The Daily Pennsylvanian :: Reverend blends religion with 'erotic passion'

Share This

Is God erotic?

Though not a question asked often, it's the central theme for the Penn Christian Association's Rev. Beverly Dale, who aims to help Christians become sexually connected with themselves while embracing spirituality.

Her primarily online-based sexual ministry, PassionWorks, puts it plainly: "The Church is wounded. Beverly Dale wants to heal it."

Dale, who always expressed an interest in sex and God, served as the executive director of Penn's CA from 1989 until this year, when that role split in two - into an executive director and a general minister and director - so that Dale could focus on PassionWorks instead of administrative concerns.

Dale, known among her friends and followers as "RevBev," is essentially alone in the Christian community in spreading her message; she is unaware of any other similar campus ministry.

"We have in this culture this monopoly of right-wing Christianity on the media, which is not helpful to get out another message that is liberating and gives people permission to be sexual and celebrate sexuality," she said.

In an effort to engage students, Dale performs a one-woman show that illustrates the stories of 13 women called "An Irreverent Journey from Eggbetaers to Vibrators." While most of the vignettes are based off of Dale's life, the stories range from a child who has been molested to a middle-aged woman who experiences her first orgasm.

The aim of the show is to push the boundaries of what's acceptable, a concept familiar to many college students, regardless of faith.

Dale said that, by and large, fear prevents others from addressing the issues of sexuality in terms of religion.

"The erotic is an incredibly powerful urge that can be exploitative, and the fear is it cannot be controlled, but of course it can be," she said. "But rather than help people channel the erotic, the Church has historically repressed it in a limited, legalistic way."

She added, "If you have a marriage license, Eros is supposed to flow like crazy, but pieces of paper do not guarantee a satisfying erotic life, and the real issue is that the Church has cut off the body from the spirit."

It's the separation of body and spirit that Dale finds dangerous as she feels that many people afflicted by this disconnect turn to harmful behaviors to satisfy the void.

"I see Penn students using alcohol to justify the sex they want to have but are too ashamed to claim, or too guilt ridden," she said.

And so the CA wants to become more involved with helping Penn students challenge these women's issues in addition to other issues of peace and justice.

CA Executive Director Katherine Primus said, "What I don't think people know is that the CA helped create the International House, the Black Students League - we were the only place on campus in the 60s where students would protest the Vietnam War and feel safe, the only place where men and women could hang out before the campus went coed," she said. "We're a resource for students who are interested in what we're interested in."

Comments (9)

From Jeremiah 2 "Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine? Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord God. How can you say, �?I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals�?? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done�? a restless young camel running here and there, a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her." Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

[QUOTE id="bcd9ecfc-2da8-449e-89c6-d01a1eb94eda"]"Eros is supposed to flow like crazy" ? This makes less sense than Plato's "Symposium"! Besides, doesn't this kind of contradict Christ's message against sex in the Sermon on the Mount?[/QUOTE] Your partial quote misses the point: RevBev is saying that eros flowing like crazy (can we agree this is a good thing in a marriage?) isn't necessarily going to happen in a marriage if Christianity gives only the message "sex is bad" until the moment you have that license. If the alternative to RevBev's message is "I can't deal with making responsible decisions about sex and religion, so I'll get so drunk a random hook-up isn't my fault," people had better start talking about how to deal with our sexuality. If you think Jesus had a "message against sex" in the Sermon on the Mount when he condemned adultery (Matthew 5: 27-28), you are illustrating the problem. Perhaps you'd better have a chat with RevBev.

The only thing more disturbing than the fact that Ms. Dale is perverting the Christian message of morality and restraint is the fact that she's leading others into unchristian acts in the name of Christ and that she's been given legitimacy by the University. To refute her messages, here are a few passages that directly contradict her message (in other words she's preaching against the bible). Feel free to look them up for yourselves: Mark 7, especially 20-23. Galatians 5, especially 19-21 Thessalonians 4, especially 3-5 Corintheans 7, especially 2 Ephesians 5, especially 3 Hebrews 13, especially 4 Revelations, 21, including 8. Mathew: 5: 28-32, Sermon on the Mount (see Mathew). (Look hard and you can find more) Not to mention sections of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Revelations, etc.

The great thing about the bible is that it can be interpreted in any number of ways, and has been by any number of people. Witness the variety of people who call themselves Christian. This has worked for both good and evil in the world. People like "Disgusted" and "Somone who actually reads the Bible" who claim that their interpretation is the only true word of God are blasphemers at best. This is the same kind of arrogance that got Satan into trouble. I say kudos to Beverly Dale for coming up with an interpretation of scripture that celebrates life and sexuality.

St. Paul says women are the weaker vessel, the vatican says it's better to infect your wife with AIDS than use a condom, and Dubbya thinks girls kissing is an abomination. What is this, the time of Charlemagne? Christianity is fundamentally opposed to modern life: people that try to reconcile the two will just end up contradicting themselves.

To "in the bedroom with Jesus:" I'm going to have to attribute many of your comments to being a) misinformed/ignorant and b) the victims of being taken out of context. On St. Paul: Please a) put it in context and b) give the appropriate passage numbers so everyone can make their own judgments and c) next time quote directly rather than paraphrasing. Anyways, in context I'm sure that said pseudo-quote would sound much less harsh, and that there are many imminent biblical scholars who can interpret it on a deeper level to not mean what you seem to think it does. On condom/AIDS: I believe that the Vatican first says that cheating on your spouse is wrong/sinful, and that it would be better to remain faithful to him/her. In this case, not only do you not need condemns to cheat on him/her (given that you're not cheating), but you're also physically healthier by doing so (don't have AIDS), socially healthier, spiritually healthier, etc. It makes a lot more sense when you put it in context. Dubbya: since when is basing an entire argument on what one ascribes (and I doubt you have any evidence to support your claim anyways) a valid argument. Furthermore, how is this a biblical argument, which is what you seem to be arguing with? And finally: Christianity is a peaceful religion, not oppressive, so how does this figure into clashing with a modern society? Opposed to modern life: Better than 75% percent of Americans describe themselves as Christians. I'm sure that these tens of millions of individuals would argue to the contrary, as would the millions upon millions whose faith plays an active role in their daily lives and who've managed to not only survive but thrive thus far.

Eros is supposed to flow like crazy ? This makes less sense than Plato's "Symposium"! Besides, doesn't this kind of contradict Christ's message against sex in the Sermon on the Mount?

[QUOTE id="5332f0a7-bbba-4f58-8b95-43ab93025676"]The great thing about the bible is that it can be interpreted in any number of ways, and has been by any number of people. [/QUOTE] Wrong. The great thing about the Bible is that it is God's word. God is singular/unique, and does not change and therefore His words are also singular/unique and unchanging.

my university has lost the difference between good and evil.between right and wrong....i am shocked and feel very bad for MY university....dr aneed

Comments are closed for this item.

Penn Tweets
DP
Sports
UTB
34ST

briangoldman150

Brian Goldman | Flashback to a flashmob

University finds UA guilty of hazing, alcohol violations

The Undergraduate Assembly has been found to have violated the University’s Antihazing and Alcohol and Drug policies, the UA’s executive board announced in a statement Saturday evening.

ernest

Ernest Owens | The 20-Year-Old-Virgin

ariellepardes001

Arielle Pardes | Bringing on the Year of Sex

01162012_liquorstore003

Local liquor store closed due to issues with the site and landlord