Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Pornland


Did that header get your attention? A couple of years ago one of the members of our ministerial proposed that we band together to offer an information and discussion event on the important subject of pornography. I thought it was an interesting idea and supported his proposal. In the end it was shelved. One of the reasons given was the sense that people wouldn't participate because others might figure that they had a porn problem!

Our society has a porn problem, our dirty big secret. Imagine this: there are more than 370 million porn sites on the internet, a mind-boggling number. This means that untold millions peruse pornography on the net, people who would never visit a strip club, or engage in illicit sexual activity with another human being. I have mentioned before that studies show that this is a growing problem with clergy and I have spoken with a couple of colleagues who have struggled with this temptation to the point of addiction.http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=3629

A new book called Pornland, written by professor of sociology Gail Dines looks at how porn desensitized people to violent and exploitive sexuality and undermines a healthy approach to sexuality. I haven't read the book, but here is a Newsweek review http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/we-read-it/2010/07/16/pornland-how-porn-has-hijacked-our-sexuality.html

We may be uncomfortable addressing this subject but it sure isn't going away. To my mind this is one of the more important moral and ethical challenges of our time. And its likely that someone you know is caught up in this addiction. I have spoken about this once from the St. Paul's pulpit, but it sure doesn't get much attention in our denomination.

I'll invite your comments and opinions, but you too may be worried about what others might conclude!

6 comments:

roger said...

First of all, please don't read into the fact that I am the first to respond! Hopefully I'm not the only one to respond lol.

I agree that porn is a huge problem. There are millions whose marriages are affected because husbands and wives are spending more time surfing the net than spending quality time with their partner.

Even more disturbing is the sickening increase in child porn on the net. If anyone wants to know what kind of evil lurks out there, I would invite you to read a book that deals with that subject and internet luring called "To Catch a Predator" written by Chris Hansen.

A Toronto cop(now retired) who worked in the child exploitation unit once, out of frustration, wrote an email to Bill Gates(yes, that Bill Gates) venting his frustration to Bill about how computers can be used to distribute truly disturbing images. Incredibly, Gates sent the cop a cheque for a few million dollars, telling him to spend it on whatever equipment the Toronto police needed to help fight this crime.

David Mundy said...

I'm tempted to joke that you are the only person interested in porn, Johnny, but this isn't a laughing matter.

I'm glad that you, as a policeman, responded and offered some important information. The unsung heroes of the fight against child porn are the police who track down the people who produce and distribute this poison. As you point out, Bill Gates has stepped up in this fight. Thanks.

sjd said...

I'm writing just so Johnny is not alone.

Thanks to Mr. Gates and the world wide web we have access to all kinds of information that we would never have had access to in the past. Obviously too much information.

Thank you Mr. Gates for the donation, but throwing a bunch of money at a problem does not often bring about a solution. He should be using his expertise to track down these degenerates. Who is better equipped to do this than the mighty Bill Gates?

David Mundy said...

What I can't really understand is why when China and Saudi Arabia can limit access to information through the internet Western governments can't bring pressure to bear on internet companies to expunge porn. Thanks SJD.

Unknown said...

Pornography on the internet is a serious problem and not easily policed.

I am happy to hear the Bill Gates stepped up to the plate to help Toronto police in particular. He is not even Canadian, yet he did something to help our police force.

There are many lives affected by internet porn. I agree with johnny that marriages are affected, but the worst in my opinion is child porn.

These children are affected for the rest of their lives. Even with good medical help and counselling, they will never be the same again. Their lives are shattered and their sense of trust in adults is gone. It is very hard to watch these children grow up into adults and know that their lives would have been so different if some selfish person had not taken advantage of their innocence.

No one has the right to harm an innocent child.

David Mundy said...

Worthwile thoughts Caroline, and your last line sums it all up.