What Does Jesus Want for Your Vagina? The Christian Right's Mission To Control Americans' Sex Lives

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/what-does-jesus-want-your-vagina-christian-rights-mission-control-americans-sex-lives



Monday’s Supreme Court decision in Burrell v Hobby Lobby was a blow against consumer protection, worker’s rights, and the religious liberty of employees who want their medical care to be free of what their boss thinks Jesus wants for their vagina. But it should be read as something else, as well: The end of the illusion that the anti-choice movement is about “life”, when in fact they are nothing more than a 21st century anti-sex league.

While anti-choice activists have long benefitted from claiming that they are motivated more by not wanting fetuses to die than any interest in controlling sexuality, the fact that the movement was out in force to support Hobby Lobby’s war on contraception coverage---even though contraception prevents abortion---shows that they are really more about punishing sex than saving fetuses.

Oh, sure, the Green family behind Hobby Lobby tried to preserve the illusion that conservative objections to modern health care methods that allow women to safely control their fertility has something to do with “life”. Their lawyers argued that they only objected to four kinds of birth control that they believed to be “abortifacients”, such as emergency contraception and IUDs. In reality, all the drugs and devices covered by the federal standards work by preventing pregnancy. IUDs and emergency contraception both work by preventing sperm from meeting egg.

But, in the end, all the lies about how some forms of contraception constitute “abortion” didn’t matter, and the court just generally ruled that religious objections to contraception were enough. This isn’t a big surprise. Many conservatives on the court have ties to the anti-choice community--- Justice Scalia’s wife is a hardline anti-choice activist---and so they are most likely familiar with the actual reason that the Christian right is hostile to abortion and contraception. It has nothing to do with “life”. In case there was any doubt about that, the Supreme Court issued a clarification, noting that there was no obligation for employers to claim to believe birth control is abortion. Just simply opposing birth control because you oppose non-procreative sex is reason enough not to offer it in your health care plan. It is all about sex and how they think Americans, especially American women, are having too much of it.

[merrily]

1. Putting Jesus and vaginas in the same thought is not comfortable

for me. I guess a lot of the little kid who attended Sunday School as much as family would allow is still there somewhere.

The Bible does not say a heck of a lot about that anyway; and I do not pretend to be able to read minds.

I do know that Jesus hung around with Mary Magdalene, supposedly a prostitute. And, as the self-righteous villagers were about to start stoning a woman for adultery, Jesus stepped in and rescued her by pointing out their hypocrisy. (Some say it was a thinly veiled threat to expose the misdeeds of the wannabe executioners.) He did then supposedly say, "Go and sin no more." But, as we all know, the Bible did not come down to us as it was found. A lot of "divinely inspired" "clarification" occurred. Also, a publican, supposedly one of the most hated careers back then, was among those Jesus chose for his 12 disciples.

If you want to ask how Jesus wants me to treat others, I could be more definite because the Bible does say more about that. No judging, loving my neighbor as myself, etc. I have no clue why clergy mangle that message, but, IMO, they do.

[Heather MC]

10. I prefer a life free of the constraints of mythological beliefs

Although I often find myself asking What would thor do?

[merrily]

12. Sometimes, your "raising" is stronger than you thought.

When I was younger, I could do little about the "impure" thoughts I had. As an adult, I now can do just as little about the "pure" thoughts I have.

But, I never did have much trouble with many of the things the Bible says Jesus said or did.

I did think he was unfair to the fig tree, but I don't think it suffered much as a result.

On the whole, I think the world would be a better place if people really followed his actual words, as opposed to how some clergy teach and interpret them. Trouble is, not many people bother to read the Bible. They just go to church and hear so many distortions that Jesus never taught, like shunning your own children or not allowing people with long hair to attend services. (Obviously, Jesus had a buzz cut.)

The Apostle Paul, however, is a whole other trip.

[Heather MC]

13. I don't believe the bible is as helpful as some want to believe it is,

Thanks to jesus as you pointed out just thinking bad things will get you sent to hell, whereas in the OT it was actions that got you killed.

And the crazy Idea that one day a god will come back and destroy the earth anyway is insane. Because sacrificing himself to himself was not enough, wiping out every living creature with a flood was not enough, and now at some point in the unknown future a god will destroy the inhabitants with a great fire.

I am going to pass on beliving a god like that is a loving creature. I live free, I am atheist.

[mnhtnbb]

2. It is all about sex....so true.

A comment below, made in response to me on a fb page.


why should ANYbody but a person pay for anybody ELSE' sexcapades xxxxx (my name)?

[handmade34]

3. "It is all about sex

and how they think Americans, especially American women, are having too much of it" yes-siree
Jesus wants us to have sex… it is time to fight back, claim our right to have sex and enjoy every minute of it without fear of getting pregnant

[merrily]

4. Assuming Jesus existed, I think his focus would be on

how we treat each other, not on who is or isn't having sex, how much and with whom. At least, that is what I get from the words attributed to him in the New Testament.

[Enthusiast]

5. Me too.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. Greet everyone with...

A holy kiss.
It’s in the bible.

http://www.gotquestions.org/holy-kiss.html

Everyone knows what kisses lead to...

[xchrom]

7. a little music to go with this -- lets talk about sex

[theHandpuppet]

8. Should have recused himself

"Many conservatives on the court have ties to the anti-choice community--- Justice Scalia’s wife is a hardline anti-choice activist"

What a horrible, nasty farce this was... and the joke is on us.

[aikoaiko]

9. There issue a reason conservatives still call it a birth canal

Last edited Thu Jul 3, 2014, 08:46 AM - Edit history (1)

[MadrasT]

11. Fuck these assholes, who wish to reduce women's agency to that of breeding stock.

Oh hell no.