Fun Fact: Humans are the only species that look each other in the eye during intercourse (intimacy)What is pornography? Is porn a good/effective way to alleviate feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, sexual desires? What are the consequences? How does porn affect relationships (specifically dating/marriage relationships)? Does it just affect you?Repeated exposure to porn results in a decreased satisfaction with one’s sexual partner, with the partner’s sexuality, with the partner’s sexual curiosity, a decrease in the valuation of faithfulness and an increase in the importance of sex without attachment.Pornography leaves the impression with its viewers that sex has no relationship to privacy; that it is unrelated to love, commitment or marriage; that bizarre forms of sex are the most gratifying; and that irresponsible sex has no adverse consequences.

Discussion 5/3: Porn and Lust - it’s just a part of life

Fun Fact: Humans are the only species that look each other in the eye during intercourse (intimacy)

Lust

What is lust?

How can/do you deal with lust?

1. Self-denial
   Feel sufficiently guilty over the thoughts, avoided the opportunities for lust, and chose to discipline his wandering mind
   Encourages self-hatred and denial
2. Self-enhancement
   Admit that everyone is addicted
   Increase self-absorption

Porn

What is pornography?

Talking about porn:

What is wrong with porn?

It meets my physical needs

I don’t molest others nor am I involved with prostitutes

It only effects me

I can consume anything I want to consume and it won’t have any effect on me.
If true, how can advertising/marketing be so important?

Why do you view porn?

Why is porn a secretive act?

Is porn a good/effective way to alleviate feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, sexual desires?

What are the consequences?

How does porn affect relationships (specifically dating/marriage relationships)?

Does it just affect you?

What about couples watching porn together?

What does the Bible say?

First we must recall that God created men and women in His image (Gen. 1:27) as sexual beings.

Pornography erodes the dignity of men and women created in the image of God. (This is the disintegrating view) Pornography distorts God’s design for sex by promoting sex apart from the marriage covenant (1 Cor. 7:2-3). Moreover, Scripture specifically condemns behaviors that result from pornography such as sexual exposure (Gen. 9:21-23), adultery (Lev. 18:20), bestiality (Lev. 18:23), homosexuality (Lev. 18:22 and 20:13), incest (Lev. 18:6-18), and prostitution (Deut. 23:17-18).

The Bible also warns against the misuse of sex. Premarital and extramarital sex is condemned (1 Cor. 6:13-18; 1 Thess. 4:3). Even thoughts of sexual immorality (often fed by pornographic material) are condemned (Matt. 5:27-28).

Christians must realize that pornography can have significant harmful effects such as: a comparison mentality, a performance-based sexuality, a feeling that only forbidden things are sexually satisfying, increased guilt, decreased self concept, and obsessional thinking.

Statistics

$57.0 billion world-wide - $12.0 billion US

Porn revenue is larger than all combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises.

US porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC (6.2 billion)

Average age of first Internet exposure: 11 years old

Largest Internet consumer: 12-17 age group

80% of 15-17 yr have had multiple hard exposures

8-16 year olds having viewed porn online 90%

Men admitting to accessing porn at work 20%

40 million US adults regularly visit porn websites

Promise Keeper men viewed porn in last week 53%

Christians who said it is a major home problem 47%

Adults admitting to Internet sexual addiction 10%

72% male - 28% female visit websites

70% of women keep their cyber activities secret.

17% of all women struggle with porn addiction.

Women, far more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life, such as having multiple partners, casual sex, or affairs.

Pervasive Disorders

1. Voyeurism
2. Objectification
3. Validation
4. Trophyism
5. Fear of true intimacy

Other Effects

Repeated exposure to porn results in a decreased satisfaction with one’s sexual partner, with the partner’s sexuality, with the partner’s sexual curiosity, a decrease in the valuation of faithfulness and an increase in the importance of sex without attachment.

Pornography leaves the impression with its viewers that sex has no relationship to privacy; that it is unrelated to love, commitment or marriage; that bizarre forms of sex are the most gratifying; and that irresponsible sex has no adverse consequences.

Trivialization of rape as a criminal offense, exaggerated perceptions of the prevalence of most sexual practices, increased callousness toward female sexuality and concerns, dissatisfaction with sexual relationships and diminished caring for and trust in intimate partners.

Sources

The Power of Porn
http://www.veritas.org/3.0_media/talks/54

Pornography Statistics
http://www.familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html

What does the Bible say about pornography?
http://www.gotquestions.org/pornography.html

Pornography’s Effects on Adult and Child
http://mentalhealthlibrary.info/library/porn/pornlds/pornldsauthor/links/victorcline/porneffect.htm

Pornography: The Deconstruction of Human Sexuality - Part VI
http://www.nationalcoalition.org/culture/articles/ca050214.html

Pure Intimacy
http://www.pureintimacy.org/

Why Discipline Isn’t Enough
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000123.cfm

Subtle Dangers of Pornography
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000121.cfm

Dangers and Disappointments of Pornography
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000133.cfm