Is it sin?

[Samael_Khan]

No watching pornography is not wrong, the vast majority of the population watches it. What brands is as a sin is religious prudity.

This is actually a trickier topic than one might realize. It can be a grey area. Having chatted to a few pornstars and watched videos of a few ex pornstars, it seems like the degradation and coercion that happens in the industry is pretty diabolical. So in many cases we do not know whether the actors were preyed upon, submitted to acts against their wishes or if the actors are underage.

Tracy Lords created a scandal when she revealed that she started porn at 16.
Jenna Jameson spoke out about how being raped twice affected her decision to join the industry.
Mia Khalifa spoke out against the industry and that she was coerced in performing videos dressed as a muslim, and her life was at risk.
Lana Rhodes recently revealed her issues with the industry and how it affected her.

All these pornstars were at the top of the industry.

So I would say that watching pornography isn't wrong if the actors aren't manipulated into doing it or worse. That is why it is good for the industry that actors can create their own channels and social accounts so that they are in charge of their own bodies.

But, if we want to throw in the moral argument for this saying that people are guilty by association or interacting with something that causes harm, then we would, out of fairness, have to condemn ourselves for buying clothes that could have been made in a sweat shop, eating meat made from animals with their dignity stripped away, paying taxes to governments that wage wars, etc. Its a rabbit hole. I would say that the reality is that we only have the genuine capacity to care for our tribe on a personal level in which things affect us, and we do not have the capacity to care about all the wrongs in the world.

Pornography, like many things, can easily become addictive, especially to men. And with pornography there is also the aspect of escalation, similar to drugs. It is possible for someone to get numb from what they are watching and to want to watch more extreme forms of the medium, which warps their view of men, women and sex, supports objectification of humans and pushes them to commit extreme acts in their sex lives. Porn addiction also has other other negative aspects, such as numbing emotions and making one unproductive.

So I would say that whether it is right or wrong, beneficial or not, to watch pornography depends on the person and how pornography affects them.

I dare say that the prudes and religious might be right on this topic. Pornography might do more harm than good in the practical sense.

 

[Sheldon]

Pornography is utterly disgusting, perverted and shameful, for both those who practice it and those who watch it.

How do you know? Have you done either?

The actors are lewd and shallow people who are never satiated,

Now that is untrue, I've seen actors who've clearly satiated each other.

thus are always trying to invent more ways to stay aroused, and each practice becomes more depraved and pathetic than the last.

You seem to have spent some time studying the material, I'm sorry it left you dissatisfied. However do you have a link to the most depraved one you've seen? Before you gave up on it I mean...

Equally, those who watch it become more and more anxious, frustrated and perverted,

I'm neither anxious nor frustrated? I don't have an objective benchmark for the last claim.

believing that such a lifestyle is normal

Straw man fallacy...

that all people share the same desires as the actors themselves

Another straw man fallacy...

Shame on anyone who endorses such activity. Question: would you approve of a family member getting into the industry?

That's for you and them to discuss, but if you want I can put them in touch with an agent?

 

[Sheldon]

How old are you?
I thought that minors weren't allowed on the site?

Ad hominem fallacy...

 

[Sheldon]

So I would say that whether it is right or wrong, beneficial or not, to watch pornography depends on the person and how pornography affects them.

A very good post, and I agree with that assertion, well done for going beyond the facile and puritanical.

 

[Samael_Khan]

A very good post, and I agree with that assertion, well done for going beyond the facile and puritanical.

Thanks I try.

 

[Sheldon]

Thanks I try.

Credit where credit is due, it takes patience to calmly use reason against bigotry, I often lack the patience myself. So again, well done on a good post.

 

[Sheldon]

How old are you?
I thought that minors weren't allowed on the site?

Are you asking me on a date, that's pretty worrying.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Credit where credit is due, it takes patience to calmly use reason against bigotry, I often lack the patience myself. So again, well done on a good post.

When we come to the realization that the world is grey, and not black and white, then that leads us to reason calmly.

In fact it might be better said that the world is neither black, white or grey, but rather very colourful.

Once we exile the "other" from our thought process, we will not feel the pressure to "defeat" someone in an argument, but will attain clarity of thought and achieve a mutual dialogue with people (in my experience).

Easier said than done though..... When emotions run wild, I often go straight for the jugular XD

 

[ChristineM]

Why, aren't you able to tell the difference yourself?

I didnt make the claim that porn produces a poison in the brain.

Perhaps you can provide evidence of said claim because the OP certainly can't.

 

[ChristineM]

Pornography is utterly disgusting, perverted and shameful, for both those who practice it and those who watch it.
The actors are lewd and shallow people who are never satiated, and thus are always trying to invent more ways to stay aroused, and each practice becomes more depraved and pathetic than the last. Equally, those who watch it become more and more anxious, frustrated and perverted, believing that such a lifestyle is normal and that all people share the same desires as the actors themselves - they lose touch with reality and decency.

Shame on anyone who endorses such activity. Question: would you approve of a family member or child getting into the industry?

Spoken like a true expert on opinion and no knowledge of really

 

[ChristineM]

I dare say that the prudes and religious might be right on this topic. Pornography might do more harm than good in the practical sense.

Yes there is a dark side to pornography with sex trafficking involved and hopefully the industry anf governments are doing all they can to stamp it out. Viewers to can help by not watching the stuff that is not certified, and abandoning sites that provide uncertified porn

I would say that watching pornography in moderation is useful, from my own experience has helped my marriage which in all probability would not have lasted more than 20 years without it

 

[kjw47]

Sure i know, i used to live in the USA.

But to hear told here,, everyplace is sin city
and here in the tropics people dont like to
cover up so much.

It doesnt matter where one is. The ones who love God do not fit in this world and do not partake of its wicked desires.

 

[Sheldon]

It doesnt matter where one is. The ones who love God do not fit in this world and do not partake of its wicked desires.

Or logic or debate, apparently.

 

[Clara Tea]

It is normal to want to watch p-graphy.
However, it is not normal to watch p-graphy.
The unrealized desire to watch semi-naked ladies is the growing mental pain.
So, get to love your pain and dissatisfaction. Life after the Original Sin is like one huge pain.


The medicine, the doctors tell, that the healthy sexual act produces the good chemical pattern in the brain. However, the watching p-phy produces the poison in the brain.

About another theme:

It is normal to fear death, even with terrible fear (like Jesus Christ did before Crucifixion). But it is not normal to die: not normal to die physically, and not normal to die mentally.

About another theme:
"The luck is one of the God's names. Because to be lucky is good. And all good notions are the God's names: Love, Justice, Way, Truth, Police, etc. "

God made us with sex, then makes it a sin to enjoy it. The loving God makes hell and Lucifer to burn sinners for all eternity. Maybe we could use a little less lovin' in the oven?

 

[Colt]

It is normal to want to watch p-graphy.
However, it is not normal to watch p-graphy.
The unrealized desire to watch semi-naked ladies is the growing mental pain.
So, get to love your pain and dissatisfaction. Life after the Original Sin is like one huge pain.


The medicine, the doctors tell, that the healthy sexual act produces the good chemical pattern in the brain. However, the watching p-phy produces the poison in the brain.

About another theme:

It is normal to fear death, even with terrible fear (like Jesus Christ did before Crucifixion). But it is not normal to die: not normal to die physically, and not normal to die mentally.

About another theme:
"The luck is one of the God's names. Because to be lucky is good. And all good notions are the God's names: Love, Justice, Way, Truth, Police, etc. "

We are created with the sex instinct which "forces" us to procreate and make something more than an animal out of ourselves. Sex is a very powerful force, its up to us to manage our sex instinct according to how God would have us.

Atheist eventually normalize all forms of "sin" because sin is deliberate disloyalty to values which come from a moral God.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Yes there is a dark side to pornography with sex trafficking involved and hopefully the industry anf governments are doing all they can to stamp it out. Viewers to can help by not watching the stuff that is not certified, and abandoning sites that provide uncertified porn

I would say that watching pornography in moderation is useful, from my own experience has helped my marriage which in all probability would not have lasted more than 20 years without it

Even the certified stuff is suspect. Thats why I think that independent actors are the way to go.

Yes, watching porn in moderation can be useful and what that moderation is depends on the person. I am glad that it helped your marriage to be sustainable.

 

[Clara Tea]

It doesnt matter where one is. The ones who love God do not fit in this world and do not partake of its wicked desires.

Wicked desires? Puritans say that singing, dancing, and art are wicked. They might flail a little girl for humming. Is that what a loving God wants?

Who defines "wicked desires?" How are "wicked desires" defined?

Reverend Savonarolla had a Bonfire of the Vanities (burning books and art).

Shall we return to the Dark Ages and torture anyone with what we deem wicked desires?

Do we see witches everywhere we look and murder anyone suspected of witchcraft?

At some point, piety is worse than hedonism.

 

[Samael_Khan]

It doesnt matter where one is. The ones who love God do not fit in this world and do not partake of its wicked desires.

Since we live in the material realm, we all partake in what is considered "wicked desires", including those who claim YHWH as their God, because of man's inherent "sinful" nature. Hence why a certain individual had to become a substitute for sin according to a certain book. Which is why believers pray for forgiveness on a daily basis.

 

[SalixIncendium]

It is normal to want to watch p-graphy.
However, it is not normal to watch p-graphy.
The unrealized desire to watch semi-naked ladies is the growing mental pain.
So, get to love your pain and dissatisfaction. Life after the Original Sin is like one huge pain.


The medicine, the doctors tell, that the healthy sexual act produces the good chemical pattern in the brain. However, the watching p-phy produces the poison in the brain.

About another theme:

It is normal to fear death, even with terrible fear (like Jesus Christ did before Crucifixion). But it is not normal to die: not normal to die physically, and not normal to die mentally.

About another theme:
"The luck is one of the God's names. Because to be lucky is good. And all good notions are the God's names: Love, Justice, Way, Truth, Police, etc. "

I have no moral conflicts watching photography, even if it's semi-naked ladies, or even Barenaked Ladies.

 

[Sheldon]

We are created with the sex instinct which "forces" us to procreate and make something more than an animal out of ourselves.

We weren't created, we evolved, and all other animals procreate as well.

Sex is a very powerful force, its up to us to manage our sex instinct according to how God would have us.

No it isn't, as I don't believe in any deity. You live your life according to archaic religious diktat if you want, but I'm not going to.

Atheist eventually normalize all forms of "sin" because sin is deliberate disloyalty to values which come from a moral God.

Rubbish, I don't believe in unevidenced supernatural curses from unevidenced deities, that's all. So my morality cares about trying to avoid, and where possible prevent all unnecessary suffering. pleasing one of the thousands of imaginary deities humans have created, simply doesn't feature, that's all. Though I know theists struggle to understand this.