This is my first post on the UK-Skeptics forum.

I've have an observation/theory that relates to sex and religion and I thought this forum would be the best place to air it.

Sometime ago I had a brush with a few born again christians and they tried, unsuccessfully, to convert me. During that time one female christian made a comment that struck me as a tad odd. Basically she said that, to many christian women, Jesus was not only an aspect of god to be worshipped but he was also, in personal terms, a best friend, a father and a lover all rolled into one. It struck me as kind of unfair that women and gay men should be able to regard Jesus as their 'lover' but straight men and gay women really couldn't. I didn't think about it much more than that at the time. Recently however, on 'Last Choir Standing,' one of the female members of a gospel choir said, as a throw away remark, that Jesus was a 'spiritual lover.' I can't help reaching the conclusion that, for many women, there is a strong sexual component in their relationship with Jesus.

Having thought some more on the subject (I need to get out more) I now find it interesting that the Catholic church puts so much emphasis on the virgin Mary. She gave birth to Jesus but she isn't part of 'the holy trinity' so why do they have so many images and statues of her? Do you think there might be a similar sexual motivation on the part of all those male priests?

I could be completely wrong about all this but I thought I'd share it with you guys anyway :)