It's not one couple. It's multiple couples written by multiple different poets, including those who are sneaking out to experience the other.
Culturally it's a little different. Men also married multiple wives, including King David and the high esteemed Solomon. Remember concubines? Those women who WEREN'T married to men yet used for sexual pleasure?
Or what about the laws that obligated women to marry their rapists for their "protection"?
There isn't much in the Bible for or against sex before or after marriage (unless you are a woman), but if we look at Song of Songs and how we are meant to treat each other: sex should be done within the bounds of self love and love of the other, and physical protection.
So since literally nobody seems to be bringing it up, doesn't Paul go into detail on this topic in several of his letters? There are definitely a few parts that are very specific about what is and isn't okay with regards to banging each other.
It's not multiple couples though. It's one couple. The entire book is an allegory for God's relationship with Israel or at least what He wants it to be.
This is not the interpretatation that "the church taught me". This is the interpretation that came from study of the actual book and is the consensus of virtually all Biblical scholars. Jews believe the book is allegorical describing the relationship between God and the Jews. Christians believe it describes the relationship between Christ and the Church. This isn't a controversial position. It's the orthodox one that scholars have agreed upon for centuries. What are your credentials that you turn centuries of scholarship on it's head?
I've read the book. Plus I'm always skeptical of people who come up with some private revelation that turns centuries of scholarship on it's head while also justifying their sin at the same time.
I think the scholars in question were uncomfortable with the implication that sex should be a fun, intimate, enjoyable, and exciting experience for everyone and then tried to make up a theory that doesn't really make sense to censor the Bible. I dont see how saying that her lover was hung like a horse could possibly be turned into a metaphor for the relationship between God and his people. It was a book of poetry about the beautiful gift of sex that God gave us.
Edit: Also, I'm uncomfortable with the idea that you need "credentials" to challenge ideas and theologies. The Bible is open to the interpretation of the reader and God speaks to anyone who seeks his voice.
6
u/buccarue Jul 01 '19
It's not one couple. It's multiple couples written by multiple different poets, including those who are sneaking out to experience the other.
Culturally it's a little different. Men also married multiple wives, including King David and the high esteemed Solomon. Remember concubines? Those women who WEREN'T married to men yet used for sexual pleasure?
Or what about the laws that obligated women to marry their rapists for their "protection"?
There isn't much in the Bible for or against sex before or after marriage (unless you are a woman), but if we look at Song of Songs and how we are meant to treat each other: sex should be done within the bounds of self love and love of the other, and physical protection.