The Sin of Pornography

[idav]

Matthew 5:28
but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

a·dul·ter·y
əˈdəlt(ə)rē/
noun
noun: adultery; plural noun: adulteries

voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.
​

The verse makes no sense. How can one be condemned for committing adultery, in any way, if he's not married? It would be like condemning a person of murder because they hated someone.


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Maybe but I think the heart matters more than our actions. Thoughts are beyond actions. If someone tells me that they are a good person I can only go by what I can see but doesn't mean the person is necessarily good inside regardless how much they pray or whatever.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Are movies that display wanton killing sinful?

Guess they might be, if they were films of people actually being killed -- "snuff films," as I understand they're called. So, maybe porn films might be okay if they depicted people "pretending" to have sex, but not actually doing it. Or maybe cartoons and the like?

But wait, isn't killing people wrong? That's why snuff films would be wrong, I warrant. But isn't sex not only legal but quite often rather nice? Then why would an actual act filmed be not so much? Maybe the "actors" were really having a good time. Is it so bad that they decided to share that with us?

Heck, I might consider filming myself in flagrante delicto, but then I have to admit nobody has hurt me so badly that I should inflict this flabby old frame on them! That would definitely be sinful!

 

[Skwim]

When are you watching porn and when are you merely observing other people having sex????????

I've never merely observed other people having sex. And I am watching porn when I'm watching activity intended to stimulate erotic feelings, whether they personally do so or not.


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[Brian Schuh]

Are movies that display wanton killing sinful?

Guess they might be, if they were films of people actually being killed -- "snuff films," as I understand they're called. So, maybe porn films might be okay if they depicted people "pretending" to have sex, but not actually doing it. Or maybe cartoons and the like?

But wait, isn't killing people wrong? That's why snuff films would be wrong, I warrant. But isn't sex not only legal but quite often rather nice? Then why would an actual act filmed be not so much? Maybe the "actors" were really having a good time. Is it so bad that they decided to share that with us?

Heck, I might consider filming myself in flagrante delicto, but then I have to admit nobody has hurt me so badly that I should inflict this flabby old frame on them! That would definitely be sinful!

Yeah, I hear what you are saying, if a rapist hired a prostitute to play out a rape consensually, without actually being raped, then that isn't really rape, right?

I would have to answer that if you enjoy watching murders that are just actors, and are not actually snuff films, then you might have a problem.

At least the rapist admits he has a problem. One who who enjoys violent films might as well be watching snuff films if he doesn't admit he has got a problem.

 

[arthra]

I came across an interesting definition of sexual exploitation and decided to share it:

The following definition of sexual exploitation is offered by Donna Hughes, a well-known researcher in the area of Women’s Studies and woman’s advocate from the University of Rhode Island, she claims:

“A practice by which a person achieves sexual gratification, financial gain or advancement through the abuse or exploitation of a person’s sexuality by abrogating that person’s human right to dignity, equality, autonomy, and physical and mental well-being; i.e. trafficking, prostitution, prostitution tourism, mail-order-bride trade, pornography, stripping, battering, incest, rape and sexual harassment. Sexual exploitation preys on women and children made vulnerable by poverty and economic development policies and practices; refugee and displaced persons; and on women in the migrating process. Sexual exploitation eroticizes women’s inequality and is a vehicle for racism and "first world" domination, disproportionately victimizing minority and "third world" women. Sexual exploitation violates the human rights of anyone subjected to it, whether female or male, adult or child, Northern or Southern.”

Women and Exploitation

Donna Hughes credentials are online at
Donna M. Hughes, Ph.D. | Gender and Women's Studies

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It's time we support more ethical values in society and outlaw pornography.

My ethics aren't against porn. Don't like it, don't watch it.

 

[Skwim]

I came across an interesting definition of sexual exploitation and decided to share it:

The following definition of sexual exploitation is offered by Donna Hughes, a well-known researcher in the area of Women’s Studies and woman’s advocate from the University of Rhode Island, she claims:

“A practice by which a person achieves sexual gratification, financial gain or advancement through the abuse or exploitation of a person’s sexuality by abrogating that person’s human right to dignity, equality, autonomy, and physical and mental well-being; i.e. trafficking, prostitution, prostitution tourism, mail-order-bride trade, pornography, stripping, battering, incest, rape and sexual harassment. Sexual exploitation preys on women and children made vulnerable by poverty and economic development policies and practices; refugee and displaced persons; and on women in the migrating process. Sexual exploitation eroticizes women’s inequality and is a vehicle for racism and "first world" domination, disproportionately victimizing minority and "third world" women. Sexual exploitation violates the human rights of anyone subjected to it, whether female or male, adult or child, Northern or Southern.”

Women and Exploitation

When someone presents a definition, one of the key signs to be alert is when the word being defined is used in the definition e.g. "a wheel is a round wheel that sits on an axle. In this case, "sex exploitation" is defined in part as "exploitation of a person’s sexuality." Another thing to be aware of is when a definition slides into unannounced examples: "Sexual exploitation preys on women and children made . . . ." As definitions go, it could be a lot better.

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[Papoon]

I came across an interesting definition of sexual exploitation and decided to share it:

The following definition of sexual exploitation is offered by Donna Hughes, a well-known researcher in the area of Women’s Studies and woman’s advocate from the University of Rhode Island, she claims:

“A practice by which a person achieves sexual gratification, financial gain or advancement through the abuse or exploitation of a person’s sexuality by abrogating that person’s human right to dignity, equality, autonomy, and physical and mental well-being; i.e. trafficking, prostitution, prostitution tourism, mail-order-bride trade, pornography, stripping, battering, incest, rape and sexual harassment. Sexual exploitation preys on women and children made vulnerable by poverty and economic development policies and practices; refugee and displaced persons; and on women in the migrating process. Sexual exploitation eroticizes women’s inequality and is a vehicle for racism and "first world" domination, disproportionately victimizing minority and "third world" women. Sexual exploitation violates the human rights of anyone subjected to it, whether female or male, adult or child, Northern or Southern.”

Women and Exploitation

Donna Hughes credentials are online at
Donna M. Hughes, Ph.D. | Gender and Women's Studies

Gender political bollocks.

Third world people (women, children and men) are exploited when they make your clothes, cars, computers and hotel beds.

Does that make clothes and computers sinful ?

No. Exploitation can occur in relation to any product or service.

If all the people in porn were third world people, there might be a point there.

But they aren't overrepresented, so the point is just more 'publish or perish' gender dialectic from the ivory towers of academia and professional feminism.

 

[Brian Schuh]

If your computer gets a computer virus from looking at free internet porn, can you rightfully claim your computer caught an STD?

Ha ha.

 

[Revoltingest]

I came across an interesting definition of sexual exploitation and decided to share it:

The following definition of sexual exploitation is offered by Donna Hughes, a well-known researcher in the area of Women’s Studies and woman’s advocate from the University of Rhode Island, she claims:

“A practice by which a person achieves sexual gratification, financial gain or advancement through the abuse or exploitation of a person’s sexuality by abrogating that person’s human right to dignity, equality, autonomy, and physical and mental well-being; i.e. trafficking, prostitution, prostitution tourism, mail-order-bride trade, pornography, stripping, battering, incest, rape and sexual harassment. Sexual exploitation preys on women and children made vulnerable by poverty and economic development policies and practices; refugee and displaced persons; and on women in the migrating process. Sexual exploitation eroticizes women’s inequality and is a vehicle for racism and "first world" domination, disproportionately victimizing minority and "third world" women. Sexual exploitation violates the human rights of anyone subjected to it, whether female or male, adult or child, Northern or Southern.”

Women and Exploitation

Donna Hughes credentials are online at
Donna M. Hughes, Ph.D. | Gender and Women's Studies

I have some pretty severe criticism.
Steady yourself.
I recommend using "e.g." instead of "i.e." when citing examples.
Ref....
E.g. vs. i.e. - Grammarist

As to the definition provided, it's overly broad because it make many voluntary acts "exploitation".
If dang near everything is exploitation, then what use is the word?

 

[Brian Schuh]

I have some pretty severe criticism.
Steady yourself.
I recommend using "e.g." instead of "i.e." when citing examples.
Ref....
E.g. vs. i.e. - Grammarist

As to the definition provided, it's overly broad because it make many voluntary acts "exploitation".
If dang near everything is exploitation, then what use is the word?

I can't define exploitation, but I know it when I see it. Linda Lovelace made millions of dollars but sometimes didn't have a red cent to her name, her husband got the money. She enjoyed what she did and was eager to film the movie "Deepthroat," but more than once her jerk husband pointed a gun at her head if she didn't agree to go be filmed that day. She was obviously exploited in spite of the fact she enjoyed what she did and she consented.

 

[Revoltingest]

I can't define exploitation, but I know it when I see it. Linda Lovelace made millions of dollars but sometimes didn't have a red cent to her name, her husband got the money. She enjoyed what she did and was eager to film the movie "Deepthroat," but more than once her jerk husband pointed a gun at her head if she didn't agree to go be filmed that day. She was obviously exploited in spite of the fact she enjoyed what she did and she consented.

It seems her problem wasn't doing porn, but letting hubby take her earnings.

 

[rusra02]

In another thread Trends in Pornography Viewing it was mentioned that porn is a terrible sin. So I'm curious as to what you think.

Is watching porn a sin? If so, why?

How about acting in porn, professional or amateur?


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GOD’S WORD SAYS: “Deaden, therefore, your body members . . . as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”—Colossians 3:5.
I believe Pornography encourages fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and [sexual] covetousness. It's harmful effects are well documented. "Couples and families break up over porn.”—The Porn Trap, by Wendy and Larry Maltz.
If watching pornography is wrong and sinful to the true God, how much more the practicing of such immoral conduct.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

The following definition of sexual exploitation is offered by Donna Hughes, a well-known researcher in the area of Women’s Studies and woman’s advocate from the University of Rhode Island.

Not well known to me. Nor is the University of Rhode Island, for that matter. I discovered that she campaigned to have prostitution criminalised: the good old New England tradition of "Let's find some-one doing something and stop them."

Obviously some people in the sex industry, both male and female, are exploited. So are people in many industries:
Child labour in India - Wikipedia
But for every Linda Lovelace, there's a Nina Hartley
Nina Hartley - Wikipedia

She's a pagan, too!

 

[Skwim]

GOD’S WORD SAYS: “Deaden, therefore, your body members . . . as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”—Colossians 3:5.
I believe Pornography encourages fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and [sexual] covetousness. It's harmful effects are well documented. "Couples and families break up over porn.”—The Porn Trap, by Wendy and Larry Maltz.
If watching pornography is wrong and sinful to the true God, how much more the practicing of such immoral conduct.

What I find interesting here is that god endowed humans with sexual appetite, and now he condemns it. This is one crazy kind of guy.


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[arthra]

Skwim

Actually you pose a good question:

I agree there are "crazy guys"... but I don't think God "condemns" sexual desire.. in order to propagate the species the desire is there but the desire is only part of our make-up.. We are social beings and the desire is therefor in a social context... We also require strong social bonds sufficient to nurture and raise children in families and strong families to constitute communities which is also part of God's plan!

 

[rusra02]

What I find interesting here is that god endowed humans with sexual appetite, and now he condemns it. This is one crazy kind of guy.


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I think it is obvious that the sexual appetite mentioned in the context of fornication and uncleanness is not the normal desire for sex God endowed us with. He purposed for this desire to be satisfied in marriage, and the Bible speaks approvingly of such passion.(Proverbs 5:18,19) Today, sexual appetites are displayed in desire for fornication, homosexual acts, bestiality, and other wrong desires. Pornography feeds these improper desires, IMO.
So, when God tells us to "Deaden, therefore, your body members that are on the earth as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion, hurtful desire, and greediness, which is idolatry" the word "uncontrolled" accurately conveys God's command. (Colossians 3:5 NWT)

 

[Skwim]

I think it is obvious that the sexual appetite mentioned in the context of fornication and uncleanness is not the normal desire for sex God endowed us with.

Then why didn't god use a word that denoted it instead of using "sexual appetite"? Think he's incapable of clearly expressing himself?

He purposed for this desire to be satisfied in marriage, and the Bible speaks approvingly of such passion.(Proverbs 5:18,19) Today, sexual appetites are displayed in desire for fornication, homosexual acts, bestiality, and other wrong desires. Pornography feeds these improper desires, IMO.

But he doesn't say this does he. All of this is mere supposition on your part. According to Christian teachings he gave the world the Bible as a guide to salvation, and I would certainly think that in doing so he would have said what he meant and not something else. Why take the chance of stating something that could be misunderstood? Nope, your attempt at redefining his words so as to fit your personal theology doesn't fly. God gave us sexual appetites, and now he condemns it. Go figure.


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[rusra02]

I think he does say that, loud and clear.