If there could be one place protected from the cancerous infection of pornography and sexual misconducts, one would assume that the Christian church would be that sanctuary. But, recent research is revealing that no one is immunized against the vice-grip clutches of sexual addictive behaviors. The people who struggle with the repeated pursuit of sexual gratification include church members, deacons, staff, and yes, even clergy. And, to the surprise of many, a large number of women in the church have become victim to this widespread problem.Yes, it seems that, while the men are looking at filthy pictures, their wives are making their own amusements: 20 per cent were looking at porn themselves while 40 per cent "admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year."
Here in New Zealand, a pastor and his friends use software which emails their supporter any "questionable" sites that had been visited; which raises the question, quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
If this blog has any Christian readers who are struggling with pornography, they may wish to consider the unique approach suggested here.
Alternatively, they could do what the cool kids are doing and watch the New Pornographers (warning: contains bedroom scene and a very badly-made Martini).
With thanks to Craig for the news story
18 comments:
There's a line in in Tom Robbins' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues which describes a character as having the "pallor that comes from sitting around stuffy rooms reading Playboy and the Bible". He then adds that there are a lot more of these people around than we might think.
I believe that Robbins identified something of the essential fundy mindset there - institutionalised hypocrisy, guilt and bullshit. The inherent dumbness of mainstream fundamentalism and porn would seem to make them natural bedfellows (no pun intended).
"They say you love the one you're with, and if you're constantly looking at a 20-year-old nympho you soon lose connection with your real partner," Young added yesterday.
Dude appears to be speaking from experience. And what a wise idea to get together with fellow pornography addicts and email links to one another for mutual grati... sorry, supervision.
It's the closing remarks of the youth pastor, which Samuel quotes above, that particularly irk me in the Press article. The pastor's use of the phrase "20-year-old nympho", however ironically, suggests to me that he hasn't done much to reflect on his attitudes to women outside the corral of "the one you're with [within the church]".
Also, hell's bells; is the Sex In Christ site cited in your entry a joke? It must be, surely. "The Necessity of Swallowing"? "The Fist of Might"? Some amateur theologian is having a laugh at the expense of young, horny Christians.
Ok Paul;
I'll bite.
Christians are people just like everybody else with their failings.
Of course some Christians look at porn regularly but the vast majority probably don't. Certainly not the numbers quoted in that story. You trust a poll from "the worlds biggest Christian site" only because it gives you a chance to have a go at Christians.
As a rationalist you must surely realize that the whole claim is
horse radish, both to the poll and the claim the site being "the worlds biggest Christian site"
The point you don't grasp about Christianity is that it recognizes human frailties and tries to help each individual overcome theirs.
Its a life long struggle to live as Christ would have us live and everybody falls short one way or another because we are fallen creatures.
Stuff carried that story incidently, I gave it the attention it deserved - ignored it.
it's not about you; nor is it about bashing Christians. I posted the story because it amused me and because I concur with both Harvestbird and Samuel on the 20-year old nympho comment.
What I love about fundamentalists like this youth pastor is they will call a thing for what it is, while all others are too scared of offending their bedfellow nymphs and sluts.
Your attitude is highly offensive, and carries its own form of pharisaical hypocrisy. Jesus was known as a friend of sinners - I praise God that the church also remains a friend of sinners. You'll sit back and call them hypocrites, while the church recognises their repentant attitudes and welcome them in and try to help them. Fat load more than anyone outside the world has ever done for this issue. You try calling Xtra and Telstra Clear to ask for filtering software - they offer no help at all. It takes a Christian company (Maxnet) to recognise a problem for what it is and actually offer help.
You wonder why Christians won't comment at your site, then proceed to write posts as ignorant and arrogant as this one, and to link to highly offensive and insensitive websites that make a mockery of real issues.
Get a life!
Long time no see, AJ.
Good to be back. I somehow managed to forget about your blog over the last little while... I'll try to frequent a bit more often, keep the fundiephobics honest... :)
Paul, I have to cut to the quick and make a complaint.
I *like* The New Pornographers, but I *love* Neko Case and she ain't in this video. I was gutted.
OK, I could have just scrolled down a little further.
And some Christian ladies, according to the original Chal Weakly article...
Craig Y
Was it Jerry Falwell who claimed that music was the new pornography?
If so, get your Neko Case pornography here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50dzxkJa1NE
Colin James sees a dark side in Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, in this column of glittering generalities about a generation to which he technically belongs, but whose values (or rather those values that he attributes to them) he abhors. What he forgets is that the rise in social liberalism began during the administration of his hero Keith Holyoake. It was the generation born before the war that changed the rules, and the social environment in which the postwar babyboomers reached adulthood.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10444963
I blame Elvis.
Paul
The conclusion you draw does not follow from the information you cite. You claim that few Christian’s view your site because they are busy watching porn. This presupposes that vast majority of Christians do view porn. However what you cite says
• But, recent research is revealing that no one is immunized against the vice-grip clutches of sexual addictive behaviors. The people who struggle with the repeated pursuit of sexual gratification include church members, deacons, staff, and yes, even clergy. And, to the surprise of many, a large number of women in the church have become victim to this widespread problem.*
All this says is that the list of porn users includes some inside the Church. But the fact that some people inside the Church are involved in porn hardly means that all or most Christians are involved.
This is an interesting fallacy you use here, some members of X are involved in Y therefore everyone who is an X is a Y. Sounds analogous to the kind of reasoning racists use, some ethnic minorities commit crimes therefore all or most of them are criminals.
Moreover this is not a peer reviewed study with tested representative samples. It’s funny isn’t how rationalists (whatever that is?) criticize others for not relying on such studies when the results are contrary to what they claim. Yet rationalists want to use such studies themselves when it suits.
Matt
According to Judith Reisman, a single exposure to 'porn' can turn one into a raving sex maniac due to 'erototoxins'- strange neurochemicals that have no real existence outside her fevered mind, unfortunately...
C.
Matt, I think you are suffering from an irony deficiency. I was using hyperbole in that first sentence.
Still, pornography is considered enough of a problem among Christians for a Christian company to invest in developing software to combat it. I don't know how much of a problem it constitutes and I agree that the survey was deficient.
I also agree that it is questionable as to what is a rationalist. Reason is a tool that is used to solve problems and win arguments. When you point out an apparent logical fallacy, you are a rationalist. I do not believe it is a full-time occupation.
"The point you don't grasp about Christianity is that it recognizes human frailties and tries to help each individual overcome theirs."
Yeah, what did the paedophile get for Christmas?
A new parish.
An imaginary friend, sexual repression, institutional misogyny, and a ready supply of pre-pubescent choirboys. Sounds like a recipe for failing-overcoming success to me.
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