Attracted to Jesus

I think in that sort of situation, it isn't necessarily wrong to be attracted to Jesus, only to act on those feelings in an untoward or improper manner. (Because I didn't personally know him) I don't know how Jesus would react to a female follower's attraction, but I would assume he was somewhat used to some level of constant attention of that nature. It's nearly impossible, in any time period, to be famous and to NOT be lusted after. I would guess that Jesus' reaction would probably be based on his own feelings towards your MC, and not necessarily based solely on religious views.

There are a few things to think about when writing that.

First off, is the character attracted to Jesus because Jesus is physically good looking? Do looks play a factor at all? Or is it because their personalities 'click'? Or is it simply because that since Jesus is supposed to represent all the good things in life (you know, love, the act of living, purity, etc.) that this person is attracted to the 'aura' or good vibres around him?

It's not nessecarily wrong, after all, isn't loving Jehova/Eshua what most christian religions are based on? Of course, it would be wrong for the character to like- make any moves on him if he isn't interested. Basic social rules still apply.

As for Christ's reaction, I don't think anyone can really say how he'd react (you know, him having been dead for a couple thousand years and all), but since he is supposed to be the epitome of purity/love/forgiveness/all that other good stuff, it's probably safe to say that hewould probably try to let the character down easy in a manner that preserves the character's dignity while assuring them that they can still be friends.

Is it wrong for me to be attracted to my husband?

Of course not.

The problem is lust... not attraction. If the character is lusting after Jesus, it would be wrong, the same way it would to lust after anyone else. Again, it's important to note that lust is not even the same thing as sexual attraction.

Heather Dudley
Forums Moderator

I think it would be OK. I'm not sure if it happened though. Because Jesus is God, so I guess it would depend on what sort of attraction you're talking about.

I don't think he would be repulsed by it though. This is Jesus we're talking about. He is all about love and accepting people and helping them, forgiving them. So even if they lusted after him, he would still love and forgive them. I think Jesus would be understanding and helpful to them. I think it could be a really good story of learning who Jesus is and what he came for. a story of redemption and forgiveness, which is everything Jesus did and still does.

So.. if that's how you're story is going, go for it! If people get offended, who cares? It's YOUR story

Emily

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This is possibly veering off-track a bit, but there is a sort of religious ecstasy that crops up in the Catholic Church, and in other traditions as well. St Teresa of Ávila is well-known for entering into an ecstatic state in the presence of the Holy Spirit that had decidedly sexual overtones. She wrote about it thusly:

I saw in his [a seraph's] hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it...

Obviously, there is a sexual component to this, and I think is speaks to a sort of desire for sanctity that's expressed in a physical way. So to take a roundabout kind of view, one might suggest that desire for Jesus, for a spiritual union with Jesus, has an ecstatic, physical component to it, as sexual longings are some of the strongest we mortal creatures know. I would imagine, then, that trying to sublimate that physical attraction into something wholly spiritual would then be the goal, if one's working within a Christian milieu, given the ascetic character of the historical Jesus and later interpreters of the tradition.

I think the solution is in the question itself. First of all, because the question is not how either of them would deal with a physical attraction, but whether either would even have one. For the character to have a physical attraction to Christ is contradictory to the unchangeable, pure nature of a relationship or knowledge of Jesus. Because He transcends humans in purity and holiness, the only logical and possible attraction would be one of purity- one devoted and solely fixed upon a deep love of His character and nature. Any physical attraction, due to the gravity and seriousness of His existence in a body, would be solely absorbed in utter amazement and wonder at the beauty of human hands which openned eyes pierced with rude nails, a brow which deserved a crown of glory gorged with thorns, a body which bore the weight of human sins, sorrow, weariness, humanity, shredded by the whips of those He came to save. With these things in mind, there could be no possible room for a sexual attraction, because these things alone are so magnificently greater and higher in attractiveness. Also, on a very basic level, Jesus was most likely not someone anyone would be physically attracted to, because in Isaiah it says He had "no beauty that we should desire Him." We can deduce He was not physically handsome, which was planned in order that He could enter the lowliest state of humanity, rather than what everyone was expecting: a handsome, proud, Absalom-type revolutionist.

I don't think it would be wrong, specifically (and given that we are talking about Jesus, it's not like it'd be a big secret, either). I think it could be acted on wrongly, but that's another matter.

But, while I don't think Jesus would be repulsed by it (Paul literally went around murdering the early church, and Jesus recruited him personally, which makes a crush a stupendously minor deal by comparison), I am also positive He wouldn't respond in kind. His reason for coming to Earth was very specific, and falling in love was not part of it. Furthermore, dating someone or marrying them, indicates that you view them as intrinsically more valuable to you than you do other people. And while, on an objective scale I might say, "All humans are equally valuable," I can not say, "All humans are equally as valuable to me as the person I am in love with." It would undo His purpose for even becoming human in the first place.

My Fanfics
My Doctor Who Fanfics

Well, I guess you would have to understand, why does your character have a physical attraction to Jesus? The Bible tells us that Jesus was just ordinary looking. So if it's because he's a hunk, then no, that wouldn't happen. But I know for me, you be the hunkiest guy around, but if your personality is ugly, I would find you repulsive. Example: If an actor plays the bad guy in a TV Show/Movie/Play, I am repulsed by him. Take James Masters for example. When he played evil Spike, I was repulsed by him. But when Spike started to be good, he started to become handsome to me. I know, I know, it's an example using the tv show Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, but hey it works.

So to me the person can be ordinary looking, but if their personality is like Jesus .... Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I don't have any sexual feelings toward Him, but love and devotion sure. My soul is attracted to Him, but again not in a sexual way, but in a worshipful way. I really don't think that a Christian could have sexual feelings toward Jesus. Their feelings would be pure toward Him.

Midnight Writer
Grater Baton Rouge Area

I don't think it's wrong for anyone to be attracted to Jesus and I seriously doubt that Jesus would be repulsed by it since He supposedly is G'd made flesh and was here to learn what it meant to be human. Also, I would think he would understand the concept of physical love even though he was not able to reciprocate and I don't think he would be repulsed by someone who felt this way toward him.

I also don't think Jesus was completely oblivious to physical attraction himself, the Bible states that he 'hungered' and 'thirsted' (re: wandering in the desert). I'm sure he used the toilet, etc... He was a human male in every way, just because he didn't act on every impulse doesn't mean he didn't HAVE the impulses. So, I really can't see him being repulsed by someone 'crushing' on him. If anything, he'd probably feel more compassion for the person, knowing himself what it was like to want things and not be able to have them.

Anne Rice in THE ROAD TO CANA touches on this aspect, she has Jesus loving this girl he's known all his life and wondering how a life with her and having children like his brothers would feel like, but he knows who he is and what must be sacrificed to it and so he must only love her as a brother and it felt quite sad when I read it, how he must have longed at times for a regular life. Being a human being, how could he have not at times wished to just be 'normal'? And yet he was more than human and therefore some things were denied to him. Wasn't that one of the main purposes of his life - so that G'd could 'know' how it was to be flesh and how hard it could sometimes be? Would certainly make Him more merciful toward transgressions.

For an absurdist's take on it, there's always LAMB: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BIFF, CHRIST'S CHILDHOOD PAL by Christopher Moore, which if you don't mind the irreverance also touches on the physical (among others) attraction thing. And off on a tangent, It's also the first time since I was in 2nd grade that someone actually told me that Jesus' name is really Joshua. When I was 6 or 7 a teacher told me that Jesus was a mis-translation of Joshua and that Jesus' name really was Joshua not Jesus, but it had already stuck, so the world just went with it.

I went around with that for years in my mind like a dirty little secret until I read Biff book and he said the same thing. Being modern times now, I went on a google search and lo and behold - it's SOMEWHAT common knowledge but nobody really talks about it. Anyway, sorry for the tangent. Good luck on your book!

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