Coëmgenu wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:23 amWhy not "human beings in general are vulnerable to manipulation."
/.../
People in general are prone to manipulation and exploitation.
On the grounds of what do you call the situations mentioned in this thread (sex between teacher and student in a religious/spiritual setting) "manipulation" and "exploitation"?
Can you sketch out your reasoning here?
In religion/spirituality, one is supposed to give one's teacher one's everything, from one's attention and money, to one's body. If your teacher tells you to fast, for example, and then you fast, why wouldn't you have sex with him if he tells you to have sex with him?
In a religious/spiritual setting, why is it okay to give your attention, your time, your money to someone, but not give them your body? If you let them do with your mind whatever they want to, and if you let them do various things with your body (such as when you follow their instructions on diet, sleep, exercise), why stop there, and not give them your body in a sexual way?
But there is a strong taboo against being penetrated in homosexual intercourse amongst most men in general, worldwide.
Isn't spirituality all about overcoming taboos?
I'm in no way advocating for those religious/spiritual teachers who have sex with their students. I do think it would help when discussing this topic to clarify
1. where the line is drawn between manipulation and non-manipulation, between exploitation and non-exploitation, and
2. why it is drawn there.