Humans Find God Through Orgies

LANSING, Mich. (Wireless Flash) -- Outdoor orgies bring people closer to God.

It sounds strange, but humans have been using sex for centuries as a way to get closer to God, according to Arthur Versluis, author of "The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism: Sacred Practices and Spiritual Marriage" (Inner Traditions & Bear).

In his research, Versluis uncovered religious sects that made radical sexual practices part of their worship, including engaging in group orgies in the wilderness and having sexual intercourse without allowing men to ejaculate.

"They used overtly sexual elements in order to gain inner spiritual knowledge," he said. "People had a desire for a union with God, and a lot of them were considered heretics for it."

But these titillating traditions aren't strictly a thing of the past.

Versluis says there are still groups around today that practice similar strange sex acts.