53-59, 62-65
45. If then you would establish well your home in beauty, whereby even all might be blessed and edified, then let not the husband and the wife hide away their love for each the other as though it were a shameful thing; for the love of the husband and the wife is ordained of God and by its gentle passions made always good and pure. [...]
48. Think not, therefore, that the love of a man and a woman is a shameful thing, to be hidden away and covered up by whispering lips and cast down eyes.
49. For this do the [churchgoers] do, proclaiming always that sex is a shameful thing except in marriage, yet when you are married you are hedged up on every side by small and narrow boundaries, being filled again with shame.
50. Proclaiming aloud that the sexual relationship of both husband and wife is a private thing, and should best be hid in darkness only, and kept as something locked and hidden away behind closed doors, as though it were a dark and fearsome beast which would devour even the whole world midst endless guilt and disgrace.
51. For I tell you truly, as if from Heaven a voice would speak: For that which is ordained and accepted of God as something pure and holy, even this is good for the eye to see in the light of day.
52. But if you should hide away the holy because of shame, then by what means is it made holy, seeing that you have covered up in darkness the things ordained of God? For how shall even your own children know what is good and acceptable of God when you have hidden it all away, to keep it far from them?
53. And if you proclaim aloud that the love of husband and wife is good and come from God, yet by your shame do cover it up as something private and hidden away, then do you confuse even your own selves, becoming yourselves filled with inhibitions and restrictions of every kind.
54. And even into your own children do you cast forth both ignorance and harm, rooted deep in guilt and shame; causing that they should likewise cast it upon their own children also, to go from generation to generation.
55. Know then that in your homes should the beauty and wonder of all your love dance and sing and gently soar, being yourselves open in such affections as must exist between the husband and the wife.
…But binding in all these things, being through all and above all, securing the soul in richness always, let there be love.
For except you have love between the man and the woman, then shall the whole of you be most uncertain; and you shall become as the chaff which even the wind would carry away; and there shall be found for you no place or rest in the kingdoms of God.
For the love which would join together the man and the woman is at the first, like unto a raging fire in which the spirits of each are all consumed by wild and blustery passions; and when it is spent, then is the love made most rich and deeply pleasing to both the body and spirit together.
For the love which would bind together the man and the woman is made most considerate and tenderhearted; seeking out with gentle feelings the hopes and desires of each the other; ever searching and reaching out to find such delights as would please and uplift the heart and mind of both the man and the woman.
Guard well, therefore, such love and tender feelings as you would seek from each the other; for except there be found between the man and the woman the seed of some great love, then are you made no better than the beasts of the field, being dumb and brutish within and without.
61. Thus would I give unto you these words of wisdom regarding the sexual passions of both the man and the woman; trusting that by such counsel you might be altogether benefited while in this life, having been set free of such guilt and shame as once bound you most strongly.
62. For you were once made deeply fearful, being constrained and apprehensive because of such commandments as the teachers and preachers of religion would impose upon you regarding such sexual desires and appetites as do move most constantly within;
63. And knowing that you had no means to make quiet the passions of the flesh; then were you made always guilty of some inward sin, thinking yourself perverted and corrupt because of it; being chased to and fro by a constant and unrelenting guilt; being made most shameful because of those passions which even God did cause to stir within you.
64. Thus would I give by counsel and not constraint the words of this book; trusting always that even the very life you live shall teach you the wisdom in which you should go regarding them.
65. For you are not children to be compelled, but rather, you are the sons and daughters of God full grown, in bodies of flesh and bone.
66. Stand you forth therefore, most boldly, in such light as I would give, being made most noble and worthy; being made no longer fearful of such passions as do move within and without the whole of you. For you are the very children of God, being blessed and enriched because of it.
These then are the words which I would give unto the children of men whereby you might take joy in such sexual expressions as do most likely arise between the man and the woman together;
That you might find joy and purpose in the midst of such meanings as I would give into your keeping; that you might no longer suffer in despair because of such guilt and shame as the teachers and preachers of religion might foist upon you in the midst of their many fears.