Chicago Tribune Religion Blogger: Is Just a Little Bit of Porn Okay?

Photo of Ken Shepherd.

Don't get me wrong. I like that mainstream media do take some efforts to report more religion and faith news items these days, including blogs like "The Seeker" at Chicago Tribune's home on the Web and the ongoing "On Faith" feature hosted by the Washington Post and Newsweek.

But just as I ripped "On Faith" for asking if good works were preferable to being saved, I have to admit this August 6 discussion starter by the Trib's Manya Brachear is a little clumsy as well:

Is church the right venue to talk about pornography? Is a small dose really that wrong?

This from the same blogger who asked, "Does sex bring you closer to God?"

I don't know what Bible she's reading, but her hymnal sounds like it was written by Nine Inch Nails.

 


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It's simple

Way to frequently, people ask religious questions when the answers are ALL in the Bible. The answers to everything are there.

If someone expresses a disbelief in the Bible, then I don't know where to go from there; since we have no common ground.

All I can do from there is to make a case for the truth of God's word; the Bible. If that is not successful, we must sometimes "shake the dust from our feet" and go on to someone else.

Sorry

"when the answers are ALL in the Bible"

Hadn't quite thought about it like that but you are right.

I think you could find answers to all our current issues: porn, abortion, global warming, socialism, etc.

Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened. -Winston Churchill.

Don't apologize, cvg.

 Never apologize for being right. Just remember Ecclesiastes 10:2 "A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left"   Speaks volumes today, doesn't it? 

"If you don't read a newspaper, you are uninformed. If you do read a newspaper, you are mis-informed."-Mark Twain

Yes we discuss porn all the

Yes we discuss porn all the time - its just one of many major problems in the church - and the Apostle Paul even dealt with these things in Corinthians...

Its never healthy - even "just a little bit" but neither is going to the casino "once in a while" or the rampant materialism of the American culture, etc, etc, etc...

Agree

TruthMonger: You are correct. Our Senior Pastor has often told the true story of a man that kept a rattlesnake in a cage in his house. Every now and then he would take out that snake and fancy himself as a snake charmer. He would then kiss that snake on the head.

You guessed it. One day that snake bit him right in the face and it almost killed him; it did disfigure his face due to nerve damage which the doctors were only able to partially repair.

But, I'm sure you didn't guess this: Every now and then, he still does it.

Tell you anything?

cvg excellent point - tells

cvg excellent point - tells me all kinds of things yes, thanks:)

Tells me he is retarded

Sounds like he will be rewarded by Darwin soon.  And? 

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Sounds like he's doing it

Sounds like he's doing it wrong.

Sounds like Darwin will

Sounds like Darwin will reward bal and spiff soon as well...

Rev 3:22 (NIV) "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

"Sounds like Darwin will reward bal and spiff soon as well... "

but it's not like we haven't warned them...sigh. : (

Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened. -Winston Churchill.

Respect for TM

 = NONE  now    Mr.  holier than thou.  CRAM IT 

 

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TM, dust shaken' time? v

TM, dust shaken' time?

v

vr

vr - im seeing progress here myself - so I'm hanging a while longer:) - and you?

TM - trouble with that T-shirt hottie though...

TM - trouble with that T-shirt hottie though...

Yeah been hanging tough on this thread, but keeping in mind when it's "dust shaken" time.  But man, every time I post a comment, "she" shows up on the right.  Geez, what do I have to do, tape a picture of my wife over that part of the screen?   I don't find it that it's there by chance, considering today's "hottie" topic.

v

p.s.  progress is good - sow, water, reap, sow, water, reap...it goes on...

vr

she's astoundingly beautiful - nothing wrong with seeing that...

just don't think about how incredibly fantastic and earth-shattering the sex would be and you'll be just fine...

it's EASY!

Finally Figured It Out

I was totally mystified as to the "hottie" to which you all refer until I realized--it's my porn filter working!  So....since I can't see her, wherever she is, she must fit the definition of porn my internet content filter uses.  That's actually somewhat amusing in a weird sort of way.

Thump Thump

Close your mind tightly.  You don't want to have a hint of a little tummy showing.  You might go to hell.   I'm glad I don't live that way. 

 

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Ad Filter ?

Porn filter? Sound more like a GREAT ad blocker!

What's the name of this fine product? ;-)

Fred Thompson and Ann Coulter walk into a bar. The bar is instantly destroyed because that much awesome cannot be contained in one building.

Content Filter

It's Net Nanny 5.5, believe it or not.  It was recently purchased by Content Watch, which is the filter many businesses use.  I don't even notice it working (obviously) like previous products I have tried.  It was recommended by an wonderful sexual addiction counselor I know.

You don't want to have a hint of a little tummy showing. 6SSpiff

" Close your mind tightly.  You don't want to have a hint of a little tummy showing.  You might go to hell.   I'm glad I don't live that way."

Spiff, you don't go to hell for what you do, looking at tummys etc, one goes for the one thing they do not do.  That one thing is accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

"But first and foremost comes the evangelical message that we are sinners incapable and unwilling on our own to live up to God's holy standard and Christ is the only atoning sacrifice for our sin. That's the message. The (world) media confuse it to think that we preach moral restraint and good works as a means to salvation, rather than fruit thereof."   Ken Shepherd

Ah, but as the old saynig goes...

The grass may look greener on the other side of that thar fence, but it still needs fertilizin'.

I had a poster in my college dorm, hot chick in a bikini, that had something to this affect underneath; "Just remember, even she's got a guy sitting at home who is sick of her shit from time to time."

Was the best-looking person

Was the best-looking person you ever had sex with the one who was best at it?

I gotta admit, some of the best sex I ever had was not with the prom queen, though that sex was memorable. All sex at that age tended to be, as little as there was at the time with another person in the room with me when it took place, if you know what I'm saying...and I think you do.

Yes, shake your dust so all

Yes, shake your dust so all us sinners can start sneezing.

bal you funny:)

lol ya damn heathen!

 Can't remember the

 Can't remember the specific Proverb that says "As a dog returns to his own vomit so a fool returns to his folly."

"If you don't read a newspaper, you are uninformed. If you do read a newspaper, you are mis-informed."-Mark Twain

 2 Peter

 2 Peter 2:21-22 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=68&chapter=2&verse=21&end_verse=22&version=31&context=context

Prov. 26:11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov.%2026:11;&version=31;

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. Marcus Aurelius

This whole tact is about

This whole tact is about splitting off an individual aspect of behavior from moral responsibility (church/faith purview) in public life. The idea here is to peel off every behavior or life activity until your participation at Church or faith is meaningless to the world around you.  A person's faith or belief system influences and dictates how they approach and handle life, anyone who says different is being deceptive or disingenuous.  I won't speak for other religions, as a Christian if your faith does not consistently reflect your works then you aren't a Christian, period. We are not talking about isolated failings from consistency, we are talking about practicing what you preach.  Christianity is not some academic or metaphysical exercise. This is the same baloney about separating Church and State. 

This tactic is nothing new:  Abortion, homosexuality, politics, government job, etc. We should not be surprised at the behavior of a non religious person who does not comprehend the relevance of faith to their life.  It just means they need to get saved.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. Marcus Aurelius

What does it matter what

What does it matter what people watch in their own homes?

 

 

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Well I've heard that

Well I've heard that watching child porn at home is a crime...not sure why...what do you think?

Because

As was said in the early days of computers:

"Garbage in, garbage out"

Of course not child porn

 You don't seriously believe I am defending kiddie porn? 

 

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to many people it's ok - so

to many people it's ok - so are you fine with trying to push your morals on them but not fine with me pushing my morals against all porn on you:)? Just wondering how that works with you...

TruthMonger

What morals have I pushed?  I just said I wasn't talking about kiddie porn.  If somebody wants to engage with a child, that isn't just immoral, its sick and worthy of life detention and/or death. 

 

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morals you are

morals you are pushing:

If somebody wants to engage with a child, that isn't just immoral, its sick and worthy of life detention and/or death. 

that is how i see all porn

so what's the difference between you and I here?

CHILD My mic MUST be broken....

Defenseless child versus consenting adults.  Nice to know you would kill me for viewing  porn.  Wow.  I am all for killing terrorists, but not porn viewers, and pot smokers.  There is obviously something wrong with an individual viewing child porn.  The same thing that's wrong with shooting somebody.  One party is not given a chance.

 

As an aside, what about hunting for pleasure?  Do you eat all of your kills?  If not, are you immoral?

 

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ah yes as the argument

ah yes as the argument crumbles in comes the rhetoric

yes i want to kill you (sigh)

what is it about age that protects you from exploit exactly - are we not all defenseless against sexual perversion - are not you and i case in point here?

is my mic on? can anyone else hear me?

What is it about age? Well,

What is it about age? Well, wisdom, knowledge, self-awareness.

Surely you don't think you have the same sensibilities as a 9-year-old? Or...DO YOU. (gasp!) ;-)

correct me if im wrong bal

so I'm 17 years and 11 months - I am defenseless and exploitable

in 2 months i am impervious to all harm

(gasp)

correct me if im wrong bal

How old are you bal - you sound about 9 to me so far...

Zing! 18 is a general

Zing!

18 is a general mark. For others it comes sooner, for others it comes later. 18 is safe.

and 18 means absolutely

and 18 means absolutely nothing in terms of vulnerability or morality - for everyone - regardless of brain power...

Yes it does. It means by

Yes it does. It means by that time you should be able to take care of yourself, be responsible for yourself, which is why you can vote, fight in a war, etc.

"should" being the operative

"should" being the operative word here:)

OR.... Suffer the consequences

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Rhetoric?

How is that rhetoric?  You specifically said you think my choice of punishment should cover ALL PORN.   So how about that hunting question?  I know a lot of people here hunt defenseless animals, and not all get consumed.  What's God's moral opinion on that?  I own many guns.  Inanimate objects are all of my targets.  By your 'inadvertant advocation' argument you are doing the same by shooting animals.  Where does it stop?  Won't you someday be curious as to what shooting a human would feel like?  Of course not because most people have self control and wont engage in murder. 

Rhetoric....   please

 

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more rhetoric

yes how wrong i was - thanks

the wages of sin is death but i ain't doing the killing my friend - I leave that up to the allmighty

and what does God think of killing animals for fun?

ask him yourself i guess - i ain't got a clue:)

I don't think He likes it one bit

Maybe because children were

Maybe because children were exploited/abused to make it !!

what about all the young

what about all the young adults who are exploited and then discarded to make the rest of the porn out there? any concerns for them at all?

2 Words

Consenting adults.  I believe this is all done in contracts. 

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so once you're 18 that

so once you're 18 that makes you un-exploitable

that's a new one on me

No...

When you are 18, it's up to your own dumbass not to engage in those things

 

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18 - the "magical" age - for

18 - the "magical" age - for some unknown reason...

Is this thing on?

Hello?  Is this thing on?  I am not talking about child pornography.  I don't believe anybody here brought up CP and defended it, so move back to legal porn. 

 

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thanks to enablers like you

thanks to enablers like you cp will be legal soon - you can read my posts as well correct? Is my PC on?

My personal experience

My personal experience tells me that "cp" isn't as important to the government as certain political agendas...
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.

interesting - yes cp is not

interesting - yes cp is not exactly a major concern that's for sure

Child porn will not be legal....

CP will never be legal.  That is just rediculous.   Can we get off of CP and back onto LEGAL porn?  There must be a difference if CP gets brought up every single time.  It must be different, otherwie it would not get the attention it is getting right now.  Who started the whole kiddie porn topic anyway?  

 

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You are correct.

You are correct.

gay marriage will never be

gay marriage will never be legal - that is just ridiculous...

-anonymous quote circa 1983

People voting Arnold

People voting Arnold Schwarzenegger in as governor, that's ridiculous.

1999, approx.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in as

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a governor?!?!

Next you'll be telling me he's a Republican!

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Next up...legal beastiality

Next up...legal beastiality coming to a town near you. 

Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html

And DOWN the slope we go!

And DOWN the slope we go!

or floating down

or floating down denial!

it aint just a river in egypt anymore:).

beastiality

Do you know ANYBODY who doesn't immediately denounce the individual caught with CP, or bangin a sheep?  Let's be real here.

 

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that's how it used to be

that's how it used to be with your so-called "regular" porn too

so what the hell happened?

I said legal, not regular.

People became less prudish and realized it's only nature.  I don't know.  I guess the envelope has to be pushed until there is more regulation, which is inevitable.   Why was the drinking age pushed up? 

 

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child porn prudes:(

so when do you hypocritical people stop being prudes about cp? can you give me a time frame on it?

Probably about the time the

Probably about the time the Earth starts spinning in the other direction...

Funny, I heard that was

Funny, I heard that was going to happen if Hillary became president. What a cowinkydink.

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Oh, yes, if HRC is elected,

Oh, yes, if HRC is elected, the river's will turn to blood, people will be having sex with goats in the streets.

AND LOVING IT!! --Maxwell

AND LOVING IT!!

--Maxwell Smart.

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Truthbetold

What are you talking about?  Saying CP wil lbe legal is like say murder will be legal.  I think CP is rape.  Rape and murderers need to die.  I can't tell you what other people will think, but I highly doubt CP will be voted on and legalized.  Would you get a grip? 

 

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help bal!

can anyone here plese lend me a grip - bal maybe?

hey get off that goat bal!

Sorry, getting a grip, much

Sorry, getting a grip, much like getting a clue and self-realization, can only be achieved through self-induced profound revelations of the true nature of the world. As Bagger Vance said, everyone has one true swing, and they alone must find it.

(double take) (awe struck

(double take)

(awe struck by another's wisdom - its fun! try it)

Saying CP wil lbe legal is

Saying CP wil lbe legal is like say murder will be legal.

Well, we ARE at war you know.

there you go - see spiff?1

there you go - see spiff?!

TM

Gee Truth...  Gave up arguing and started with the chickles eh?  Balboa and I have made some very good points which you chose to ignore for whatever reason.  I highly suspect it is because you 'found' somebody.    ...or thing 

 

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yah you won all

yah you won all right

legend in your own mind

War, Murder, and Balboa.

Balboa, I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not.  I am a proponent for mowing down the filth known as the al Qaeda insurgents in Iraq.  I believe that is self defense.  However, thinking back to the DC sniper shootings, those people were just insane and deserved to die.  Very slowly.  You do see a difference here, right? 

 

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Being sarcastic. :-)

Being sarcastic. :-)

Cool

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Same argument has been made

Same argument has been made for prostitution, marijuana, abortion, etc, etc...

Conservatives noted the same issues when leftists argued for no-fault divorces. The right, correctly, argued that legalizing no-fault divorces would show an enormous increase in marriages being broken up. Little did even their argument see the sheer volume of societal problems that it caused in its wake. Some states make divorces as simple as handing back your class ring was in high school.

You guys are arguing a slippery slope. Every inch ever given was immediately questioned as 'prudish' and looked beyond. That's a fact.

Are you sure?

Are you sure? How did Hugh Hefner make a huge fortune, if not for "regular" soft-core porn in Playboy? People feel differently about the idea of a depiction of sex between consenting adults than they do about depictions the sexual exploitation of kids by adults, and rightly so. Children's brains are different, not just their bodies.

I have seen the regular porn business, and it's not anything like the pure evil of exploiting children, even if it's not everyone's (or really my) cup of tea. Just the titles of this stuff should constitute proof that these people often have a pretty good sense of humor. Prepare (perhaps with your own sense of humor, if not logic and history) to hear something politically-incorrect:

Porn is also the only reason you ever saw a high speed internet, a VCR, or a DVD, because the porn business (go to their immense conventions in Vegas if you doubt me) is always at the forefront of early-adopter high technology. We're talking about the power of free enterprise, and it's quite impressive at times (beyond the girls' good looks) what that can accomplish in a free & highly-competitive marketplace.

I very much wish I could say all I knew about this subject of actually-stopping child-porn. It's indeed a scandal of evil of a sort even beyond what you might see on "Dateline NBC" with the various predator guys, but I can't at this time. :( I can say the news media often tend towards laziness, cluelessness & emotion over fact on this issue. The issue of actually stopping child porn requires real journalism -- a rare commodity these days...
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.

I have seen the regular

I have seen the regular porn business, and it's not anything like the pure evil of exploiting children

You ain't seen the porn biz, sarc...

Here's a nice tame one for ya (warning - dispicable "regular porn" images):

 

TM I 'd get that link off if I were you

Mastheads will remove it and maybe you

 

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just let em try:)

just let em try:)

its just good ol regular porn - no big deal

looks like they got it

looks like they got it indeed

FYI free speech lovers it was a link to a rape porn site - and there's plenty more "regular" porn where that came from - nothing disgusting like cp - just good ol wholesome incest, beastiality, S&M, mutilation, exploited drunk girls, girls doing porn for rent money, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc...

Truthmonger's paintbrush SPIFF back for more

 Ah, I see TM has broken out the Aristotelian paintbrush.

A small number of sickos enjoy Rape, Bestiality, etc..   Those things can be found on very few porn websites.  Therefore, all porn viewers must enjoy those things. 

WRONG. 

Question:

In what name has MILLIONS of people been killed under?

Answer:

Religion.  I don't go around saying all religion is bad.  As I have stated numerous times on this very thread.

 

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Q: In what name has MILLIONS of people been killed under?

A: Atheism. Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Hitler . . .

and porn

and porn