Is Porn A Religious Issue?

[Madeline]

This Super Bowl Sunday, church may be as jarring as a quarterback sack for some worshippers who, after settling into their pews, discover that the subject of the morning's sermon is pornography.

More than 300 churches are expected to celebrate National Porn Sunday on Feb. 6. The members will watch a video sermon featuring current and former NFL players talking about their struggles with pornography.

Religious Groups Tackle An X-Rated Secret : NPR

Is porn itself a problem? If you don't avoid people because of it, if you aren't struggling with desires for illegal acts, is it still a problem?

My liberal attitude about freedom of speech makes me want to knee-jerk answer "no". But the fact is, I have heard my women friends complain about the time their menfolk devote to porn. About the dehumanizing effect it has on some men. And God knows, there are sexual images on the web that I find disturbing.

So, since at least a few of you may hear a sermon on Sunday about porn, I'll ask:

Is porn a religious issue?

 

[freeandfun1]

I'm not saying porn is OK, because I do believe it has not only detrimental affects on those that regularly view it, but also on those that are drawn into the industry that surrounds it.

Having said that, one of the reasons I, even as a Christian, refuse to attend Church any more, is that Churches, instead of teaching about Christ and Grace, focus so much of their attention on teaching behavior. In my opinion, doing so distracts from and trivializes the supreme sacrifice that the Lord made for us to cleanse us of our sins.

If Churches would spend more time teaching about God and the free gift of Grace, behavior would not be an issue as believers would then naturally want to live better lives in an effort to show their appreciation for what He has given us.

Nothing we can do is worthy of our salvation - nothing. God does not "grade" sin and in his eyes, no one sin is greater than another - all sin is equal. Therefore, NOT ONE OF US are able to be totally free of sin. Because of that fact, He sent his Son to pay the price of our sins so that we may be redeemed. That's the lesson that should be focused on. Once we understand that, we naturally begin to strive to live a better, more fulfilling lives that glorify God and we do so not out of fear, but out of love and appreciation.

That's my quick take one it.

 

[Avatar4321]

Everything is a religious issue.

And yes, Pornography is a plague. It's inherently a lie, a deception. One that is powerfully more addictive than many drugs. It provides the mind with unrealistic expectations of what relationships are and should be. not to mention the exploitation that is involved with it.

Look at the superbowl comercials this weekend. Businesses are paying millions of dollars for 30 Seconds of advertisement because they have research showing that an advertisement that short will make you more inclined to purchase their product. If 30 seconds is enough to influence your purchase/consumption habits, do you honestly think that hours upon hours of pornography, not to mention other things in our media, won't?

 

[McPuff]

Matthew 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Yes, pornography is a sin. Seems like a pretty straightforward issue to me.

 

[Madeline]

Everything is a religious issue.

And yes, Pornography is a plague. It's inherently a lie, a deception. One that is powerfully more addictive than many drugs. It provides the mind with unrealistic expectations of what relationships are and should be. not to mention the exploitation that is involved with it.

Look at the superbowl comercials this weekend. Businesses are paying millions of dollars for 30 Seconds of advertisement because they have research showing that an advertisement that short will make you more inclined to purchase their product. If 30 seconds is enough to influence your purchase/consumption habits, do you honestly think that hours upon hours of pornography, not to mention other things in our media, won't?

I'd agree that "everything is a religious issue", Avatar. If I belonged to any organized faith, I'd certainly expect that its teachings would inform all aspects of my life.

I guess what I'm really asking is, is viewing porn a sin? Assuming no other acts or harm arises from it, can a person offend God just by thinking? The RCC says so, or did. But this has always given me great pause.

Beyond all that, let's assume we agree porn is a sin. What then? Censorship certainly seems out of the question. Are we just gonna try and guilt people into staying off porn sites? If we do, would their motives matter? Are we gonna be harsher to someone who's just curious or to someone who seeks gratification?

 

[uscitizen]

This Super Bowl Sunday, church may be as jarring as a quarterback sack for some worshippers who, after settling into their pews, discover that the subject of the morning's sermon is pornography.

More than 300 churches are expected to celebrate National Porn Sunday on Feb. 6. The members will watch a video sermon featuring current and former NFL players talking about their struggles with pornography.

Religious Groups Tackle An X-Rated Secret : NPR

Is porn itself a problem? If you don't avoid people because of it, if you aren't struggling with desires for illegal acts, is it still a problem?

My liberal attitude about freedom of speech makes me want to knee-jerk answer "no". But the fact is, I have heard my women friends complain about the time their menfolk devote to porn. About the dehumanizing effect it has on some men. And God knows, there are sexual images on the web that I find disturbing.

So, since at least a few of you may hear a sermon on Sunday about porn, I'll ask:

Is porn a religious issue?

Or is football a religious issue?

 

[Missourian]

Matthew 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Yes, pornography is a sin. Seems like a pretty straightforward issue to me.

That's Jesus' own words. It couldn't be any more clear.


How terrible for churches to trivialize Jesus' lessons on morality by having the gall to teach them....the nerve.

 

[Madeline]

This Super Bowl Sunday, church may be as jarring as a quarterback sack for some worshippers who, after settling into their pews, discover that the subject of the morning's sermon is pornography.

More than 300 churches are expected to celebrate National Porn Sunday on Feb. 6. The members will watch a video sermon featuring current and former NFL players talking about their struggles with pornography.

Religious Groups Tackle An X-Rated Secret : NPR

Is porn itself a problem? If you don't avoid people because of it, if you aren't struggling with desires for illegal acts, is it still a problem?

My liberal attitude about freedom of speech makes me want to knee-jerk answer "no". But the fact is, I have heard my women friends complain about the time their menfolk devote to porn. About the dehumanizing effect it has on some men. And God knows, there are sexual images on the web that I find disturbing.

So, since at least a few of you may hear a sermon on Sunday about porn, I'll ask:

Is porn a religious issue?

Or is football a religious issue?

Football could be, uscitizen. A person could be a violent fan, or gamble, or spend a great deal of time "tail gating" aka engaging in public lewdness.

 

[uscitizen]

Religious Groups Tackle An X-Rated Secret : NPR

Is porn itself a problem? If you don't avoid people because of it, if you aren't struggling with desires for illegal acts, is it still a problem?

My liberal attitude about freedom of speech makes me want to knee-jerk answer "no". But the fact is, I have heard my women friends complain about the time their menfolk devote to porn. About the dehumanizing effect it has on some men. And God knows, there are sexual images on the web that I find disturbing.

So, since at least a few of you may hear a sermon on Sunday about porn, I'll ask:

Is porn a religious issue?

Or is football a religious issue?

Football could be, uscitizen. A person could be a violent fan, or gamble, or spend a great deal of time "tail gating" aka engaging in public lewdness.

I just thought it a bit strange that everyone seemed to accept that preaching football from the pulpit was normal.

 

[freeandfun1]

I guess what I'm really asking is, is viewing porn a sin? Assuming no other acts or harm arises from it, can a person offend God just by thinking? The RCC says so, or did. But this has always given me great pause.

Yes, we can sin through thought and we do. That is the point of Salvation through Grace. We are all fallen and were once sin was introduced into this world through the actions of Adam and Eve. However, the Lord sees we believers in our righteous form as those who have accepted His gift are redeemed.

Beyond all that, let's assume we agree porn is a sin. What then? Censorship certainly seems out of the question. Are we just gonna try and guilt people into staying off porn sites? If we do, would their motives matter? Are we gonna be harsher to someone who's just curious or to someone who seeks gratification?

Censorship is not the answer as there is no way we'll ever blot out sin. We have to teach those that want to learn, about Grace and then their minds will begin to change. There is no way to control all sin - it's impossible. Hence our need for a redeemer.

As I intimated in my initial reply to this question, sin will never be eradicated and no one sin is greater than another. Therefore, all we do is encourage our brothers and sisters to read the scriptures, to put their faith in God and to understand we are fallen. Once we understand that point, we will naturally begin to take the steps at living a life that is more pleasing to the Lord. In doing that, we will, over time, learn that through our Lord, we can conquer sin or at least, learn to resist it. But again, we'll never be free of it while we live in this world.

 

[uscitizen]

On a related topic. Why will most americans run for a cop if they see a womans bare breast but allow their small children to watch someone being hacked to death with a chainsaw?

 

[freeandfun1]

Football could be, uscitizen. A person could be a violent fan, or gamble, or spend a great deal of time "tail gating" aka engaging in public lewdness.

Great point! Once we begin to idolize anything, we are sinning.

A case could even be made that idolizing (not being able to live without) a message board is a sin....

 

[freeandfun1]

On a related topic. Why will most americans run for a cop if they see a womans bare breast but allow their small children to watch someone being hacked to death with a chainsaw?

Because they're ignorant.

 

[uscitizen]

Fan is just shortened version of fanatic.

 

[High_Gravity]

Who cares? if an adult purchases a porno and watches is in his or her own home its nobodies fucking business.

 

[freeandfun1]

Who cares? if an adult purchases a porno and watches is in his or her own home its nobodies fucking business.

You're right, it's nobody's business but their own.

I'm a Bible believing Christian, but I will never try to institute my beliefs, moral or religious, on anybody else as we all have to make our own decisions about how we'll live our lives.

 

[syrenn]

Who cares? if an adult purchases a porno and watches is in his or her own home its nobodies fucking business.

I agree.

The church needs to stay the hell out of peoples bedrooms.

 

[Missourian]

I guess what I'm really asking is, is viewing porn a sin? Assuming no other acts or harm arises from it, can a person offend God just by thinking? The RCC says so, or did. But this has always given me great pause.

Yes, we can sin through thought and we do. That is the point of Salvation through Grace. We are all fallen and were once sin was introduced into this world through the actions of Adam and Eve. However, the Lord sees we believers in our righteous form as those who have accepted His gift are redeemed.

Beyond all that, let's assume we agree porn is a sin. What then? Censorship certainly seems out of the question. Are we just gonna try and guilt people into staying off porn sites? If we do, would their motives matter? Are we gonna be harsher to someone who's just curious or to someone who seeks gratification?

Censorship is not the answer as there is no way we'll ever blot out sin. We have to teach those that want to learn, about Grace and then their minds will begin to change. There is no way to control all sin - it's impossible. Hence our need for a redeemer.

As I intimated in my initial reply to this question, sin will never be eradicated and no one sin is greater than another. Therefore, all we do is encourage our brothers and sisters to read the scriptures, to put their faith in God and to understand we are fallen. Once we understand that point, we will naturally begin to take the steps at living a life that is more pleasing to the Lord. In doing that, we will, over time, learn that through our Lord, we can conquer sin or at least, learn to resist it. But again, we'll never be free of it while we live in this world.

Defend that opinion with Scripture, that Christians should accept sinfulness.

While you are doing that, I'll see what I can find defending the opposing opinion that Christians should actively oppose sin in society. I can't pin anything down from memory, but I'll see what I can find.

 

[High_Gravity]

Who cares? if an adult purchases a porno and watches is in his or her own home its nobodies fucking business.

I agree.

The church needs to stay the hell out of peoples bedrooms.

 

[rikules]

Everything is a religious issue.

And yes, Pornography is a plague. It's inherently a lie, a deception. One that is powerfully more addictive than many drugs. It provides the mind with unrealistic expectations of what relationships are and should be. not to mention the exploitation that is involved with it.

Look at the superbowl comercials this weekend. Businesses are paying millions of dollars for 30 Seconds of advertisement because they have research showing that an advertisement that short will make you more inclined to purchase their product. If 30 seconds is enough to influence your purchase/consumption habits, do you honestly think that hours upon hours of pornography, not to mention other things in our media, won't?

more conservative BIG government and refusing allow people the right to govern themselves....eh, avatar?