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$pread Magazine - Issue 4.2
Positions: Is Sex Work a Sin?
Babylonian history states that
prostitution goes as far back as 4,300 years ago. Prostitutes called
ishtaritu, offered themselves to males who paid the requested
contribution for sex. Each women in Babylonia, at least once
in their lifetime, was required to prostitute herself--no
matter how rich or poor. Giving themselves in the temples as a sign
of devotion to the
Goddess Ishtar, the money they made was then given as a donation,
stimulating temple economy.
So you ask
me, is prostitution a sin?
Having been in the business myself for
over 11 years, I did not come out of it unharmed. Depression and PTSD
were just some of the effects I suffered as a result of rapes and
physical abuse during sex work. You might say these are isolated
incidents. But I say, the longer that you are in the
business, the bigger the odds it will happen
to you!
It is taught in the bible that sin
results in death. So, what's death
got to do with it?
Ten
of my personal friends have died working as prostitutes.
According to statistics in countries
where it is legal, the rates of violence and rape against
women that are prostituted are much higher than
in countries where it is illegal.
It has been known to bring deadly diseases, (aids, cancer, warts)
destroy marriages, and families.
Is sex a sin?
No! God never said
that we couldn't have sex, in fact, He wants us to enjoy
it, and have it to the fullest,
but in a consecrated relationship and
if you don't believe me, read the Song of Solomon.
God
says Do Not Commit Adultery for a reason, to protect
us, out of love!
Love you say?
What's love
got to do with it?
God
is like a parent, as a parent watches over a child when he is walking
towards a hot stove, he warns him Don't touch! And out of deep
love for the child, He warns
him to Stay away.
So,
out of Jesus' love for us, He warns us to stay away
from prostitution, because He knows it will hurt
us,
not help us. People
misunderstand Christianity, Jesus
never hated
prostitutes!
This is who He hung out with! It is when these prostitutes realized
His deep
love for
them, they decided to change their lives for good, and became
followers of Jesus.
-Annie Lobert, Hookers for Jesus
From my perspective as a practicing Buddhist and a sex worker, I do not believe sex work is a sin. In fact, it could be viewed as a way to accrue good karma and practice loving-kindness. So I see sex work as the opposite of sin. It is a part of my practice. It's also important to mention that there is actually no concept of "sin" in Buddhism, only negative intentions, but as someone raised Catholic, I feel there is a similarity between the concepts.
When I began working as a dominatrix, I felt a deep conflict between the role of Buddhism in my life and the domme act. The phrase "do no harm" seemed to directly advise against wielding a whip or paddle. Walking into the room for my first domination session, I had to face my own negative perceptions of the person who was paying me to inflict pain on him. Instinctually, I assumed there was something wrong with this person. There was even a moment of considering him a bad person, if only to make it easier for me to do my job. Calling to mind the sutras on loving-kindness and the importance of patience and love for all beings on their own path in this world, I was struck by how lucky I was to be in this situation. Suddenly, I could practice this patience and stretch my understanding of the concepts of Buddhism in a very unconventional way.
So, I have stayed with both sex work and Buddhism, and I continue to practice both. Rather than reconciling the two through rationalization or self-manipulation, I began to see the positive and therapeutic aspects of what I was doing. Fulfilling a fantasy or indulging a fetish not only gives me pleasure but also transfers that positivity to the client. At first glance, "forcing" a man to dress in women's panties and dance, wear make-up, and all that jazz might be cruel and sadistic. I certainly had personal problems with forced feminization because, as a woman, I don't think there's anything humiliating about femininity or wanting to be any gender. But I indulge that fetish with the intention of fostering self-acceptance in the client. And that's pretty much my intention with all of the sex work I do: fostering love and self-acceptance in accordance with the right intentions that Buddhists aspire to. In a culture that strangles sexuality and feeds on shame, I can't see how that could be a sin.
- Mistress Julie
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