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 "Christians think sex outside of marriage is wrong." Or perhaps, "Christians make a point of telling me I am going to hell for my sexual proclivities." Or even, "Christians think monogamy and marriage are the only game in town." How wrong you'd be; at least, as far as the Liberated Christians (www.libchrist.com) are concerned. They're an interesting crew who are far from the field of those fire-and-brimstone spouting members of the Christian faith who would rather see you burn than be a whole, sexually comfortable (and satisfied) individual. "Promoting Positive Intimacy and Sexuality Including Responsible Non-monogamy or Polyamory as a legitimate CHOICE for Christians and others, Exposing false traditions of sexual repression that have no biblical basis, Promoting Intimacy & Other-Centered, Loving Sexuality" are just some of the headers on their site. Immediately I thought: wow, how different a school of thought than the one into which I was raised.  It is interesting to note that the Liberated Christians work on the theory that if one works with the original scriptures and Hebrew and Greek texts, you may find that the original meanings toward sex and traditional relationships have become skewed over the years.In fact, the Liberated Christians suggest that "responsible non-monogamy, loving intimacy and other-centered sexual pleasure sharing is much more in line with Christ's teaching that love is the greatest commandment than the repressive traditional teachings which make rules based on false foundations." Okay. So the guilt and the years of squirming under the priest's gaze on Sunday thinking he could just tell that I was being bad and far from the good girl I was supposed to be were all a big waste of time? That's almost oddly disappointing… So where did all this misunderstanding stem from? Well, according to the site (and the numerous essays therein), the sexual morality of Christians was not something handed down by Christ himself; rather, it was handed down by later practitioners and leaders who were more interested in controlling the masses then following the original tenets. According to the mini-dissertation entitled "How Sex was made a Sin" (http://www.libchrist.com/bible/howsexsin.html), the dour views the church currently holds on sex probably originated with St. Augustine. This charming fellow, in a move to distance himself from his previous life and sexual proclivities, began to do the thing that I abhor in former smokers—he becomes an overzealous, anti-sex person who preaches only about the negativities of his former lifestyle. His aesthetic views included the thought that sex was only valid if intended as a means of procreation. Any sex, even that within the holy, sanctioned bonds of marriage, used for pleasure, was wrong, wrong, wrong, and you would burn, burn, burn for it.  The idea that sex was only useful and authorized for methods of procreation is indicative of the needs of the church at this time. The mortality rates were frightfully high, the church needed more faithful followers, and the socio-economic and political structures of the time were entirely controlled by the church.Fascinating to note, the early incarnations of the church even indicate that the clergy enjoyed polyamorous or polygamous relationships. Priests and monks were allowed to marry and have children, and often had more than one wife. Funny how things change when money and the property of the church come into question later on. Back to the subject at hand; the Liberated Christians are seeking to educate people on the original teachings while encouraging people to revel in what they describe as "God's gift"—their sexuality. Their philosophy includes the belief that a fuller spirituality in every area can be enjoyed by replacing the church's indoctrination and false morality with healthier tenets based on clearer biblical translation and interpretation. In addition, they believe that we, as spiritual, sexual creatures, can lead emotionally and spiritually healthier lives through better sex education and the "open discussion of alternative relationship styles and other vital issues of sex and intimacy that trouble Christians and others in our society." So, okay—they profess to believe the opposite of what most of us were taught in those Sunday school classes—how does this work? Known enigmatically only as Bill and Dave, the founders of this movement have pretty strong backgrounds in faith-based atmospheres. Bill was once an attendee at a well-known evangelical seminary. Dave was actively involved in his church and was even a deacon in his Presbyterian ministries for a while.  Bill makes the statement that we are defined by our sexuality as much as we are by any other element in our lives, which, from what I remember of CCD classes, seems in direct conflict with current standards in Christianity.As a former student of theology, Bill studied the scriptures and biblical documents in their original languages. His studies led him to finally conclude that what had been handed down as the "word of God" with respect to love and sex was either "false" or malformed. One of the most striking statements in his biography is his belief that the church has divorced sexuality from spirituality. The bio used words like guilt-ridden and neurotic when describing the effects of the church's judgment and moral stance upon its followers. For anyone who has been raised in a traditionally Christian family, you can surely agree with the validity of that statement. To be a good Christian, one was discouraged from embracing your sexual, sensual nature aside from within your marital bed. This bold statement is coupled and perhaps compounded by the fact that Bill is a social nudist, and believes that acceptance of the body is one of the keys to sexual freedom for the self. This, perhaps, helps underscore his conviction that "God's intention for us as human beings and Christians is to have positive sexual self-esteem, to enjoy our sexual needs and desires and to share loving sexuality with a variety of people in responsible ways that conform to the New Testament's teaching." Dave, because of his upbringing and involvement in ministries, believed for many years that the word of God was just that—the word of God and that's it. A chance encounter with a couple who were studying to become Lutheran ministers who felt there were obvious discrepancies between the original teachings toward sex, love, and monogamy led Dave to begin his own search for his truth. Similarly to his partner, he began to study the original Greek and Hebrew texts and came to similar conclusions on what the first teachings of Christ and the church were compared to current mores. He became very upset that the church would mistranslate and misapply biblical truths to promote an agenda which was not based on the original biblical texts. Feeling disillusioned, Dave and Bill created the Liberated Christians group, based upon the following four stated goals:
 Placing themselves as the only Christian swingers group, the Liberated Christians have, of course, generated some media buzz but feel strongly about the group's privacy at the same time. And walking this line has at times brought them and their belief systems into the path of some rather irate conservative Christians. But the boys seem to enjoy the opportunity to engage other believers into dialogue, though they admit that conversion rates are pretty low.As much as we're all seeking a little acceptance and validation of our own unique versions of sexuality and spirituality, it seems even Bill and Dave might have trouble in finding partners who support their belief, and their lifestyle. Dave has made several statements on the website which pronounce his unhappiness in his inability to find a partner who understands, accepts, and embraces his polyamorous beliefs. But the interest group seems to have a hold on a small community in a good old grass-roots movement fashion. Their siteoffers intriguing, informational essays and dissertations on topics as varied as sexuality, polygamy, homosexuality, and intimate touching. Speaking at swingers conventions and sexual and non-sexual intimate touching seminars, the two are working on changing the angry face of Christian sensuality to a more welcoming and engaging visage. Hey, can the Buddy Christ be far behind?
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