Prostitution

Despite her past as a keeper of a high-class brothel, the woman who had become a believer in the gospel closed her nefarious business and converted others, yet still faced disdain from the Pharisees. 147:5.3 150:2.2

The woman's commercialized vice was orchestrated by her husband, whom Jesus had known as a troublemaker in Nazareth. 162:3.4

The woman of unsavory reputation, now a believer in the gospel, was still forced to wear her hair down as a badge of harlotry, yet she humbly anointed Jesus' feet with tears of gratitude. 147:5.3

The publicans and harlots shall enter the kingdom before religious rulers. 173:3.2

In the Urantia Book

Historically

• Prostitution was almost unknown among ancient tribes due to the communal and practical automatic adjustment of communism in primitive society. 69:9.1 82:2.2
• The daughter of a priest who turned to prostitution was burned alive as punishment. 70:10.14
• Early men’s clubs paid for women from other tribes, sparking the beginning of commercialized prostitution while maintaining strict sexual oversight. 70:7.9
• The origins of the chastity taboo led to the practice of paying a bride fee to fathers for rearing chaste brides, ultimately resulting in the creation of professional prostitute classes for women found not to be virgins by grooms' mothers. 82:4.5
• temple prostitution
• Temple prostitution was considered a sure guard against calamity among primitive cultures and was free from promiscuity. 87:6.15
• Temple prostitution and sacrificial redemption both stemmed from modifications of human sacrifice. 89:8.1
• Maidens redeemed their lives by earning sacred money through the temple sex service. 89:7.4-5
• The Salem missionaries failed to end temple harlotry, causing the downfall of their spiritual teachings. 95:1.6

Jesus

• His sense of propriety was outraged by the frivolous courtesans at the temple in Jerusalem. 125:1.2
• His sense of propriety was outraged by the frivolous courtesans at Sepphoris. 125:1.2
• Jesus showed compassion to prostitutes and encouraged others to do the same. 133:3.6-10
• Jesus impacted individuals from various backgrounds, inspiring change and enlightenment, yet he refused to enter public baths due to their association with promiscuity. 132:4.5 133:3.6
• Nalda mistook Jesus' friendliness for advances, but his commanding words brought her to her senses, leading to repentance and a realization of his holiness. (143:5.4-5,13)
• Hildana's husband forced her into degrading prostitution for financial gain, betraying her for his own benefit. 162:3.4
• The older son resented his father's joyous welcome of his wayward brother, who squandered his substance with harlots. 169:1.12
• Trading in sex slaves hinders family life and pollutes superior peoples, a racial disgrace. 69:5.10
• The women’s corps preached in houses of evil in Magdala, winning Mary Magdalene for the kingdom. 150:2.2

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• Jesus' feet annointed by ex-harlot 147:5.3 — Lk 7:36b-38.
• Parable of two sons (part 2) 173:3.2 — Mt 21:31b-32.
• Burn adultress with fire 70:10.14 — Gn 38:24; Lv 21:9.
• Brother objects 169:1.12 — Lk 15:28-30.

See also

• sex:urge

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