BDSM And Religion

Introspection; in this covid wrecked world (soon to be put back together again with slew of vaccines), there has been lots of time for reflection.
Now introspection is close to useless in a game of basketball; but if one is spending a lot of time indoors – as many of us are during this unrelenting virus attack – one might wind up analyzing our lives with a bit more contemplation. And once one wanders into the sea of self-examination, religion – sooner or later – will rear its cope and mitre’d head.
This weeks question is one that I have been carrying around in my “question bag” (there is no such thing as a “question bag”) for what seems like an eternity. But this query enabled me to answer a religious question with a BDSM twist. So here goes:

Reader: I have been drawn to BDSM for most of my life, but am somewhat confused on one point: I am a devout Christian, and my faith is an important part of my life. Is it possible to be a sub, and a Christian both? Any and all guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Although I am not a theologian, nor do I play one on TV, I have found a surprising number of Christians who are into D/s and BDSM and have concluded that devout Christianity and our lifestyle are actually quite compatible with each other. Surprising, huh? Of course, it can be argued that one can support any argument using the Bible; and, although my biblical quotes are accurate, my interpretations – like all interpretations – are open to challenge. That said, it’s time for BaadMaster’s “Sermon on the Net!”

Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
The Bible is pretty unswerving in preaching a submissive role for wives. It is a common theme in both the Old and New Testament. In fact, if you were reading the Bible for the first time, you might think it was a guidebook for female submission. Of course, these biblical admonitions will not thrill progressive females. I guess BDSM and D/s will always have some enemies!

Ephesians 5:24
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

In this verse, you can even see justification for high-protocol submission. The use of the word “everything” is pretty dramatic. I think any submission, from weekend submissive to TPE slave, is covered in this admonition.

Peter 2:18
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

With regard to BDSM play, this verse appears to be a ringing endorsement. This sounds an awful lot like a T.P.E. Master/slave relationship to me – where the Master is a bit of a sadist!

Hebrews 13: Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but adulterers God will judge.This admonition is usually interpreted to mean that anything you do in the marriage bed — except adultery — goes. So, spank away!

If you think about it, it is not surprising that BDSM and Christianity are compatible. Much of Christianity has, at its root, a theme of Dominance and submission. The wedding vow to “love, honor and obey” has been part of the liturgy for ages; only recently has it been altered to reflect a more politically correct world. (Although many couples still opt to keep it in.) Thus, to this observer, it could be argued that for a woman to not be submissive is actually un-Christian! (Amazing, eh?)

The only area where the BDSM lifestyle and being a devout Christian seem to be at odds is on the issue of marriage. The Bible is pretty unambiguous in declaring that sex between an unmarried couple is unacceptable. But this biblical proscription is not about BDSM and D/s; rather it is a universal ban against pre-marital sex. (Although most Christians seem to disregard this warning; few marry as virgins.) But this is a moral question for the population at large; this is not a consideration specific to our lifestyle. And you can always marry your Master – or Mistress!

As you can see, the Bible is pretty clear about the submissive role of women. It is in the area of male submission, whether it is with a woman or another man, where the Bible is less than supportive, to say the least. But even here, there is good news for you.

Just as there are passages in the Bible that can support pretty much any point of view, there are Churches that run the gamut from ultra-conservative to radically liberal. For example, there are those that preach against homosexuality, while there are others that embrace openly gay clergymen and clergywomen.

Thus, no matter what your gender or sexual orientation, you should be able to find a Church that welcomes you with open arms. One that embraces you as a submissive — a role that the Bible clearly endorses!

After a ten year run as head writer for the legendary bondage.com, and an equally long run as the host of the hit internet show “Baadmaster’s Dungeon,” we are pleased to welcome the one and only Baadmaster to KinkWeekly. His thoughts about all things BDSM will now appear regularly on these pages. From the mental aspects of D/s to the nuts and bolts of S&M play, Baadmaster will cover every facet of this ever expanding lifestyle.