I'm sorry if this was discussed a few months ago, but I just read about it for the first time this morning.

Question

"An Alabama minister who died in June of "accidental mechanical asphyxia" was found hogtied and wearing two complete wet suits, including a face mask, diving gloves and slippers, rubberized underwear, and a head mask, according to an autopsy report. Investigators determined that Rev. Gary Aldridge's death was not caused by foul play and that the 51-year-old pastor of Montgomery's Thorington Road Baptist Church was alone in his home at the time he died (while apparently in the midst of some autoerotic undertaking). While the Montgomery Advertiser, which first obtained the autopsy records, reported on Aldridge's two wet suits, the family newspaper chose not to mention what police discovered inside the minister's rubber briefs (a large black dildo). Aldridge served as the church's pastor for 16 years."

I have no problems with what he was doing to himself, but what do christians make of this? Is this what happens when someone represses everything behind the cloak of "god"?

Like I said, I really don't care what people do on thier own time. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, and they enjoy it, I say go ahead if it makes you happy. I know that there are many people that live by what they preach, and I admire them for not living a double life.

Am I anti christian? Yes, I am, but I am also anti religion. This comes from 27 years of brain washing through religious schooling, church, and church events. I find stories like this one to be tragic yet funny.

Answer 1

Yep. The more and longer suppressed the weirder and kinkier the release from it becomes.
There have been more pedophiles and men/women seducing kids 14 and older behind that cloak for centuries. They are finding it harder to hide it now a days since so many are waking up and speaking out.

Pagan earthgirl - the reason more ministers are being found out rather than the rest of us is that they hold themselves above the norm and allow their beliefs to dictate who they are and how they are perceived. They refuse to be themselves and be open about their "fun" personal time. They are taught that human urges are a sin in the eyes of God and the world unless you are married. But we are all human first and our religion second. See the paradoxes that many of the Christian faith put themselves into? Do not get me wrong but I live in the Bible belt and am surrounded by hundreds of churches - the most recent and most growing in popularity are the Petacostals. I believe if you live in peace then you will have it and be true to yourself first because that is the only way you can be truthful with your God or Deity.

Answer 2

Actually, there are many non-religious people found in similar circumstances. I don't think it really has anything to do with repressing things behind a cloak of god, but rather the cloak of "normalcy". Many people who live outwardly "normal" lives have urges and fetishes that would shock their neighbors. This poor guy just happened to be a minister.

Answer 3

Human beings are sinful

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The only difference between Christians and everyone else is Christ's forgiveness!



Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Answer 4

Mostly what I make of it is that these days you can't keep such things secret. It has probably always been the case that sexual repression publicly tends toward rather kinky activities privately. But there was a time it was far easier to keep it quiet, just as there was a time when you could call many a suicide an "accidental" death. "He was cleaning his gun." Right. Name one gun owner who does not start the cleaning process by unloading the gun.

Answer 5

Interesting thought.
That repression might just be exactly what leads to things like this. It just seems that it's these ministers that are always getting caught in these really weird sexual situations.

Answer 6

And what does this have to do with Christianity? All your posts are anti-Christian. Your nothing but a bigot. When I was young, you're the kind of weasel I use to crack

Answer 7

Who gives a crap? For every million good pastors there are one or two bad apples. That is just man .His Adamic sinful nature coming through.What's been up your's lately .You seem a bit "light in the loafers".

Answer 8

If he had been an atheist, would you have said "This is what happens to those who don't believe in God?"

I have no idea what happened with this disturbed individual but it had nothing to do with his relationship with God.

Answer 9

let him who is without sin...
(I agree with Catherine E on this one)

Answer 10

bingo