Monday, June 12, 2017

If Your Eye Causes You To Sin



 Pornography is at an all-time high in consumption. The reason, which is fairly obvious, has been the advent of the Internet. No longer relegated to filthy magazines, which no decent person wants to get caught buying or reading, the Internet brings porn right to you with ease. I've read some estimates that say as much as 34% of all websites are pornographic. Many people try to turn this into a strictly religious issue, with some even claiming that porn has societal benefits (e.g., men will be less likely to commit rape, there will be less adultery, etc.).

As time goes on, more and more secular evidence is being brought forth which shows that there are benefits to obeying God's Laws, as well as even secular dangers to those who choose to disobey. Recently, a study by Simone Kuhn and Jurgen Gallinat, "Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated with Pornography Consumption: The Brain on Porn," JAMA Psychiatry 71, no.7 (July 2014) came up with incredible findings concerning porn's effects on the brain. Other studies show porn's effects on emotional health, sexual violence, and marriage (there were other factors, but I will focus on these findings). For the full article on the brain, See http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1874574 The other studies may be found in Appendix 1 of The Porn Myth, by Matt Fradd, Ignatius Press, [2017], pgs. 191-212.

1. Porn and the Brain

  •  When researchers compared the brain scans of porn users to non-users, those who used porn had a dulled reward center.
  • When the reward center is dulled, the person doesn't feel dopamine's effects like they used to do. This means that in order to get the same excitement as before, porn users must resort to more hard-core material.
  • Since porn addiction goes hand in glove with Internet addiction, such people have less gray matter in several important areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobes, the striatum, and the insula. These areas help people with self-control, prioritizing, and feeling empathy; when gray matter lessens, so do these important functions.
2. Porn and Emotional Health

There is a correlation between the frequency of porn viewing and:
  •  depression, anxiety, stress and various social problems.
  •  the motivation to pursue goals.
  •  changed sexual preferences.
  • poor overall health.
  • hurting oneself.
  • problems with intimacy.

3. Porn and Sexual Violence
  • Porn use increases the risk of developing sexually deviant tendencies such as beastiality by 31%
  • The risk of committing a sexual offense increases 22% in those who use porn frequently. 
  • There is a correlation between frequent porn use in men and the likelihood of rape. Rather than lessen the likelihood of rape, porn actually increases it.
  • States that had higher sales of porn magazines had higher rates of rape.
  • In one study, in 193 cases of rape, 24% of the rapists mentioned the use of pornography without any solicitation for such information.
4. Porn and Marriage
  • Porn heightens belief that marriage is "sexually confining," that promiscuity is normal, and that raising a family is unappealing.
  • Women who discover a husband's porn use may experience depression, fatigue, and suicidal tendencies.
  • Porn use correlates to higher incidence of adultery.
  • Porn correlates with sadistic marital rape. 
Conclusion
 There is no doubt that God's Laws are in place for our good both here (wellness) and hereafter (to get to Heaven). Don't be fooled into thinking that pornography is "harmless," "normal," or "prevents greater evils." Secular studies prove this is not the case. More importantly, porn is a mortal sin, making one worthy of Hell. Of course, there will be those who will try to minimize the deadly effects of porn on the soul and on society. Men will object, "I watched porn and never raped anyone." In the words of one researcher, "Many people share Strossen's opinion that men who consume porn but who have never raped a woman disprove the theory that porn can cause rape. This is comparable to arguing that because some cigarette smokers don't die of lung disease, there cannot be a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer." (Russell,1995)

 Say no to porn, and parents, please check what sites your children and teens visit. As Our Lord said, "And if thy eye scandalize thee[causes you to sin], pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." (St. Matthew 18: 9). 

13 comments:

  1. Women are now experiencing a new level of porn addiction unseen before smart phones existed.
    Ted Bundy said pornography was the #1 factor in causing him to become a serial killer and serial rapist.
    Thank you for posting this article.
    Pornography is a scourge of our era and it should be made illegal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You speak the truth. Porn must be outlawed!

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  2. Here is Ted Bundy interview in his own words
    http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0332_Ted_Bundy.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. In the past 7-8 months I have realized how truly destructive pornography is & how its destroying people.
    Believe it or not,young hardcore conservative men hate porn as much as we do!(for the same reasons)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. Perhaps this issue can be occasion for a discussion on how God is necessary for objective moral values, and this can continue to where they are presented the case for Christ and His One True Church! An opportunity for conversions!

      God Bless,

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  4. Do you or anyone reading this know of a good 1917 Canon Law site where I can find an answer involving validity and violations of Holy Orders?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What you're looking for is not to be found in the 1917 Code of Canon Law. You need to read the Apostolic Constitution "Sacramentum Ordinis" of Pope Pius XII where he defined the precise matter and form of the Sacrament in 1947. You can read it online for free. Next, if you can obtain "The Rites and Ceremonies of Sacred Ordination" by theologian Walter Clancy. It's based on the Sacred Canons but is better than any commentary on the Code could be. Read these two and everything will be clear.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  5. I noticed this post didn't receive many comments.
    I have struggled w/pornography in the past.I stopped using upon learning that its a weapon used against the family & Catholicism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The deadly consequences of porn on both the individual and society cannot be overstated!

      God bless,

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  6. You have any links to articles or blog posts about living with daily massive regret,from a Catholic perspective?
    I do not consider the novus ordo Catholic & refuse to say "traditional Catholic perspective".
    The Novus Ordo has no right to our name,our religion,our history,our legacy,or our messiah and Savior,Jesus Christ.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would suggest checking the many wonderful resources available at DailyCatholic.org

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  7. I discovered this article late after its publication but it comes at the right time. I am a porn user who tries to quit but sometimes I lack the will and courage. It is not easy to break free from this addiction, which is very strong because these images remain imprinted in our memory and come back frequently. Porn is real filth and society should fight it but it lets it spread everywhere in the name of individual freedoms and sexual freedom. It is drugs on the same level as alcohol, cigarettes or any other kind of drug.

    ReplyDelete