I found this article while surfin around, and thought it might be a worthy topic of discussion. The article is here:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/livi...eardan_293.html

This is actually a very interesting topic, one i have wrestled with in my own mind a few times.

Is it wrong to look at porn or not? a tough question.

I checked out the reader responses, both male and female, and they ran the gamut from the puritan amish view (from a guy no less):

quote:

Promoting that “men just look,” although factual, does not make it right. Jesus was clear “that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her, that man has committed adultery with her in his heart already.” Matt 5:27. I am not a prude, and I am still guilty of lusting after women. But that does not excuse me, or give me (or you) the right to condone lust and justify sin. Infidelity (adultery physically or mentally) to God first and our spouses second is one of the major things wrong in the human race that creates the problems we have. We can’t trust each other because our vows and commitments to each other mean nothing due to our lack of fidelity in all areas of relationships. Bottom line — SIN is the problem. Not my words — God’s. Got the guts to answer back? Or better yet, got the guts to publish this TRUTH? Better than that, got the guts to be obedient to what the Bible says? The proceeding quote from Jesus needs no interpretation. All translations of the Bible say the same thing. LUST IS ADULTERY — PERIOD. ADULTERY IS SIN — PERIOD. Don’t believe me? Ask Jesus. He’ll tell you. — Gary

to the very accepting of what is essentially a dirty and self degenerative habit (from a woman no less):

quote:

You hit it on the head, Dan, men are always going to look. What a lot of women don’t seem to realize is that he’s still hopping into bed with them rather than that “cutie” he was just looking at! There’s an old saying that goes something like, “you gotta prime the pump”. Most psychologists will tell you that fantasy is an important part of human sexuality. Don’t whine — be happy he’s interested in sex!! — Laura

Personally, i think it should be determined by INTENT, and not by CONTENT. if your intent is to simply get a little smile on your face looking at a naked picture of a girl, then it shouldn't be considered wrong. However, if you become obsessed, addicted, or more excited about the porn than you are about your girlfriend, then something is defintely wrong.

To further complicate the issue, there are of course numerous "shades of gray" in the situation. reading an erotic story is one thing, looking at a naked picture is another, video is another, and becoming a full fledged member of a porn site is another. I suppose worse would be developing an unhealthy obsession with a particular person (for example my friends affinity for jenna jamieson). And of all the things you could do, i suppose the worst of all would be to develop an online pornographic relationship with someone you actually KNOW in real life, using a webcam.

now, somewhere in these shades of gray i think lies the line where you should not cross without considering yourself a cheater. but where is that line?

I choose to stay away from it as much as possible, because my relationship with my girlfriend is the most important thing in the world to me.

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