04-05-2005, 09:19 AM
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pixie of the wood
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,575
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although both answers make total sense, that is not the origination of the word. the words "missionary position" in regards to sex did not show up in the english-oxford dictionary unlit the late 1960's. the legends attatched to the word are just that, a legend, or a story. it is believed by word origin researchers that the name missionary-style was applied by popular culture in the late 50's early 60's because of it's "boring" and "clean" connotations. in other words, something that the stodgey church officials would allow between married couples. so it was a kind of a thumbing of the nose at the church in a time when popular culture was searching for ET, watching elvis gyrate those hips, and reading jack kerouac and his contemporaries. plus, researchers also believe that the tao and tantra sexual guides are at least 5 or 6 thousand years old and they have never applied the term missionary to any sexual position. in any case, there are many positons described in the kama sutra and other ancient sex guides with a partner on top, and any so-called heathen would have had no need to adopt a name from the missionaries.
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