Pornography and Christianity have something very fundamental in common
 

Thought this was interesting

http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/20619/

I liked it when she said "If porn changes our brain chemistry, then that's obviously the way Jesus wanted it to be. End of story."

Pretty funny. Not a bad article all around and maybe of interest to some of us at the TFP.

Don't see anything wrong with porn. Some people just cannot live without trying to control other people's lives. So very sad. Don't they have enough in their own lives to be concerned about?

Kudos to the article's author.

Uh - I don't think it was well argued.

I'm coming from the perspective that I enjoy showing my body (as has been seen here at TFP, btw) and I enjoy looking at porn (also evidenced here).

I also have the background of having previously worked for the local organization which works to erradicate porn.

Porn can never be stopped. I don't think it is possible. We carry our bodies with us everywhere with only thin pieces of woven thread between our bodies and other's eyesite. Nudity is natural to us. If you follow the Bible you'll see that being nude is how we were created originally. Why wouldn't we want to return to that state.

As for the brain chemicals. EVERYTHING, every livin thing we do has an effect on our brain chemicals. If we pet our cat, listen to a joke, laugh, see something painful or disturbing, see something pleasant and enjoyable. It all causes our bodies to respond in different ways. Adrenaline is always accompanied by other chemicals to balance it out. Sometimes in my case I don't get the adrenaline and end up with extremely low blood pressure and I can't ignore that my body has responded to a thought, phone call, or letter by releasing chemicals. Sometimes we don't notice the changes. But our bodies push us to pursue those actions which repeatedly release the chemicals that we crave.

Personally I feel that it doesn't matter what kind of action it is so long as it's lawful and unharmful to ourselves or others. If we are respecting others it doesn't matter if religion is the pursuit that we crave because we won't push it on others and we will do what we can to follow our religion. If we respect others we can view porn and not treat women or men in a negative manner. We are simply satisfying our bodies needs for the chemicals that keep us going. I'm not advocating drugs or alcohol either. Our bodies are so intricate that the more in tune we become with it the more we can sense the wash of chemicals that are constantly flowing through our brains.

For goodness sake - If flooding our brains with our natural bodies chemicals because of actiosn we take is wrong in the light of certain peoples eyes then we certainly should not go on thrill rides, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, engage sex with anyone even our marriage partner, or laugh at jokes. It's not a good arguement against porn. Get a better reason for not viewing it and I'll consider it.

excellent article! I also agree with raeanna, very well put.

interesting, but ranting, article

Yeah, good article. Good for her in picking out the only similar characteristic pornography and christianity jointly hold. Ones abilility to choose whatever form of stimuli they want, for whatever reason and not be judged for it because someone else doesn't approve of it..

poorly argued. i understand the anger directed at the pro-censorship factions...but her adoption of materialist science is unfounded. moreover, it's a cheap shot. i've had experience with both. One i think about for a little while. The other i think of quite often. I'll give you a hint. I'm not <i>that</i> obessed with pr0n.

Someone religious is always trying to push their views on other people.

Interesting article, I'm happy that atleast someone recognizes the roots of our being.

hilarious article, but I question the validity of the accusations.. I mean.. christians aren't THAT fucked in the head, are they? Honestly, I'd give them more credit than that until i see some proof of those claims.

She was given a soft ball right up the middle...and she tapped a dribbler to the pitcher. I take it she's NOT a writer by profession?

Coming from a former anti-porn activist - YEAH, some of them ARE that fucked up. My Mom for example - says Cosmo magazine is soft porn and lectures me if she sees it in my home. She thinks Romance books foster infidelity in women... Need I go on?

Not all are that way but many conservative Christians are. Northern Baptist to be specific are frequently VERY anti-porn.

If you're interested here's a link to one of the most popular Christian programs. One of their main speakers is James Dobson. My mother and many in her church listen to him on the radio regularly. Some in her church actually view him as Liberal. So put that in perspective and there are those who have even more conservative views than he does of pornography.

Wow, first thought is that it would kind of suck if I were addicted to God. This would mean that I did not have free choice in the matter.

Second thought, this is unfortunate that these Christian advocates first argument is for science, when they should be comfortable enoguh to simply state that they beleive pornography as an addictive substance and as one that least to an overabundance of lustful thoughts is not morally preferable.

This may come as a shock, but as a Christian I don't think it is a sin to view it. I think that it is something that is strictly adult in content, and something - like drugs - which is highly addictive. How can I say that when I can't quote you the stats on porno addiction? Well, I can in the same manner that an AA member can say - "alcohol is highly addictive" - been there, done that.

Also I think that they viewing of the acts of "sex" desensitizes many people to the amazing connection and wonderful spirituality to the act of making love. There is another side to sex that the porno industry is not intouch with. The connection - the tool for relationship building - the commitment expressed between two people. The undustry focuses on the attraction of the human body and the variety of ways it canr eact to stimulation. It speaks nothing of the Human soul.

You mention God addicted republicans. I wish that people would remember that polotics should ahve nothignt odo with spirituality. Sometimes liberals free connection of God and Republican bothers me as a conservative as much as the placement of the ten commandments bothered you as much as liberals. Youa re equally as guilty of using God as a weapon and key phrase to advance your political opinions, and the best/worst part is that you don't even realize it.

I apologize, in advance, that this post is so long.

Let me start off by saying that these are guesses and guesses only. I don't buy porn, I don't work in porn, and outside of the occasional internet venture to a free-movie website, I have no idea about the industry. I do think that people who bring religion into the fight are skirting the issue and using God's name to fight their own political battles.

Idea number one: if there were a way for the government to tax porn heavily and regulate it so that the billions of dollars it generates would be more susceptible to the government tax code these anti-porn folks would not get half the attention they are getting. It is a "shady" business. I'm not trying to insult the industry or anyone in it here, but it involves a lot of independent contractor work, cash money, and off-the-books accounting and distribution methods. All of these nuances tend to attract government interest in terms of non-taxed revenues. Combine this with our predisposition to elect leaders who will protect our children as much as possbile and no one would ever get elected supporting anything to do with pornography. The religious implications are the easiest way for the anti-porn cursaders and government leadership to skirt this issue. Personally, I don't like the idea of my dollars going into an industry that is light years behind safety standards and yes, I'm sorry, is resonsible for some serious degradation to women. I don't however, think just because I am not willing to be a part of that economy, that others don't have the right to do so. Bottom line? Like everything else, eliminate the demand and the supply will fade away.

Idea number two is simple, it's a case of old money versus new money. The government, again this is only my opinion, has always had ties to old money elites.
They support elections, they support legislation and they mix within the same circles.
New money, which is what the porn industry would fall under, tends not to support the current political dynamic. The guy shooting the film, the stars in the film, the guy producing the film and the guy distributing the film doesn't operate within the same system and therefore is counter-productive to government, and "reputable," old-money business interests. Again, no one gets elected saying I support new money business interests - in order to get elected one must develop a relationship with the establishment, and that is old money.

I ask myself a lot about the morality of looking at porn and I vacillate back and forth with the question of faith, spirituality and the "sinfulness" of porn. Ultimately, what I come up with is that it is a poor replacement for passion. It is an empty action that is a substitute, and apoor one at that, for the passionless and those who have forgotten what the act of love is. In absence of love, pasison, tenderness and the tactile human contact that we all deserve to fill our hearts with elation and joy; porn is often the only medium by which those people without those great joys, feel wanted, alive, or passionate.

Instead of perhaps bemoaning porn for being a detriment on our society (even the most avid porn fan would have to admit that some of the fringe elements of porn are indeed very frightening and grotesque) we should teach our children that it is a scripted, empty act that serves only to temporarily fill a void where human emotion and tenderness are supposed to exist. If in fact we were to appreciate each other more as people and take the time to develop a relationship based on emotions in addition to tactile sensation - porn would eventually return to being what it was in the 70s and 80s - an entertaining and yes, fun novelty for stag parties and college dorm rooms.

Some of you say that it was poorly argued, but come on... all this article is, is an opinion. Shes trying to put it out there plain and simple. I totally agree with every one of her opinions though. It was enjoyable to read, obviously not intended for the serious political scene, but as more of a rant in a newspaper. So who cares if it was poorly argued... shes just speakin' the mind.

Some of you talk as if "love" is an option.
No women love me. I don't have relationships.
When I was younger, porn was usually it for me.
I never went to a pro, now it's too late.

Many higher animals "beat off". Porn is a catalist.

Why make porn illegal when you can make it more legal than it already is? Who doesn't watch porn? Let me tell you: no one. C'mon.

I submit myself as a counterexample. Sorry :D

so where does this leave other followers of narrow political ideologies (alternet, for one)? their knee-jerk reactions are often just as flawed.

either way, i have a hard time getting on the "christians and republicans have dumb ideas" bandwagon at the drop of a hat.

Damn I want to meat her...a chick that likes Porn.....thats a first:D well ok second.

Only your second? lol. I'm quite sure there's more than two of us out there ;)

Terrorists abound. Our servicemen are dying in Iraq and Afghansitan with little return. There's no cure for cancer, yet those asshats are debating the evils of porn?

There definitely something fucked up in Washington. These great prats are being paid to make things right, yes? Why are they dicking around with something so unimportant rather than actaully working for our betterment?

Fire them all. If we must have clowns in Washington, may we at least hire some with better makeup and big red shoes?

POrn changes our brain chemistry? Ha, good one.

All the girls I have ever meet think its nasty.

Hmm, I thought this was going to be some joke about having sex with boys...I'm a dirty person!

Ahahahahaha. I thought the same thing for some reason.
:lol:

But as for girls that watch porn, my fiancee is one of them. We watch porn together all the time.

LMFAO :lol: :lol:

I've noticed that too, but once I get to know the girls that say that a little better, they eventually admit that they do watch it. I think they just say that because according to society, they aren't supposed to like it.

Ooops, sorry to get off topic here!