Porn addiction is harmful to everyone involved. Porn actors and actresses are physically harmed by the oversized penetration and rapid pace. They are psychologically harmed by the humiliation, and hollowing out of something that should be very intimate. Some are driven to suicide, many more are driven to drug addiction. Viewers are harmed mostly psychologically. Pornography desensitizes the libido, much like an addictive drug desensitizes the good feeling of dopamine in the brain (the high). Pornography harms natural relationships by killing that wonderful feeling we get when being intimate with another. Do you remember your first kiss? I remember mine. My face must have been red as a tomato! I won’t dig any deeper than that, but the butterflies in the stomach, the rush of endorphins you feel your first time – it’s a beautiful thing! Pornography offers only a hollow equivalent of that, and makes the real thing far more difficult to enjoy.
A well-intended article titled “3 Self Interested Reasons to go Porn Free” attempted to make this case, but relied far too much on piety. The constant references to “sin” may appeal to Christians like myself, but we’re preaching to the choir. Yes, I know many Christians are addicted to porn, but let’s not limit our message to them. Besides, it gives the impression that you’re being preachy, contrary to the title of the article. Still, the article made some excellent points. Porn rarely delivers the hoped for thrill, and usually leaves the viewer “fixed”, but unhappy. Many porn addicts are in denial, and will claim that it does make them happy. This is all the more reason not to put them on the defensive by calling their behavior “sin”, even if this is true.
My main point here is that there is so much real evidence on our side that we don’t need to be preachy. We won’t free people from pornography with legal prohibitions, nor will we won’t free them with judgment. As a Christian, I remember Jesus among the tax collectors and the prostitutes, and it’s clear what He would do. Let’s meet them where they are. Instead of piety, let’s try compassion balanced with knowledge. Let’s show how much we genuinely care for those who are hurting themselves and loved ones (especially spouses) with porn addiction. Many think it’s victimless. They often give selectively libertarian retorts such as “if consenting adults…” (and you know the rest). So instead of judging them, let’s persuade. ASAPScience has done an excellent short video on the Science of Porn Addiction. ASAPScience is not a church group. It’s not a conservative special interest. ASAPScience relies on solid science to give short, entertaining, and very informative lessons. As they show in the video regarding porn, the science is on our side. Deep down, porn addicts know they have a problem. They need to know how much happier their lives will be when they break their addiction, and learn to love real people again.
PS I love the reference to James Hetfield in the article. Here is the link to that video.