So an Arizona Goddess Temple has been charged with running a house of ill repute and a bunch of its members have been arrested for pandering and prostitution. Here’s the link to that story.
Critics would have it they’ve just used the guise of religious freedom, (in this case Goddess worship), to try to circumvent the law against a huge social taboo, that most nasty of couplings – the commingling of sex and money.
I’m not as quick to assume the temple wasn’t genuine in their spiritual focus, however. Anyone with half a brain recognizes the power around sexuality; knows of the baggage, shame and abuse in the world, and surely each of us has some experience, (or at least the imagination of), its potential for powerful healing.
As someone with a wee bit of experience with paganism, I’m not at all uncomfortable with the idea there may be a place for sacred sexuality or temple prostitution.
Stories like this are just another reminder that we’re culturally still living in the dark ages.
Is it really so difficult to accept free expression of sexuality in all it’s forms? Can we really not accept sexual commerce or trade by willing participants, and also accept that it can be profoundly spiritual too?
Really – is this such a stretch?
For the love of all that is sensible, (as well as holy), we need to end this nonsense around the most basic of human expressions. It’s just sex. And the law doesn’t belong anywhere near it.
For Goddess’ sake – deregulate it!
