From: altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Reconciling BDSM and Pagan Beliefs
Date: 6 Nov 92 23:55:57 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: California State University Sacramento

In article <1992Nov5.063434.17211@netcom.com>
   barry@netcom.com (Kenn Barry) writes:
>In article <2AF71F00.22548@news.service.uci.edu>
   cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
>>When it comes to BDSM, I don't want to say to anyone, "You shouldn't do
>>that because . . . " since it makes me feel like morals police.
>>HOWEVER, I do think that it is one hell of an indicator of what's going
>>on in a society when people can link submission and sex.
>
>	But suppose there really is a link, an innate psychological
>link, between sex and dominance/submission? If true, is that a bad
>thing? Or is the problem, where it exists, that people are forced to
>play a particular role because of their gender? Without a coercive
>man-dominant, woman-submissive preconception, where's the harm?
>
>	It's worth thinking about, because there's a lot more and better
>evidence for such a link than just the existence of BDSM.
[...]

>>In article <1992Nov3.171830.5066@csus.edu> altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim) writes:
>>>How many of those doms out there learn that subjugation of a submissive
>>>partner feels the same to them as subjugation of a victim?
>
>	This, I think, is the really relevant question. If there were
>reason to believe that BDSM was some kind of gateway into psychopathic
>and criminal behavior, well, that's an effect, and important. But there
>doesn't seem to be any such gateway effect, far as I can see.

I wasn't really making any point about it being gateway at all. As I 
stated in my reply, I have no problem with all the fun/play that goes
on between consenting adults, what with safewords etc.

Apparently the experience of those here re: BDSM, particularly SM, has
been positive. The problem I was trying to clarify is that (as with
anything) there is also the dark side of the issue. Not everyone respects
others, not everyone under ALL circumstances respects safe words. Not to
side with Camille Paglia, but I tend to believe that unless you REALLY
trust your partner (whether you've been together a week or a few years),
creating the situation where a person is granted the power to dominate and 
even injure (as in SM), what a given person will do under these unusual
circumstances is open to conjecture. Being on the receiving end of a 
potentially violent attack is not what the replies I've seen so far have
addressed. As I stated earlier, not everyone is "healthy" in their approach
to sexuality, power, and BDSM.

If you trust your mate enough to submit to a BDSM situation, remember that
a major function of that situation is to test/play out the changes in 
personality that are garnered under BDSM circumstances. These changes are
not predictable, and could lead to more serious consequences.

And, again, this is not an argument against BDSM, only a plea for caution.

Blessings,

Murray

-- 
Murray M. Altheim      "Ils ont l'orteil de Bouc, & d'un Chevreil l'oreille,
Instructional Consultant    La corne d'un Chamois, & la face vermeille
CSU, Sacramento          Comme un rouge Croissant: & dancent toute nuict
altheimm@csus.edu       Dedans un carrefour, ou pres d'une eau qui bruict."