The Good Book of Love: Sex in the Bible

Husky-voiced Kathleen Turner seems an appropriate choice for this juicy romp through the Good Book's naughty bits, albeit with a nod toward some of the more serious questions raised by Judaic and Christian scholars' (and Dr. Ruth's) interpretations of the divine words of God and Jesus, as well as the writings of Paul and St. Augustine. Since the truly titillating stuff is in the Old Testament, this documentary (which is illustrated with loads of nude art--sometimes relating to Biblical times and themes, sometimes not) delves straight into the question of "original sin" (disobedience, not sex), and then moves on to examine such thorny issues as Sarah's decision to bring her servant Hagar to her husband Abraham as a concubine when Sarah, herself, could not conceive; King David's adulterous affair with Bathsheba (and his role in sending her cuckolded husband to his death); Lot's daughters' rather desperate plot to conceive by intoxicating and sleeping with their father, and more. Not only were there looser restrictions in Old Testament times (prostitution, for example, while not celebrated, was at least condoned), the Song of Solomon, as one scholar eloquently puts it, assures us that in God's eyes, "good ol' grinding is permissible." The New Testament, on the other hand, while "turning the other cheek" on the brutal violence that was widely prevalent B.C., clamped down somewhat on sex, as evidenced in Paul's admonitions that it was "better to marry, than to burn" (hardly the most ringing of endorsements for the institution of marriage), and Jesus' condemnation of divorce. In addition, the program looks at same-sex relationships, offering several viewpoints on what the Bible is truly saying regarding homosexuality. Christian fundamentalists, for instance, often point out that the penalty for a man lying with another man was death, while detractors are quick to add that the same penalty was recommended for working on Sunday or cursing your parents. Sure to spark discussion, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)