Lower Than The Angels A History Of Sex And Christianity Instant Download

So, You Thought Christians Were All Angels, Huh?

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell you, a story that's been hidden in the annals of history, tucked away in the dusty corners of libraries, and whispered about in hushed tones in church pews. It's a tale of sex, scandal, and, well, Christianity. Buckle up, buttercups, 'cause we're going on a wild ride through time with our trusty guide, Lower Than The Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

Picture this: it's the early days of Christianity, around the 2nd century. The church is still finding its feet, and let's just say, it's not quite the bastion of sexual purity we've come to expect. In fact, it's more like a reality TV show - full of drama, intrigue, and, yes, sex.

Take Clement of Alexandria, for instance. This guy was like the ancient world's version of Dr. Ruth. He wrote a whole book called Paedagogus, which, ironically, wasn't about teaching kids. No, no, it was a guide to moral purity. And by moral, he meant sexual. Because, you know, back then, everyone was having a grand old time, and Clement was like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's put some brakes on this."

Fast Forward to the Middle Ages

Now, you'd think that by the Middle Ages, things would have cooled down a bit, right? Wrong! We've got the Catholic Church running the show, and let's just say, they've got a few... unique ideas about sex.

Take the Talmud, for example. It's a Jewish text, but the Catholic Church got their hands on it and decided it was full of sexy secrets. They even accused Jews of using it to justify having sex with... wait for it... virgins! Now, I don't know about you, but I've never read a book that made me want to do that. But hey, it was the Middle Ages. Who knows what they were smoking?

And Then Came the Reformation

The Reformation rolls around, and suddenly, everyone's got a new set of rules to follow. Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation, had some interesting views on sex. He thought it was okay to have sex with your wife whenever you wanted, even if she wasn't in the mood. Because, you know, consent wasn't really a thing back then.

And let's not forget the Anabaptists. These guys were so into free love, they made the '60s look like a convent. They believed in communal living, shared property, and, you guessed it, shared partners. They were basically the original swingers. But don't worry, they didn't last long. Turns out, free love is all fun and games until someone starts catching feelings.

And Now, the Modern Era

So, what about today? Well, things have changed, but they've also stayed the same. We've got the Catholic Church still struggling with their pedophile priest problem, and we've got evangelicals in the U.S. who think sex should only happen between a man and a woman... in marriage. Because, you know, God hates fun.

But hey, at least we've made some progress. We've got contraception, we've got LGBTQ+ rights, and we've got Fifty Shades of Grey. We've come a long way, baby.

So, What's the Moral of the Story?

Well, folks, the moral of the story is this: Christianity and sex have a long, complicated history. It's full of surprises, scandals, and yes, even a little humor. So, the next time you see a priest, don't be too quick to judge. Who knows what he's been up to? And remember, no matter what your religion says, always, always, practice safe sex. Because nobody wants a surprise little Jesus running around. Amen to that.