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%CORPORATE SIN RECOGNIZE NAME TALK DESCRIBE CONFESS+940630
 %ACKNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATIONAL ADDICTION CODEPENDENCY+940630
  %LACK OVERT GUIDANCE SEXUAL MATURATION ADOLESCENT+940630
    %GROW DESIRE EXPERIENCE MASTURBATION CONNECTION+940630
   %HOLY SPIRIT PROMPTINGS GOD RENEW AUTHORITARIANS 940630

     Too rarely have churches sought to recognize,   name,
talk  about,  describe and confess their corporate sins as
being  different from their individual members'   personal
sins.  The focus has  been  upon  individualistic  sins to
divert attention from the corporate sins.  In keeping with
addiction  to  analysis it  has been  beyond  question  to
assume  that corporate sins are merely the arithmetic  sum
of individualistic sins;  as physicists  regard  humans as
merely the sum  of  protons,  neutrons and electrons  (and
associated virtual particles) in chaotic motion.

     The   corporate   sins   of corporate  churches   are
most  notable and least noted in  regards to human  sexual
growth and maturation.   The corporate  sexual sins of the
corporate  church are both sins of omission  and  sins  of
commission.

     The  corporate church has neglected to offer positive
affirmations  to help children and adolescents  grow  from
childhood  through adolescence into sexual maturity.    In
such  neglect the corporate church has committed many sins
of  omission by failing to talk openly and honestly  about
all the sexual feelings,  desires,   and experiences which
are   part  of  growing  up  sexually  through   imperfect
transition stages which are common to most adolescents.

     The  corporate  church  has committed  many  sins  of
commission whereby the corporate church has systematically
given  the impression  to  young people that sex is sinful
and  that sexual consciousness is to be avoided as much as
possible within communities which are commercially fixated
upon  sexuality.    Yet the corporate church is  paralyzed
when   it  comes  to  talking  with  integrity  about  the
commercial   fixation  upon  sexual  stimulations.     The
corporate  church  does  not know how to be  honest  about
sexuality, because of the collusive games  of  mutual self
deception   which  characterize  its  approach  to   human
sexuality.

     The  corporate church's approach to  human  sexuality
has been focused upon  denial  of sexual human:  feelings,
experiences,  desires, knowledge, relationships, joys, and
frustrations.   Systematic dishonesty has been a key  tool
in  the corporate church's approach to human sexuality and
so  the  church  has  undermined the  credibility  of  its
message   in  the  minds  of  adolescents  who  leave  the
corporate church in mind and spirit, even if not in body.

     The  corporate church's approach to  human  sexuality
has usually been one  of denying  the reality of imperfect
transitions  between sexual immaturity to sexual maturity.
Masturbation which  is  demonstrably  a exceedingly common
sexual activity is  virtually  a  taboo subject.   If  the
corporate  church  cannot  be  open  and honest in talking
about  masturbation---then  about what controversial topic
can it hope to be open and honest?

     As  with masturbation, the corporate church has, with
other  imperfect sexual experiences treated them  as  evil
because they are not perfect;  and has made them be taboo,
not open to  honest discussion.  It has been impossible to
talk openly and honestly  about sexual pilgrims'  progress
from  sexual immaturity into sexual maturity---because the
way  is  paved with imperfect sexual experiences  such  as
masturbation,    premarital  sexual  relationships,    and
extramarital sexual relationships.   Thus people have been
unable to learn from their imperfect sexual experiences as
much as they might have learned.

     The  corporate  church has  implicitly  focused  upon
sexual  conformity,  but it is tied in knots when it comes
to  talking  explicitly  about  the  most  healthy  sexual
experiences and connections.  To what is one to conform if
one  is  to  be a healthy sexual  adult?    Where  is  the
corporate church's open and honest description of what  is
involved  in a healthy sexual relationship?   How can  one
conform   to  what  has  not  been  described  openly  and
honestly?

     All  too  often  the  corporate  church  has  focused
attention  primarily upon the objective aspects  of  human
sexual relationships:    clothing, body parts,  positions,
motions,  contact,  etc.   The objective focus upon sexual
objects  is coupled with neglect of the reflexive  aspects
of  intimate relationships.   Virtue has been  defined  in
negative   objective  terms,   rather  than  in   positive
reflexive  terms.    The  negative  emphasis  has  focused
additional  attention  in  ways  which   exacerbated   the
dilemmas  which  persist  because  of  the  exclusive  way
attention has been focused upon objective aspects of human
sexuality.

     The  corporate church has implicitly focused far more
attention upon rules, regulations, prohibitions and taboos
pertaining   to  sexuality,   than  explicitly  upon   the
possibility  of  being  responsive to  the  Holy  Spirit's
prompting  in  leading young people  into  healthy  sexual
relationships,  and away from dysfunctional  relationships
characterized  by collusions,  addictions and  codependent
support thereof.   How often has the corporate church even
suggested  the  possibility that the Holy Spirit might  be
involved  in  sexual  desires  and  promptings  to  become
involved intimately to the point of sexual intimacy?   How
often  has the corporate church implicitly but  forcefully
suggested the contrary?

     Too  rarely have churches sought to recognize,  name,
talk about,  describe and confess their corporate sins  as
being  different from their individual members'   personal
sins.    The focus has been upon individualistic  sins  to
divert  attention  from corporate sins.   In keeping  with
addiction  to  analysis,  it has been beyond  question  to
assume  that corporate sins are merely the arithmetic  sum
of  individualistic sins;  as physicists regard humans  as
merely  the  sum of protons,  neutrons and electrons  (and
associated virtual particles) in chaotic motion.

     The  corporate  church  has often  functioned  as  an
"Addictive Organization"  in the sense of the book by that
name  authored  by Anne Wilson Schaef.   As  an  addictive
organization  the  church has been more  preoccupied  with
addictive  issues  of control,  than with  helping  church
members discern the promptings of the Holy Spirit  working
to renew the membership and the corporate church.    Where
the  Holy Spirit is truly at work and truly  listened  to,
the   church  authoritarians  cannot  be  effectively   in
control.   For this reason,  church authoritarians  divert
member's  attention away from listening to the  promptings
of the Holy Spirit.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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