Our readings brought out the oneness of being underlying all sexualities. We then dove deep into dualism, breaking our fall somewhat by referring to Aristophanes' charming tale of our primordial existence as whole beings, split in two and seeking our other half.

A member presented us with data from a new book (Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love, by Helen Fisher) as reported in The Economist of February 14, 2004. Apparently love is all about chemicals. It falls into three categories: lust, romantic attraction, and long term attachment. Each type has its own emotional and motivational systems and string of chemical releases in the body. Their respective "purposes", as one might surmise, are mating, pair-bonding and parenting — all of which are increasingly feasible in the LGBT communities.

There's a lot of interesting material in the review (e.g., why people on anti-depressants might find it difficult to bond with another) but members were particularly startled by this: "Because they are independent, the three systems can work simultaneously.. Dr. Fisher explains, 'you can feel deep attachment for a long-term spouse, while you feel romantic love for someone else, while you feel the sex drive in situations unrelated to either partner.'"

Several members were offended that this article found its way into our meeting. "What significance does all that have for us in a Christian Science meeting?"It's probably just another way for psychologists to tell us how we're supposed to feel about sex and romance."

"I just wanted us to look at some of the latest research in the area of sexuality — particularly since it arrived in my mail box during the weeks we were looking at this topic. Anyway, it pretty much tracks the way the ancients looked at sex and love — in other words, potential problems. How useful it would have been for them to have a deeper understanding of the chemistry involved."

He then read us this from Mary Baker Eddy: "What is the scientific realization of which sexual intercourse is the counterfeit? It is the recognition and realization through communion with God of man as a perfect, complete idea, masculine and feminine."(Blue Book, page 224)

"Boy, the old gal really got into things and found their spiritual point."

"Right. Now can we do the same with this chemical stuff?"

"Why not? It's human language — 'chemicalization' — for the divine idea of our oneness."

So we talked about how to bring Christian Science into play in our sexual-romantic lives. "The main point for me is Jesus' two commandments — to love God wholeheartedly and our fellow man as ourselves."(See the readings from Matthew).

A religious article entitled "One Love"from the Christian Science Monitor of February 13, 2004 was quoted. Someone asked the writer, "Is your heart so full because of Joe?"She replied, "It isn't him, Claire. For the first time, I think I understand that there's just one Love in my life, and all of you are confirmations of it."

We discussed aggressive cruising, say on the street or subway. One member doesn't like it when guys do it to her, so she's given it up herself. Another member said, "I feel it's invasive. If I see a guy I'm attracted to, I try to remind myself of our common divinity and enjoy that."

A member brought up an article in the Spring 2004 issue of Parabola, "Mystical Union", by Evelyn Underhill. The author quotes Richard of St. Victor about the application of sexual imagery to the pursuit of at-one-ment with God. There are four stages: betrothal, marriage, wedlock and finally fruitfulness. In the third stage the soul is "deified"and "passes utterly into God, and is glorified in Him."The fourth stage is return to the world "there to live.. as centers of transcendental energy, the creators of spiritual families, partners and fellow-laborers with Divine Love."

Our member then quoted this from Science and Health: "The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done."(page 202:3)

We next discussed the Superbowl, which had its trappings as wholesome family entertainment rudely ripped away "to show the Dionysian undercurrents dancing beneath the calm surface of hypocrisy."Thank you Janet Jackson for exposing "just how many boobs we have in this country."(Frank Rich, New York Times, February 15, 2004).

One member felt a publicly sex-phobic society obsessed with propriety will naturally have plenty of inappropriate eruptions of violence, bad taste, sexual innuendo, symbolic rape and racial tensions. There's a spike in wife and girl-friend beatings after the game each year. "Wouldn't it be simpler, more efficient, for us to just work out our own sexual and romantic feelings honestly with another person."

"Yeah. The Superbowl level of sharing doesn't work out anything."

"But there may be possibilities for societal transformation if we see the Superbowl as an unconscious symbolic representation of the Holy Grail."We read the following from Science and Health: "If all who ever partook of the sacrament had really commemorated the sufferings of Jesus and drunk of his cup, they would have revolutionized the world. If all who seek his commemoration through material symbols will take up the cross, heal the sick, cast out evils, and preach Christ, or Truth, to the poor, — the receptive thought, — they will bring in the millennium."(page 34:10)

Members shared personal stories of evolving sexualities. Here are a few.

1) One member is recovering from homelessness and mental illness. He used to have lots of pick-up sex when he lived on the streets. Now that he has an apartment and psychiatric care, he can be much more restrained in his choice of partners for intimacy. His whole life is being transformed by the activity of Love.

2) Another member told us of a long-term friendship which started 50 years ago as a street pick-up in New Orleans. The man turned out to be a very good student of Christian Science and they remained close until his passing just a few weeks ago.

3) Another member attended a life partnership commitment ceremony during the week. He used the energies of the occasion to study and pray about marriage as a divine idea and found himself able to talk openly with drivers to and from the airports about Gay partnering. One was Pakistani and somewhat agitated about the conversation. "He kept lifting his hands from the wheel to demonstrate how egg and sperm collide. My protestations about petri dishes and turkey basters may have gone over his head."

"Can someone live as openly Gay in Pakistan? I asked. He said 'Oh no — they'd have to leave Islam and Pakistan and live abroad."

"I waited till we were close to the airport (so I could walk if he threw me out) before springing Rumi on him. 'You know he was a good Muslim and openly Gay.'"Yes, but he was Persian."

The commitment ceremony itself was a lovely affair. The partners included all those attending and indeed the world in their celebration of Love.

4) Another member arrived at the meeting fresh from an "earthshaking event". He wept as he told us of having just seen a man who 34 years ago ridiculed and then beat him because of his homosexuality. They recognized each other on the street and the man came over to him and asked for forgiveness, which our member granted. The man then made moves to get close again, but our member resisted and will proceed slowly, prayerfully on that front.

We ended up with a brief discussion of same-sex marriage as it is now evolving in Massachusetts and San Francisco. It was our feeling that the "one man, one woman"formula, which is not in accord with either Christian Science or depth psychology (both of which demonstrate the male-femaleness of each person), will collapse under the weight of Truth.

For next week we'll check out how many idols — i.e., dualistic, material beliefs — we worship. The subject: Idolatry.