Somehow this link was forwarded to me for comment. It makes the highly newsworthy and earth-shattering point that Christians are a lusty crew.
50% of Christian men are addicted to porn, it says. (What they did not discover is that 99% of Christian men are addicted to sex, and require it on a regular, if not twice-daily, basis.)
What bugs me about the piece is that it implies that Christians ought to be pure from sexual desire and interest - or at least from non-marital desire. That very idea is nuts, but I do know from whence it comes: it comes from a thread running through Protestantism (and Roman Catholicism, before that), that our desirous and loving hearts should be fixed on God and His Kingdom, not earthly delights.
Of course, fantasy and action are entirely different things. Porn, like art, books, etc., is just assisted fantasy. Adults, Christian or otherwise, are expected by others to regulate their behavior, but whether and how they regulate their fantasy life is their own, personal decision.
The use of the word "addiction" is peculiar. I think, for an interest that is so hard-wired. Do guys have an "addiction" to staring at gals' breasts?They do tell me that they can't help it, so I never show cleavage at work.
I wrote a piece on internet porn a while ago (porn is the #1 use of the internets). I have looked at a bit of it, and have been struck by the generous anatomy of the fellows who do this, but it's not my cup of tea, and I find it undignified and sleazy as hell, but I think it's fairly harmless. However, when any person's behavior is compulsive - whether it's porn, or blogging, or watching TV, or computer games, or anything - it's usually an escape from something, or from some emotion. Therefore, what is interesting to a shrink is not the object of the compulsion as much as the question of what is being avoided.
I am obviously not a pastor, but I say that there is room for both earthly and spiritual delights in this life. As animals with a divine spark, we must pursue both as best we can, while ordering, regulating and directing our life as it is - as it has been given to us - as best we can.
Note: That is not me. Our lusty Christian Editor added the charming photo - not for pleasure, of course, but only to get attention.
