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Porn and religion

Two scenarios:

Me:
- I'm athiest
- Yet I loathe porn

Penfriend:
- She is baptised (Roman Catholic)
- She openely said that she likes porn

Is that possible, or is it contradiction?

Discuss :-)
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I guess it is a bit hypocritical if one is part of any religion that openly detests pornography and relates it to lust and sin yet is willing to bend those rules for themselves.

    As someone who doesn't care, I say each to their own.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I say, don't limit porn to any boundaries. Porn is endless, Porn is eternal, porn is ubiquitous.
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    I'm going to move this to P&D :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Monserrat wrote: »
    Penfriend:
    - She is baptised (Roman Catholic)
    - She openely said that she likes porn

    People often refer to themeslevs as RC or whetever, but that's down to being brought up that way - and doesn't neccessarily that they are 'comitted' to their religion in any way.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Being baptised is very different to currently practising.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm baptised Roman Catholic. I'm an atheist. I like porn. :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wouldn't say its contradictory. if you believe in God its quiet possible to believe God meant sex to be enjoyable - both to do and watch.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wouldn't say its contradictory. if you believe in God its quiet possible to believe God meant sex to be enjoyable - both to do and watch.

    Although there is (in the main) a fairly strong moral argument against a lot of porn, not only because of the effect it has on those watching (unrealistic expectations, exploitation etc.) but because of the nature of the industry.

    Its a massively wide ranging issue so there is absolutely no way to generalise. For example there is a world of difference between two committed Christians making their own porn at home, to someone watching a dodgy gang bang film behind their partners back.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I wouldn't say its contradictory. if you believe in God its quiet possible to believe God meant sex to be enjoyable - both to do and watch.

    There's a lot more to being Catholic than believing in God.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There's a lot more to being Catholic than believing in God.

    Though I'd say its a central tenant of it.

    But lots of people will call themselves Catholics and follow many of the tennants of it, but break others. To say someone isn't a Catholic because they don't follow 100% of the rules seems to be the preserve of fundamentalists and militant atheists
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    budda wrote: »
    Although there is (in the main) a fairly strong moral argument against a lot of porn, not only because of the effect it has on those watching (unrealistic expectations, exploitation etc.) but because of the nature of the industry.

    Its a massively wide ranging issue so there is absolutely no way to generalise. For example there is a world of difference between two committed Christians making their own porn at home, to someone watching a dodgy gang bang film behind their partners back.

    I assume its not just the CoE who has rules about not investing in porn. But lots of things exploit others in some way, there's no way to avoid it (and certainly not all porn stars are exploited)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Though I'd say its a central tenant of it.

    But lots of people will call themselves Catholics and follow many of the tennants of it, but break others. To say someone isn't a Catholic because they don't follow 100% of the rules seems to be the preserve of fundamentalists and militant atheists

    Bollocks. There's a huge amount to Catholicism other than believing in God. Like I said, I was brought up Catholic, so I think I have a bit of an idea about what makes someone a Catholic. Just believing in God isn't even enough to make you a Christian, never mind make you a Catholic. Following it 100% is impossible, but I think to describe yourself as Catholic, you should at least try to follow the teachings of the church. That doesn't mean that you can't disagree with anything the Catholic church says. Hell, there are Catholic bishops in Africa handing out condoms. But the point is that they at least have the same aims and general moral views as the church, and believe that following the Catholic interpretation of biblical teachings is the best way to live one's life.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I know many practising Catholics who dismiss the Vatican's position on contraception, premarital sex or even abortion as the drivel it is. So yes, it is possible, and very refreshing indeed, to see religious people who don't think pornography is a terrible sin.

    There is nothing wrong with being against pornography for the right reasons (namely objectification/exploitation of women in general, and those taking part in it), and I suspect many atheists and theists alike share that belief.

    Luckily however, countless Catholics and people of other religious denominations don't subscribe to just about everything thier Church or faith proclaims.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Bollocks. There's a huge amount to Catholicism other than believing in God. Like I said, I was brought up Catholic, so I think I have a bit of an idea about what makes someone a Catholic. Just believing in God isn't even enough to make you a Christian, never mind make you a Catholic. Following it 100% is impossible, but I think to describe yourself as Catholic, you should at least try to follow the teachings of the church. That doesn't mean that you can't disagree with anything the Catholic church says. Hell, there are Catholic bishops in Africa handing out condoms. But the point is that they at least have the same aims and general moral views as the church, and believe that following the Catholic interpretation of biblical teachings is the best way to live one's life.

    I'm not sure where you're disagreeing with me. You point out Catholic bishops handing out condoms (which I din't know about), which seems to go with my argument and actually seems to strengthen it.

    I too was brought up in a church, so its not like I've no idea. However, 99% of the people in my church wouldn't agreed or practice with all the tenants - they might agree with a lot, and I assume most of them agreed more with Prestbyterianism than either its free variants or Anglicanism otherwise they'd have moved churches.

    I'm not sure of our churches official position on porn. I'm pretty sure it would disapprove - however I'm sure some members watched it. I'm not sure that made them any less a Christian to be honest, anymore than Catholics practicing birth control.

    ETA - though my first point stands. You cannot be a Catholic and not believe in God. You can be culturally Catholic, but that's not the same thing. You can be a Catholic and use birth control, eat meat on Friday etc.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi guys :-) Thanks for the answers and for Helen for moving this to P&D!

    Yes, my friend and I had our good old daily chats last night, religion cropped up in the chat. I thought that baptism was a very serious committment to Christianity but when she said that she got baptised but also follow adult stuff, I was very shocked. That was why I wanted to get some viewpoints here :-) I knew many a people at university who followed porn and definitely weren't churchgoers, then I found it to be the opposite at my workplace - predomanently churchgoers who will stay away from the naughty stuff. Then here I am who steers clear of both, so I wonder what kind of alignment/belief I have? (if any)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Depends when you get baptised.

    Lots of churches do baptisms on babies and it's a decision made by their parents and their god parents on their behalf. In that case confirmation is the adult commitment to the church.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm not sure where you're disagreeing with me.

    Yeah sorry, I think I'm talking bollocks. I'm switching my argument. My point was that there is much more to being Catholic than believing in God, but then I went off on a tangent of moral teachings, rather than actual beliefs. I still think that if you veer too far away from the church's interpretation of such events, then you might as well not call yourself a Catholic, but the actual required element are simply matter of fact beliefs about certain things. The church's role is to help you interpret them in terms of the implications for your own life, but I think it's safe to say that you need to believe the following to consider yourself a Catholic:

    - the Abrahamic God
    - Jesus, and his divine nature
    - that Jesus died for our sins
    - the resurrection
    - the virgin birth
    - the eucharist is literally the body/blood of Christ
    - the sacraments
    - other stuff too, that I'm forgetting from my Catholic days

    It's these beliefs that make someone a Catholic, and while the Catholic church is the authority on them, it means that it is up to individual Catholics to judge the moral implications of such beliefs with guidance from the church. Which is why you can watch porn and still be Catholic, but most would probably object to it.

    Having said all that, I have my doubts about how many people who describe themselves as a particular religion genuinely believe this stuff, and how many just follow it because they believe it benefits their life, or for reasons of tradition and what have you.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sounds good to me! :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The way I see it there is only one truth and nobody in this universe knows it. So to organise a religion based on a set of beliefs made by somebody else is folly. What makes Christians right and Sikhs wrong? Narrowing it down a bit, what makes Protestantism right and Catholicism wrong?
    Nothing!

    I call myself Christian since I believe in Christ and His message. That's all. I wouldn't say I'm a Catholic, Jehova's Witness, C of E or whatever. This only serves to separate the religion even more and build a new set of beliefs for a new generation of people to live by. Christianity, Judaism and Islam may once have been the same religion, but have now drifted apart and are completely different. So, in my humble opinion, organised religion is a load of bollocks.

    Christ's message is a simple one: Love one another:) . Whether He was a divine being or not, whether He existed or not, whether there is a god or not, it is still a very good message, probably the greatest the world has ever known, and is one I shall live by until I die (and maybe beyond:chin: ).

    So to sum up: if it gives you or others joy and does not harm anyone else, then by all means do it!:thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    What about mohammed?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The way I see it there is only one truth and nobody in this universe knows it. So to organise a religion based on a set of beliefs made by somebody else is folly. What makes Christians right and Sikhs wrong? Narrowing it down a bit, what makes Protestantism right and Catholicism wrong?
    Nothing!

    I call myself Christian since I believe in Christ and His message. That's all. I wouldn't say I'm a Catholic, Jehova's Witness, C of E or whatever. This only serves to separate the religion even more and build a new set of beliefs for a new generation of people to live by. Christianity, Judaism and Islam may once have been the same religion, but have now drifted apart and are completely different. So, in my humble opinion, organised religion is a load of bollocks.

    Christ's message is a simple one: Love one another:) . Whether He was a divine being or not, whether He existed or not, whether there is a god or not, it is still a very good message, probably the greatest the world has ever known, and is one I shall live by until I die (and maybe beyond:chin: ).

    So to sum up: if it gives you or others joy and does not harm anyone else, then by all means do it!:thumb:

    Well, if you 'believe' Christ's message, then be default, you do not necessarily believe the message offered by Sikhs, Muslims etc.

    I find your post a little naive though. Christ's message wasn't just 'love one another'. That was only one message of many, the most important being, from a Christian viewpoint, that He was the physical son of God.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm afraid I was generalizing a little. Yes He did have more messages, but a lot of them were about pleasing God, getting into Heaven etc. What I'm saying is that this particular one can be followed by every single person on the planet. Atheists and theists alike. That's what makes it a great thing.

    P.S. Christ's divinity is a state of being, not a message.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    How does one not like porn?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i'm greek orthodox, baptised and all that.. my grandparents are very religious, my parents not as much, probably go to church like once a year (not including weddings).

    i believe in God and everything buuuuut i'm not a virgin and not married, + i watch porn. i go everywhere wearing the gold cross necklace that my godmother gave me when i was baptised...

    it's quite a contradiction. but we're all different. i think it's unfair to say it's hypocritical..... i think many religions are way too old-fashioned, which is why i don't go full on greek orthodox.

    it doesn't have to be all-or-nothing (yes, i know it sounds like an excuse)... as in totally religious or totally not. as i said, everyone's different.
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