Porn: Pick Your Poison
by Motte Brown on 12/01/2006 at 1:10 PM
Over at Vitamin Z, Zach Nielsen links to a 2003 New York Magazine article "The Porn Myth" from known feminist Naomi Wolf. Wolf begins her piece by examining the two-decade-old predictions of anti-porn crusader Andrea Dworkin that limitless access to pornography would lead to an increase in "rape and other kinds of sexual mayhem." Wolf argues that, far from turning men into "raving beasts," porn "is responsible for deadening male libido in relation to real women."
I think both Wolf and Dworkin are right. Some porn users will never carry it any further than an ever diminishing appetite for "real women" -- destructive in its own respect -- and others will carry it to violent ends.
One of the problems with Wolf's article is that she doesn't address the effect of porn on those in our society who are susceptible to sexual addiction or other violent tendencies. In Focus on the Family's 2005 summit on pornography and violence against women and children, Daniel Weiss calls pornography "highly addictive and destructive material" and highlights studies showing its correlation to sexual violence:
Pornography is also a significant factor in sexual violence. The FBI reports that the most common interest among serial killers is hardcore pornography. Another study found that 87 percent of child molesters were regular consumers of hardcore pornography.
Wolf's article has merit. But I don't believe we can be co-belligerent against the war on porn without the recognition of all its consequences. And though she makes good points regarding porn's effect on men in marriage, it lacks -- as one would expect -- God's truth about the meaning and purpose of our sexuality. For that, I recommend Dr. Albert Mohler's Boundless article, "The Seduction of Pornography," which was taken from a frank talk he gave to young men at Boyce College.
1. Dominic Shiells said the following at 6:28 PM on Dec 1:
I used to struggle with pornography and it is not only those aspects it is the demonic aspects that I hated the most. I used to get demonically attacked walking down the street. It was as if I could not use my mind or imagination and it was branded on my mind and that was all I could think about!!
"Wolf argues that, far from turning men into 'raving beasts,' porn 'is responsible for deadening male libido in relation to real women.'"
You cannot have any proper relationships with women is true because you do not talk to there mind you talk to there body!!
What we tend not to link it to is television. Pornography in some way or other is broadcast in non-subtle ways. If one image is bad what about many images broadcast at one. Is one drop of poison dangerous? Once I gave up pornography you only see the other dangers that can be presented through art forms -- even Christian ones!!
It was Clay Mcelan teaching that helped me!!
To me it was a miracle that God actually got me out of the addiction, I used to use the computer and as being a computer expert delete my temporary internet files so that no one would know and the cookies. God kept convicting me until I gave in and stopped it was harder stopping than actually going on with the addiction. Because once I stopped I had to fill my mind with something else and that was hard so I became a lover of the Bible and Jesus even though I was a Christian.
After I escaped my addiction I ended up working in a factory which had pornography from wall to wall. So I ended up reading my bible.
Pornography is not only located in the world but very much in the church as well!
I found your article very interesting.
Dominic
2. Ame said the following at 11:35 PM on Dec 1:
my 20 year marriage ended b/c of my husband's addiction to pornography. i am much more well versed in this area than i ever cared to be.
i have to disagree with your comment here: "Some porn users will never carry it any further than an ever diminishing appetite for "real women" -- destructive in its own respect -- and others will carry it to violent ends."
you would need to define "violent." i would assertain that all porn causes violence on some level because, as dominic stated in his comments, porn creates a satanic stronghold. i could see the power of satan darting from my ex's eyes. i once said to him, "you know, you've opened a window to our home and given satan free access." to which he replied very matter-of-factly, "i know." it is VERY much a sin that directly ties one directly to evil.
Mohler's article was beyond excellent, and i can attest from personal experience that his words are true. my only place of somewhat disagreement would be that i believe he minimized sex-addiction within the female population. i believe it's much greater than he alluded to. i am amazed at the women i know who are addicted to sex.
wolf's article amazed me. you know, the secular world is not going to give up something b/c of inherently biblical reasons. yet, if people accept these truths she stated and it causes a turn toward more conservative dress and appearance and advertisement and media, i would be very delighted.
i loved the story she told of her friend who saved even her hair for the most intimate moments with her husband. not that i'm not advocating women begin covering their hair, but that should be a strong statement for women everywhere to protectively keep all that belongs in the marriage room inside the marriage room.
my husband was in a sex addiction recovery group for awhile, and you know one of their greatest topics of concern? what to do in church! because of the way women dress in church, men have an increasingly difficult time focusing on God.
and yes, pornography is very progressive. it is never neutral. it is never satisfied with its current level. and it eats and destroys more brain cells faster than just about anything else out there.
again, media is so infiltrated with porn. reminds me of Ted's post R Rated Ministry: http://boundless.typepad.com/blog/2006/11/a_ministry_of_w.html
i think what those not informed about porn addiction do not realize is how much of the addiction infiltrates every area of the mind and stays there for so looong before "acting out" and beginning the cycle over again. if an addict says they only look "once in awhile," implying it doesn't really have a stronghold over them, they are lying. their brain has taken off and is consumed with their fantasy which could last for days or weeks or even months before ending that cycle and beginning the next.