Pornography is not just a bad habit*

It is not acceptable to ignore research that supports the harm we cause ourselves by watching pornography.  We are accountable for our decisions and must never shy away from information that may cause us to ‘question’.  Addictive behaviour leads to unhappiness, sexual impotence and eventually, Hell.  It is your moral duty to take the time to listen and read to the facts and take your heads out of the bucket.  This won’t just go away as you get older…

Pornography and the Brain: Understanding the Science of Addiction and Recovery — Dr. Donald Hilton

An excellent talk by Dr Hilton discussing some of the evidence used to inform others on the neural affects of pornography and the nature of addiction.

My Summary:

Dr Hilton discusses the early work done in the late 40’s in the field of ‘adolescent sexual responses’.  I won’t go into any detail but needless to say the methods employed are ‘criminal’ and alarming.  More disturbing, according to Hilton, is that the results of these early experiments form the basis of modern ‘accepted’ theory on sexual behaviours / treatment.  The predominant theory is that sexual ‘release’ is healthy and necessary for many individuals.  In particular, relating to sex offenders who allegedly have a heightened need for ‘release’.  He then  mentions a number of evidenced studies demonstrating such an approach to sexual behaviour as incorrect and likely to lead to ‘increased’ and ‘uncontrolled’ sexual activity.  He then points towards the current ‘rape culture’…

Dr Hilton talks about Neuro Attachment Peptides and the part they can play in physical and emotional bonding.  It is worth listening to the theory and despite my lack of scientific background I was able to establish one key factor.  The brain uses DNA processes to switch on or create neural pathways when the body is in ‘need’.  In the natural order this causes thirst when the body requires water or the need for crisps when the body is lacking salt.  In the case of a woman it allows for the initial ‘binding’ between baby and mother which is so necessary for infant development.  With a couple, it creates the binding that ‘keeps them together’ whilst raising a family.  In short, it drives the physical and emotional response for necessary human ‘needs’ that keep us alive.

The chemicals in play during this process are discussed in detail and the explanation is relatively easy to follow.  I won’t attempt to butcher Dr Hilton’s talk by clumsy efforts to summarise this.  However, the significant factor to recognise is that pornography is considered a ‘Super Normal Stimulus’ as are drugs such as Cocaine or Heroin.  They hijack the natural brain function into believing that the body needs ‘them’ to survive.  Hence this perverse addiction is formed with an object that is in fact harmful and definitely NOT required for survival.  In short, the brain responds to pornography in the same manner it responds to water when you are thirsty. Hence you crave it as if your life depended on it!

Alarmingly, the process is more destructive on adolescents whose brain development is not yet completed.  The ‘frontal connectivity’ is not fully developed and the processes at this stage are even more addictive than to an adult.  The key message is that we must protect our children from experiencing this harmful ‘drug’.  The question you must all ask yourself is this:

“Is it okay to let your child try cocaine because you think it is not addictive or harmful?”

The question may sound a little absurd but I propose it on two grounds. The first is a clear statement about perception of ‘good and bad’.  There are studies that suggest some drugs are not addictive or harmful – the same type of studies suggest the same with pornography.  However, we are not academics, we do not require external funding to source our research and finally, we are held accountable to God for decisions we make on behalf of our children.

If you knew that a tin of one hundred sweets contained ten that were poisoned would you give it to your family?  What if that tin only contained five that were poisonous – would that be allowable?  What about just one deadly sweet?  The second point of my question relates directly to this premise.  The majority of people would agree cocaine is harmful and addictive and hence would never give it to their children.  Do the same majority of people think this of pornography or are they swayed by the ‘positive’ stance it is portrayed in through public arena?

Based on the poison sweet analogy, are you really willing to form a decision on ‘harmful’ without proper balanced research?  This concerns the health and well being of your children…and yourself!

God will hold you accountable.

This article is deliberately written to shock you and I recognise that I have not considered the alternative arguments.  I am a Catholic and I live under God’s rule.  Any theory relating to ‘healthy’ pornographic use is contrary to this and leads only to impurity, vice and mortal sin.  Hence, I can see no occasion when any positive approach to pornography can be right.

God formed our neural responses to keep us alive…not to keep us in sin!

Yours in Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

SA James.

*Further reading: Slave Master by D. Hilton