Sex Toys on the Altar

Abstract

“Sex Toys on the Altar” describes Ibrahim Farajaje’s influence on one of his colleagues and coconspirators, centering his influence directly in the pulsating power point where spiritual and erotic energy converge in people’ everyday lives. This piece spans some of Farajaje’s bicoastal and international experiences, explaining his influence/guidance, from two different theological schools, on the authors own research into queer feminist sacred sexuality contemporary traditions and trends. His supervision/support of the practices and evaluation of her two internship projects as well as his way of creating international multireligious community and family are explored, with particular attention to the political issues the author was involved with him, in Washington, DC, and on a national level. This is one attempt to bring critical thinking to the topic of group lovemaking and to understand somantic sex education and devotional practices in the context of multireligiousities, using the tripartite Christian, Hebrew and Muslim belief systems to build beyond, integrating sex and spirit, making space for the contradictions and compassion inherent in the ecstatic and mystical experiences of humanity. The title of the piece comes from a remark Farajaje made, about treating everything about lovemaking between humans as sacred, special, and of precious value to be treated with reverence.