Chris Christie and Me on God and Sex
This clip of Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie discussing his religion and his sex life is an entertaining demonstration of the embarrassing difficulty of going public on the subject of God and sex, sex and religion.
The guy in the white shirt in the foreground appears to be wishing this weren’t happening (which suggests he’s a Christie supporter.)
I see it as a performance almost worthy of Donald Trump.
I don’t quite get why he felt he needed to address this subject, but then neither do I understand why I feel compelled to write about it. I do think a lot about how to write these posts in a non-tacky manner that doesn’t cause cringing. Because sex and faith are both so personal and private — now matter how public about things we are these days — the risk of causing unnecessary and off-putting discomfort is always present. I read somewhere a quote saying that the finest fruit of an education is the ability to say God without embarrassment; I could argue that point, but I do know how the word can make some of my fellow liberals nervous.
But why would such discomfort on the sex-and-spirit discussion be bad? Because, quicker than an eye roll, you as a reader can click yourself away to some other site. And I want you to stick around. I want the discussion to continue.
Christie ends this segment saying that God will be his judge. Well, actually, God and a number of others.
I invite you to be my judge. If I’m approaching this topic too carefully or in any way dodging it, I’d like to know it. And of course if, like the man in white, you feel the impulse to cover your eyes, please tell me where I went too far.
BTW, this is not a request for compliments. I’d really like help with how to most effectively write posts on this subject of God and sex, sex and spirituality — and I wouldn’t mind any ideas for particular topics or questions to take up here.
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Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Chris Christie, compelled to write, cringing, discomfort, Donald Trump, embarrassing, judge, my judge, sex and religion, sex and spirituality, sex life
Comments
Yr doin’ fine – & I hope god agrees.
Thank you, Dr Bob!
I agree with Dr. Bob!
He has a slight bias, kenju. And thanks!
Watching Christie made me cringe. Reading what you wrote didn’t. So, you must be doing just fine. If I ever cringe, I’ll let you know.
Thanks, Jane, I’m counting on your saying so.
I imagined Christie was responding to some question about his religion and how that effects his public/political behavior. I’ve seen that little “embarrassed” often – cringe/hiding face seems a regular body expression of mild discomfort/embarassment in public. I think the guy is just not used to hearing/saying such things in public – he was taught as a child that this is wrong. Unfortunately a lotta folks can’t won’t talk about sex in public. bd
I agree that it didn’t seem the man was feeling deep shame or anything so extreme — just mild cringe, which I felt a bit of myself.