As we considered Chastity again, literalism prevailed and members wondered what Mrs. Eddy meant by chastity in her famous statement about it. (See Science and Health, p. 57: 1-3. This was included in our readings last week.) Some felt it okayed sex only within marriage. One felt it disallowed such sex, since the statement appears in a chapter entitled "Marriage"! Most seemed to agree that Mrs. Eddy's exhortation has to be evaluated through the lens of what we now know of love and sex: the two admittedly conflictive drives needing balance within a committed relationship as the ideal. Both the shrinks and the 12-Step programs devoted to sexual recovery agree on this. Sex with depth of feeling and commitment would apply to both the Gay and the non-Gay.

One member said he would risk the turmoil of instinctual sex drives erupting mentally — this does not mean he would act on them — rather than straightjacket himself with a lot of self-righteous platitudes. (See the readings, Science and Health, p. 202: 8-9.)

We moved along to look at an article on Chastity from the Christian Science Journal of September 1997. A member brought copies in last week, but most others were put off by its stilted language and confused logic; they politely handed it back. One member took it home and plowed through it. The only point of interest is its blatant homophobia. Here being Gay is on a par with domestic violence and polygamy, to mention the most outstanding of associated irregularities. Of course this pronouncement occurred before the administration's recent change of heart in dealing with Gay members and employees, but it raked up some unhealed hurts among old warriors in the battles to disinfect the church of its bigotry. Yes, how easily we relapse into the old pain, but still we had to wonder whether any reasonable article on Chastity — indeed one based on Christian Science — could be published by the church even today. As emotions petered out on these church matters, one member was heard to say that perhaps he would study the article to help rectify his tendency to polygamy. We'll keep our readership informed of progress.

A member then reported to us of his conversation with a member not in attendance. He's an expert on organized celibacy practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. The purpose of these organized efforts seems to be to enhance attention to the divine and build spiritual power. Usually celibacy was part of an overall asceticism which included poverty. Interestingly there is no analogous activity in Judaism. Celibacy and poverty were not thought of as ideals. A few prophets abstained from sex in their pursuit of Torah; Moses and Jeremiah are examples.

Our non attending member has experimented with abstinence in his own life. He has a demanding libido but finds these periods spiritually rewarding. He knows a number of celibate Catholic priests and finds them a joy to be with. Their level of spirituality and intellect leaves him with a feeling of well-being he finds nowhere else, including his association with most Christian Scientists. He recommends experimenting with chastity for all but said, "Let those for whom it is right persist." For others, some form of sexual tantrism to leash the energy might be helpful.

As we discussed this in the group there was mention of sublimation of the sexual energy. This is fairly easy for those of advanced years — thus the preposterousness of having the elderly advise the young on their sex lives. But the education system deals to some extent with the energy by directing it into sports and other activities including social dancing and parties. Behind the whole sublimation system is the wisdom of the elders who have set up and maintain the activities without being too obvious about it. For Gay youth sports and social options often do not exist if one does not wish to swallow his orientation and "pass". Thus the crises in underage drinking, drugging and sex among Gay youth. This is being addressed to a certain extent but needs a lot more help; and Christian Scientists can provide this help as can no others.

A member asked whether mere sex management was Christian Science — whether working for one's self or another. This question was one key to the type of help students of Christian Science might give in the struggle for true chastity. We should be seeing everyone—including so called Gay youth — as divine ideas including all bliss; then just let sex and sexuality be a matter of demonstration, not human will and well meaning statements. The right human activity would evolve from the pure realization of present bliss.

Another member was enthusiastic to share what came up for him during the week as he studied the first three pages of the chapter "Christian Science Practice" in Science and Health (see pages 362-364), which describe Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus at Simon's house. Some Christian Scientists feel this is Mrs. Eddy's own reaching out to the Christ after life's vicissitudes left her in despair and near death. Our member felt these pages are a model for how we can leave behind offensive concepts for their non dualistic underpinnings — i.e., the Christ, Truth. Here was this dear woman in a state of revulsion from her life, going within to find her purity and thus be able to reflect the divine reality again. This process is described elsewhere in Mrs. Eddy's writings — see for instance, Science and Health, p. 15: 14-18, amplifying what it means to enter the closet of prayer. Obviously the method presented here can be used to address and heal the problems unearthed in our meeting — e.g. bigotry, the plight of Gay youth, how to have an intimate relationship.

We couldn't come up with a topic for next week at the meeting proper, but a member who joined us for dinner had one ready. He has lost a number of friends and acquaintances to death recently and wanted us to take a look at Death. We agreed, but thought it a good idea to add the word Illusion to it, to warn non Christian Scientist visitors that something radical will be discerned.