Spiritual Poly vs Secular Poly

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Harris on July 15, 2010 at 2:58pm

Fascinating question. I'm a reformed Southern Baptist, and wondered if there were people in the Christian world bringing polyamory into the fold. I assumed there were, but hadn't taken the time to find out. At the heart of it, though, I don't have that much trouble with people trying to figure out how their belief systems entangle, and there are probably as many reasons to share in polyamory as there are to believe or not believe in Jesus, Buddha or the Staypuffed Marshmallow Man. The shame of it, to me, is that these focal points almost always end in distraction, and had Mr. "Jesus is cool, poly is cool" taken a second to wonder why Jesus even needed to be in the picture, he may have come to some more affirming conclusions about himself and his mortality/morality.

Still, I think Jesus was probably involved in a number of relationships during his 3-year trek. If you've ever read "The Gospel of Thomas", the way he took his disciples aside and had special time with them is inspiring. It may not have been sex, but there was definitely connection and, why couldn't it have been sex? Just b/c of the 4th-century priests. . .but now I've stepped too far into silly history, and reprised your question. Add me to the list, I guess:)

Permalink Reply by khichri on July 25, 2010 at 11:53am

There
was an interview with a man from Portland
who was talking a lot about spirituality and “healing touch” and other woo buzz
words. It was almost to the point where I had trouble listening.

I also find myself tuning-out when people go on and on about spearitchooowlity, and I see that happening a lot in poly circles. It's one of the reasons I'm glad this group is here.

I'll have to pass on the podcast though... I don't have the time.

My experience within poly pertaining to religion or other spiritual woo is that many people assume because they are a bi poly kinky pagan, that I am too.

Permalink Reply by Prog Rock Girl on July 25, 2010 at 2:10pm

The pagan bias is so unbelievably widespread in poly circles sometimes, it's about like the Christian bias anywhere else. It's a kind of unintentional proselytizing. It's also amazing how many people there are who fit into the bi poly pagan kinky mold--like there's a nonconformity factory churning them out.

In my pagan experimentation days I went to festivals where there were workshops on polyamory. A lot of times pagans came off like they were promoting polyamory as a superior type of relationship. There's even a book called Pagan Polyamory. As if it's any different from regular polyamory. I do remember an older pagan couple where the man had some other girlfriend and I guess his wife wasn't so thrilled...apparently she told him that "if I see that woman at our Lammas celebration, she's going to be looking down the barrell of a shotgun". So evolved! Even the most dysfunctional poly non-pagan couple I know never threatened a gun on each other.

Permalink Reply by Kit Ann Kaboodle on July 25, 2010 at 3:46pm

like there's a nonconformity factory churning them out.


I love this image.

Permalink Reply by David Harris on February 1, 2011 at 12:40pm

When we talk about spirituality, aren't we talking about a basic human function/need to explain oneself and our surroundings?  It could just as easily be called "emotionality" but for the fact that we often feel that our emotions run us instead of them being grounds for seeking understanding.  The "woo"-factor comes in with organized spiritual practices, right?  Which I've assumed that this site is trying to avoid, yet, in a way, ethical non-monogamy is a (if super loose) organized spiritual practice:  a way of positioning oneself to experience the world, and a codified practice (again, if loosely) to follow.  I've been more impressed with how much people have struggled against the poly concept based on their other faith practices, and interested in which parts of their faith practices they harness to present opposition, yet, most of the non-poly folk I've chatted to about it believe, I think, that the concept makes a super huge amount of sense.  I've not been a part of the non-conformity machine (alas, I'm one within the conformed circles who pushes out), but am a little sorry to have not been thus far. . .and am most curious about the Pagan's notion of "Pagan".

Permalink Reply by Prog Rock Girl on December 23, 2011 at 10:01pm

Each person who identifies as pagan has a different notion of what it is. Sometimes not even agreeing about what to call themselves.