"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22 So what's so bad about pornography? I spent 20 or so years pursuing pornography in its various forms. In the years since I was set free in 1998, God has been helping me see and understand his perspective on pornography. I created this page to share that perspective and answer the question, "What is so bad about pornography?" Overall, porn affects every viewer negatively, regardless of religious belief, creed, gender or age. Here is my list of reasons that explain why. 1) Pornography feeds lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh, which are never satisfied. It leaves the viewer craving more and more in order to achieve the same "sexual high." It easily enslaves people to their own cravings and opens the door to other forms of evil, like anger, abuse, violence, hatred, lying, envy, compulsiveness and selfishness. The power behind porn is revealed when the porn addict tries to stop their habit - it is virtually impossible without help. 2) Pornography sexualizes the viewer's mindset. It warps and perverts their perspective such that sex is unnaturally elevated in their thoughts. Porn's images are stamped into viewer's brain with the aid of hormones released during sexual arousal. Even if a person decides to stop looking at porn, the past images can remain for years or even a lifetime. 3) Pornography promotes destructive practices and can lead to progressive addiction. For example, porn sites routinely link viewers to depictions of every type of sexual perversion imaginable, such as child porn, homosexuality, bestiality, necrophilia (sexual interest in corpses), masochism (pleasure from abuse or suffering), rape and sadism (gratification from inflicting physical or mental pain on others). The viewer's exposure to such themes naturally increases the likelihood that they may attempt to act out what they've viewed. This can lead to sexual crimes, a la the late Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway (The Green River Killer). 4) Pornography intensifies an individual's drive to serve oneself, rather than serve others. For example, masturbation, which typically accompanies looking at pornography reinforces a self-centered sexual orientation (i.e. lust), which can detract from a person's ability to give and receive love. 5) Pornography addiction can lead to debt. The convenience of credit card transactions on the internet encourages covert spending without limit. Additionally, pornographers flood common internet areas with enticing banner ads ("teasers") and spam email, which bait potential viewers with free porn. Once lured by the free porn to the site, the viewers must then pay to see more. 6) By viewing and/or purchasing porn, viewers are supporting the porn industry and facilitating its growth. By viewing porn, the viewer is also contributing to the sexual exploitation of whoever or whatever is in the images he or she is viewing. 7) Looking at porn can damage the viewer's family relationships, not to mention increasing the chance of his or her spouse and children finding the material. Porn may also inspire the viewer to explore incest, which is a common porn theme. Other things porn may inspire in the viewer (which could in turn affect the family) include sexual frustration, lying, abuse, affairs, debt, violent behavior and irrational thinking. (see Testimonials on how porn destroys lives) 8) Looking at porn at work could damage the viewer's reputation, decrease his or her productivity and lead to job loss. It could also inspire unhealthy and/or inappropriate relationships with co-workers. 9) Looking at porn can damage the viewer's current or future marriage sex life. Porn viewers may find that it's difficult to enjoy true intimacy with their spouse when they're fantasizing about somebody else! Additionally, porn builds an unrealistic perception of sexual relations. Porn sex is a portrayal or an act made for the viewer's enjoyment. It takes what God intended as a private expression of love between a husband and wife and prostitutes it for entertainment. When a person has been looking at sexual pictures of other people for entertainment, he or she will have a downgraded value of sex. This in turn will detract from their appreciation and value of sex with their spouse. 10) Looking at porn will increase the viewer's tendency to lie, because he or she will have a natural desire to keep it secret to avoid criticism, embarrassment, shame and/or having to surrender their habit. 11) Looking at porn can lead a person into masturbation addiction. 12) Looking at porn brings serious spiritual consequences (see consequences page). For example, it opens the doorway to spiritual oppression and confusion in the viewer's life. The power behind pornography is inherently evil. It seeks to control and dominate the viewer's life, while allowing other forms of evil to gain influence in that person. Once a person starts looking at the porn, their eyes become the gateway for the evil power to enter them. As it gains influence, the evil can numb the viewer's ability discern right and wrong. As traditional moral values are blurred, confusion sets in. 13) Looking at porn helps you start to believe the lies it promotes. Examples lies include: - Sexual freedom = happiness
- Perverted sex (homosexual sex, incest, BDSM, etc) is more enjoyable than "normal" heterosexual sex
- There are no consequences to sexual promiscuity
- Sexual expression is a right, not a God-given or God-defined gift
- You can live a healthy life with the porn images floating around in your mind
- Porn doesn't harm anyone
- Sex is something to be done primarily for self gratification
- The porn stars are the happiest people on earth
- Adults can view porn without any lasting side effects
- Porn will help your sex life
- Porn is just a harmless thing that everybody looks at
- More lies...
See more reasons at NCPCF's site
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Comments
2007-11-1901:01:00 Do you think this theory applies to violence in the media? Is one worse than the other?
2007-11-2221:25:00 This is such a load of sh*t. TV in general does most of what you have expressed in this one sided debate. Regardless of what sparks these things in peoples lives, ultimately it is your own choices and actions that let something control you. Not the controling object itself. Obviously if you let something like TV or Pornography, or anything else for that matter, control you, you are weak, and deserve what you get. Quit complaining and get a grasp on your life.
2007-11-2416:10:00 Jedi, I hope that all is well and that you all find this as interesting of a read as I did. The Jedi here raises some very interesting points, especially for those that find themselves easily controlled by their 'hobbies'; however, I would like to caution one to beware of the absolutes discussed, for not everyone will internalize that which was meant for entertainment as life strategies for existence or in this case for giving and receiving sexual pleasure. Is it the pornography that is bad or the place that the individual takes it and the priority that he or she gives it in his or her life? Cultures that suppress sexuality for the sake of seeming 'righteous' have a history of glancing over this question to avoid the realities of individual human agency and personal accountability. All that is bad has some good and we live in a time when that which is done in the name of good is also responsible for great horrors; however, both are part of the Force, are they not? The positive message presented here suggests that one can condition oneself to let go of attachments. This is a vital message indeed. Thank you for your wisdom. - Grayraven.
2007-11-2613:33:00 Masters,
I am but a Padawan learner of both Jediism and Christianity, but I can testify to the destructive power of pornography and it's ability to turn one to the Dark Side. I am a recovering porn addict. After a fifteen year addiction, I have been clean for eighteen months. Viewing porn becomes a very selfish act, which like the Master who authored this article claims, leads to more selfish acts, like lying and extra marital affairs. I write this only because this is the path that led me to the Dark Side. As a teenager, I became addicted, which led to stealing magazines from stores. Later, I married my first wife and attempted to hide it from her, but was caught several times. Each time I was caught (hard drive history) it put a wedge between us that only grew more and more as the years went by. It ultimately led to extra marital affairs for both of us, for my darkness began to affect/infect my wife. We were like two Sith trying to gain the upperhand and inflict pain on one another. My complete fall to the Dark Side occured when my wife filed for divorce from me, and I didn't care. Only then, surrounded by the Dark Side in my one bedroom apartment, searching for more free porn, with the only light coming from the computer monitor, did I realize how far I had travelled down the Dark path. This is when I knew I had a problem. This single 'innocent' act of looking at porn as a curious teen ager was the turning point. I found a selfish pleasure in it, and I was consumed by that act. I knew better also. My parents raised me in Catholicism, and I was an alter boy(no molestation) for a couple of years. For the most part, I kept this addiction secret from my family and friends, which required a great deal of lying. Tell me, Masters, what good was I serving according to the Jedi Code, while I was partaking in this destructive behavior? Please allow my journey to the Dark Side to be an example of what not to do. It is not 'cool' to be a Sith (in the movie mythology sense).
2007-11-2909:12:00 That is a very spiritual view you have Paul. I am glad i have read this. I must raise something of concern while reading the comment by Dhagon Krayt. Dhagon you seem to have a lot of anger in you. As a Jedi you should control what how you think and act. Be careful brother, you do not want to become one with the Dark Side. It will gain you nothing.
2008-04-1316:12:00 pornography is not evil.period. yes, with a weak mind you can succumb to vice, but sometimes it is important to indulge once and a while to keep the urge from overwhelming you, kinda like releasing a little steam from a pressure cooker. jeff, it is not porns fault you had marriage problems, it's your fault. you couldn't trust your wife and she couldn't trust you because you weren't honest with her.do not blame your lack of honesty on the dark side or porn because that isn't going to help you. when we are flawed we must see our flaws for what they are and fix them.
when used in moderation and with control 'vice' is harmless
a drink now and then is ok, as long as you know when to stop and don't drive drunk. gamble a few dollars if you want to just set limits.
It is difficult I know and many people have addictive personalities. but please don't go around saying 'porn ruined my marriage!' because frankly that's like saying 'video games made me murder my classmates!'