Tonight as I saw the title for a recent movie that has come out ("Zack and Miri Make a Porno"), I was reminded how disgusted I am with pornography. I hate the way that it has infiltrated our society. From sexually explicit books, to lude pop-up ads online to the music that flows on the radio waves to Television shows, commercials and movies... pornography is all around us and we've become desensitized to it. And whether we realize it or not, it does effect us and our views on sexuality.
Over the course of the last 5 or so years, I've had many friends confide in me that they were addicted to pornography. Most of them got started on pornography in a seemingly innocent way, perhaps with a movie that was too sexually explicit. That led to sexual curiosity that was further explored, which eventually led to a pornographic addiction. We are angered when an addiction to pornography ruins our self esteem, relationships and marriages, yet we are unwilling to look at where it starts. Pornography is all around us. When we voluntarily allow all types of pornography into our lives, it is no wonder that the amount of addictions to pornography are increasing.
Pornography is not just lude pictures. Pornography can be defined as "obscene writings, drawings, photographs, or the like, esp. those having little or no artistic merit" (dictionary.com). We need to look at the world around us with a new set of eyes. What about that girl in a bikini trying to sell a car on TV? What about a WIDE variety of sexually explicit novels? And those music lyrics explicitly discussing various sexual activities and liaisons? Are those also not forms of pornography that poison our minds and our hearts?
As we begin to observe the world around us and realize the negative amount of sexually-explicit media that is out there, we have a choice to make. Do we allow ourselves to become further desensitized by allowing filth piece by piece into our lives? Or, do we make necessary changes to shield ourselves and others from desensitization and further sin?
In my mind, we should remove all forms of media that pollute our minds and dull our senses. We need to be careful about those images, scenes, words, songs, etc. we allow into our minds. Not only should we be watchful for ourselves, but for our (future) children and loved ones. Being the example now of virtue and not allowing anything pornographic into our homes can decrease the likelihood of children and other family members becoming involved later in pornography.
Friday, January 09, 2009
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4 insightful comments:
I couldn't agree with you more and this was written to a tee! The problem is getting one's subconscious to police their conscious and then you have to heed these feelings as well. Because at the end of the day, it is you and what you are watching or listening to and that's it. Ideally if people knew right off and could ward off those feelings we wouldn't need this conversation. But this no longer is an ideal world. And now more then EVER BEFORE
we have all got to hang dearly to that iron rod.
Amen Girl. Amen.
Oh sooo true, it is soooo sad these days, I have had some friends get divorces over that, that lead to other things, and aaahh it just makes me so sad! Ya Erik and I dont really hang out with many people because we are soooo picky with movies and everything we don't want that to be apart of our family. But Great Post! Now we just need the rest of the world to read it!
oh yeah, my #s are pictures of the day.. 365 thing...
Good Post. I second your thoughts about the dangers of pornography. I'm not sure I agree with this, though:
"Being the example now of virtue and not allowing anything pornographic into our homes can decrease the likelihood of children and other family members becoming involved later in pornography."
I'm not sure that parents simply forbidding pornography in the home and setting an example actually decreases this likelihood. Forbidding it alone may only lead to children becoming more curious about it. At some point, every child will view pornography of some sort - either on purpose or on accident. I think it's critical for them to understand WHY it's not recommended so that they can be prepared when they have to make a decision about whether to view.
Good Post.
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