Title: Sex: The Secret Gate to Eden Author: Thelema Press Publisher: Theleme Press Publish Date: 2007 Pages: 75 Genres:: History, Non-Fiction Reviewer: Chris R. Morgan

Rating:

Here for your viewing pleasure is a video that leads off with a boast saying that it knows a secret about religion and sex as evidenced by the Book of Genesis, but not just any secret, the secret (no, not that secret) to sexuality and spirituality. Let us take a journey through the hidden complexities of the Good Book as scribbled by Moses to instruct the ways and customs of the chosen people—and then some as time would go on. Bible literalists take serious heed: This is not for the hardcore faithful as Sex: The Secret Gate to Eden delves between the lines and encoded scriptures to bring out the most sensual interpretations the word of God can possibly offer.

As a matter of fact, the DVD cites the controversy that surrounds the true meaning of the Bible—that is literal vs. symbol—and how that affected the potential underpinnings that lurk from within the verses. Apparently, there is the Word of God and the double secret Word of God, the latter of which got some people into hot water. If we're to believe the interpretation of the Zohar, Moses' alternate Old Testament, God is androgynous, kind of like that giant from 300—or not. To put it simply, in a way that most intelligent people are already aware of, the Bible is a strange and mysterious book, not unlike any other religious texts and it has been sliced and edited repeatedly as best to satisfy the needs and wants of the Cloth. Therefore there is no "he/them," there is only "he," Jehovah is not a clever combining of "phallus" and "uterus," it's just God's alter ego. 

Whereas gender is a desired non-issue in most religions and all roles are clearly laid out, this new interpretation places the emphasis on male and female in relation to the Bible and picks up on the similarities among Christianity, Paganism and Eastern religions (such as the two serpents). In addition, the DVD does get to the good stuff—that is, the forbidden fruit: That moment in hypothetical human history when Eve gives into her womanly desires and chomps down on the sweet juices of corruption, or orgasm as we now have come to know it. It hardly stops there as tradition after tradition is rethought and reinterpreted to represent human sexual desire, the ability to create by way of sexual energy.

The DVD itself is informative, clearly narrated and intent on carefully dissecting religious text in a way that anyone, pious or not, can understand. I suppose that in the wake of The Da Vinci Code, a strong flood of ideas about the alternate meanings of the Bible and other religious texts are quickly rushing down to pulverize us into further existential uncertainty, if daily life hasn't done enough in that respect. I don't know what this stands to achieve. It's been many a millennia since the dawn of humanity and we've been basking in corruption and sin almost just as long, even the pious are dirty sinners.  So what? Sure there will be some curious types, but it goes no further than satisfying a curiosity. Other than that, religion still serves one consistent purpose: to get us pysched for death. And as our reward, 100 percent of everything you knew and loved in life is pretty much unimportant, and there you have it. Peace be with you.