Should Pornography Be Banned?

[Goulette]

Does anything good actually come from it? Does pornography ruin healthy sexuality? Does it contribute to an abundance of failed marriages and marital problems? Is it a major influence on rapists and sex traffickers?

If so, then do the hideous consequences of it warrant that it be made illegal on every level (TV shows, movies, internet websites, age limit, etc.)? Would we be living in a much better world if it was illegal all around?

[Catholicity]

From personal experience, it really does contribute to marital issues. And I think it genuinely ruins the concept of healthy sexuality. I believe there are some men who "outgrow" it. And there are people who don't see the need for it, don't get it, wonder why it exists, etc. Most kids if not all kids PROBABLY look at it and make an active decision, to continue looking at it. But its very easy to make a choice "no" I won't subscribe to it. Not to mention if you look at it from a computer it will bring viruses, malware etc. not to mention just how NOT realistic it is.

[KingsGambit]

Yes.

[KingsGambit]

(And just so nobody gets the wrong impression from Cath's post, I am not into pornography; she's not referring to me.)

Modern Christians seem to be wedded a lot to Enlightenment ideas like freedom of speech and expression but if you look at the laws God instituted under the Mosaic code, the mindset was very different. This is the exact point my avatar tries to make.

[TheWall]

I think a cultural shift or more importantly/ necessary would be a change in how sex is dealt with in churches. I must admit in my own experience as a man sex is the great force that brings a family to being. It is also a source of great confusion and introspection.

[KingsGambit]

I think a cultural shift or more importantly/ necessary would be a change in how sex is dealt with in churches. I must admit in my own experience as a man sex is the great force that brings a family to being. It is also a source of great confusion and introspection.

Interesting point. When was the last time any of us ever heard sex preached about in church? (My answer: never.)

[Teallaura]

I've actually been asked to speak at churches professionally (back in the day) so there are churches that do address it - but not nearly well enough.

Maybe we need to develop curricula for this - it's hard for pastors, youth pastors, and Sunday School teachers to get into this topic - and a lot of the time, they are uncomfortable doing so because they aren't sure of their own expertise (I had teachers call me so they would have a professional rather than try to deal with STD themselves so it's not unique to churches).

[Tassman]

Does anything good actually come from it? Does pornography ruin healthy sexuality? Does it contribute to an abundance of failed marriages and marital problems? Is it a major influence on rapists and sex traffickers?

If so, then do the hideous consequences of it warrant that it be made illegal on every level (TV shows, movies, internet websites, age limit, etc.)? Would we be living in a much better world if it was illegal all around?

What is it with Christians wanting to ban everything of which they disapprove? Banning is rarely the solution. 'Prohibition' is a case in point, where organised crime burgeoned and alcohol consumption continued unabated regardless. The best approach towards anything that can be injurious to one's physical, mental or emotional health such as alcohol, tobacco, hard drugs and excessive pornography etc, are educational programs on the possible dangers of such behaviours. We know these are effective given the positive results from the anti-smoking campaigns. Cigarette smoking is no longer generally acceptable, as a consequence.

[KingsGambit]

Adrift made some interesting arguments that Prohibition was actually effective in banning alcohol when he was here. I don't support banning alcohol because it's not a universal evil; many people can and do enjoy it in appropriate amounts. But there are literally no redeeming features of pornography.

[Faber]

For once I have to agree with Tassman. Government banning it will make no difference whatsoever. Same logic as thinking banning handguns and harmful drugs make no difference. It's none of the government's business what immoral pigs read. Just enforce the rape laws and child molesting laws that are already on the books.

One the government starts controlling what we read, they will go on to controlling Christian literature.

[TheWall]

I agree that bans dont work.

[Mountain Man]

For once I have to agree with Tassman. Government banning it will make no difference whatsoever. Same logic as thinking banning handguns and harmful drugs make no difference. It's none of the government's business what immoral pigs read. Just enforce the rape laws and child molesting laws that are already on the books.

One the government starts controlling what we read, they will go on to controlling Christian literature.

That's my biggest problem with giving the government the power to dictate morality. As easily as it can be used for us, it can just as easily be used against us.

Ideally, yes, we would live in a society where all vices like alcohol and pornography were strictly prohibited, and that's essentially how it was under the Old Covenant, but we no longer live under a covenant where God directly governs the people, and now we find ourselves governed by fallible and in many cases corrupt politicians who I don't want deciding for us what we should and shouldn't read.

[KingsGambit]

Ideally, yes, we would live in a society where all vices like alcohol and pornography were strictly prohibited.

So you're saying you know better than Jesus about whether alcohol is permissible?

[KingsGambit]

For once I have to agree with Tassman. Government banning it will make no difference whatsoever. Same logic as thinking banning handguns and harmful drugs make no difference. It's none of the government's business what immoral pigs read. Just enforce the rape laws and child molesting laws that are already on the books.

One the government starts controlling what we read, they will go on to controlling Christian literature.

Pornography used to be illegal in most of the US

[Goulette]

Pornography used to be illegal in most of the US

It did? Details?