RE: Jesus and Prostitutes
December 1, 2021 at 6:36 pm
(This post was last modified: December 1, 2021 at 6:40 pm by vulcanlogician.)
(December 1, 2021 at 9:32 am)Belacqua Wrote: One of Jesus's main strategies is to take the Old Testament teachings and increase them to the point that it would seem extreme and absurd to the people of the time. (And to us.) So wanting justice for widows and orphans is easy, but wanting justice for dirty low women who sell themselves is not something we easily feel. It seems extreme. Hey, they did it to themselves, why should I feel sympathy for them? If it doesn't seem extreme now, that largely has to do with Christian influence.
That still is laden with ancient prejudices. I saw a documentary a while back that covered the stories of several prostitutes, one such who was forced into it at the age of 13. But afterward did it willingly. The documentary also noted that underaged prostitution sees an increase during times of economic recession. There are also horror stories from the third world. Anyway, for this and many other reasons I tend not to see prostitution as a "they did it to themselves" thing.
I'm sure choice is involved in many-if-not-most cases. But even then, there are determining factors.
I disagree with the notion that Christianity influences compassion toward prostitutes in contemporary times. If anything, I could argue the opposite. It's liberal atheists who tend to be more compassionate, and the religious Christians tend to condemn it more. This is cultural Christianity that I'm talking about. "Sweating like a whore in church," is a colloquialism where I'm from. I know you view Christianity in a more essentialist way. I dig that way of looking at it, but I wonder if you don't give Christianity too much credit sometimes. Either way, I appreciate the counterpoint.
(December 1, 2021 at 10:52 am)brewer Wrote: Every time I read the title my mind hears 'great band name'. Might need to add 'The'.
Not a derail, carry on.
Lol. Shit like this is why I never put a serious tag on my threads, even when I do desire some genuine debate about a topic.
How about Christ and the Courtesans? But Jesus and the Gigolos has some nice alliteration going for it as well.
(December 1, 2021 at 11:05 am)Ranjr Wrote: We are all prostitutes and tax-collectors, sin-wise. Those bearing a façade of virtue are all the more contemptable to god.
Too bad about Christianity then, I suppose.
