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Churches confront an 'elephant in the pews' (porn addiction)
Christian Science Monitor ^ | 8/25/05 | Jane Lampman

Posted on 08/24/2005 2:59:33 PM PDT by Crackingham

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To: Crackingham
There is freedom:

Setting Captives Free

It works.

21 posted on 08/24/2005 3:22:34 PM PDT by Skooz ("Political Correctness is the handmaiden of terrorism" - Michelle Malkin)
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To: JRios1968
Do they count DU as porn, is the big question...

Like votes, it depends on who gets to do the counting.

22 posted on 08/24/2005 3:27:06 PM PDT by tacticalogic (Say goodnight, Grace.)
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To: Crackingham

This and they are really sick.

I now know I have reached my maximum here and have to go get some sleep and afterward, a break.

Very sick (not FR, but this article as are those who are described therein).


23 posted on 08/24/2005 3:29:39 PM PDT by BIRDS
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To: bobbdobbs
Say what you will about porn, but it is cheaper than marriage and divorce.

Really?

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his very soul?

Porn is selfish and self obsorbed..

24 posted on 08/24/2005 3:38:11 PM PDT by Mister_Diddy_Wa_Diddy
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To: Crackingham
For years, churches were in denial about the scope of the problem, but the toll on marriages, careers, and faith communities has grown, Christian leaders say.

Yeah, and conservative churches were in denial about divorce for decades, too.  They're getting better, but there are a lot of divorced couples out there who could have worked things out if they had had a competent Christian counselor before things got too bad.

 

And it involves not only congregants, but pastors.  In a 2001 survey published in Leadership Journal, 37 percent of pastors said pornography was a struggle for them, and 51 percent admitted it was a temptation.

All but the most backwoods preacher has Internet access these days.  Why wouldn't they be tempted along with everyone else?  They work alone all day for the most part, don't they?  And like other people in the "helping" professions, they spend so much time ministering to other people, sometimes they don't take enough time for themselves.  And has anyone here besides me ever seen some of the dysfunctional environments these guys have to work in (and under)?  I've seen so many church elders on a Power Trip it's not even funny.  You couldn't pay me a million dollars to be a preacher.

 

"Wherever I am ... and no matter what the denomination, at least half of the men in the church admit to being sexually addicted," he says.

Oh, hogwash. What's his definition of being "sexually addicted," not being able to resist the temptation to visit a porn site every once in a while?  I wish people would leave that phrase for the most hard-core cases instead of throwing it around so easily.

25 posted on 08/24/2005 3:40:07 PM PDT by Nita Nupress
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To: Crackingham

Hey, It's only internet porn. It's not like we had to pass the temples of Apthrodite and Diana with their holy prostitutes every day as the first century Christians had too. Now, that was temptation!

Besides, the mousetraps, hijacked home pages, trojan horses and virus and other asorted nasties should keep most away!

What we need is some internet pennicillin.


26 posted on 08/24/2005 3:40:28 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Islam, the religion of the criminally insane.)
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To: Crackingham

I don't know, abortion is permanent. Death is final. Porn addiction can be overcome.


27 posted on 08/24/2005 3:41:35 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (The repenting soul is the victorious soul)
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To: Ronzo
There sermons are so lame I hate going to church anymore.

You should try one of the Reformed churches, Orthodox Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church in America)PCA), Reformed Church of America, Dutch Reformed, Reformed Baptist, Primative Baptist, etc. The sermons have substance, and church is not a show, but is where we, by appointment go to meet with God in worship and adoration.

28 posted on 08/24/2005 3:42:20 PM PDT by Mister_Diddy_Wa_Diddy
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To: Ronzo

once church becomes just a religious social club, you've become the ELCA.


29 posted on 08/24/2005 3:49:55 PM PDT by Rakkasan1 (DON'T BICKER, DRINK LIQUOR-DON'T THINK, JUST DRINK.)
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To: Mister_Diddy_Wa_Diddy

(Ahem.) You will note that he stated his reasons why he can't leave the church congregation he attends, Mr. Calvinist proselytizer.


30 posted on 08/24/2005 3:50:42 PM PDT by The Grammarian
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To: The Grammarian

I noted his reasons. However, as the spiritual leader of his home, he has an obligation to have his family in a church that failthfully preaches the Gospel and God's entire Word, employs church discipline, properly administers the sacraments and worships God in spirit and truth.


31 posted on 08/24/2005 3:54:34 PM PDT by Mister_Diddy_Wa_Diddy
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To: Fitzcarraldo

The problem isn't a need for a pill. The problem is our culture, and our culture is a reflection of our weak families, and our weak families are a reflection of self-centered individuals. When you have people who live and breathe self-gratification from day one, this is what you get. Moms and dads allow television, video games, etc. to raise their children. Then they hand them over to the gov't who teaches them perversity diversity. Morality is treated as a bad thing, and virtue is no longer valued. To be virtuous is to be naive and judgmental. So what else is there? The saddest part of all is that this is also true in most churches. They sold their souls to the god of worldly desires and materialism a long time ago. To be a good Christian is to embrace worldiness and never speak of sin or God's judgment. The church is to entertain and tickle the ears of sinners. The gospel according to Hollywood produces people addicted to porn. That shouldn't surprise anyone.


32 posted on 08/24/2005 3:56:09 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (The repenting soul is the victorious soul)
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later pingout.


33 posted on 08/24/2005 3:56:36 PM PDT by little jeremiah (A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, are incompatible with freedom. P. Henry)
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To: Fitzcarraldo

Of course, even when individuals and families want to raise responsible citizens, the courts won't allow it. So in the end, in our case, I think the culture is a reflection of the courts and our black robed rulers.


34 posted on 08/24/2005 4:00:11 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (The repenting soul is the victorious soul)
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To: The Grammarian

Also, as a father, it is his supreme responsibility that he insure that his children are raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord, that they are being fed spiritually, regardless of any social benefits associated with a poor teaching church.


35 posted on 08/24/2005 4:03:03 PM PDT by Mister_Diddy_Wa_Diddy
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To: Crackingham

Say what you will about porn, it's better than being cheated on.


36 posted on 08/24/2005 4:04:55 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (Ew. This tastes like a monkey. A monkey that's past his prime. "Chris Griffin")
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To: PeteB570

"I figure my religion is between me and the "Big Guy"



Big Guy? Andre the Giant?


37 posted on 08/24/2005 4:07:38 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (Ew. This tastes like a monkey. A monkey that's past his prime. "Chris Griffin")
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To: Crackingham

A teen oral sex craze and hardcore porn in every home. The Clinton-Reno legacy.


38 posted on 08/24/2005 4:41:18 PM PDT by spycatcher
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To: Mister_Diddy_Wa_Diddy
You should try one of the Reformed churches, Orthodox Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church in America)PCA), Reformed Church of America, Dutch Reformed, Reformed Baptist, Primative Baptist, etc. The sermons have substance, and church is not a show, but is where we, by appointment go to meet with God in worship and adoration.

Thanks for the help MisterD; I've been there and done that back in my younger days...grew up in a town dominated by the Dutch Reformed. Also attended Moody B.I. for a while...

While I do appreciate the solid teaching of the various Reformed churches and there very serious attitude about Christianity, I'm no fan of Calvinism. I appreciate the tremendous contributions of the reformed movement, but there are certain issues I have with some it's theology and interpretations. But I'm not about to turn this thread into a discussion about theology, so if you want to find out more, just Freepmail me...

However, even if the best Reformed church in the universe were right across the street from me, still the wife & kids would be loath to change churches....

39 posted on 08/24/2005 4:41:35 PM PDT by Ronzo (GOD created the universe to keep scientists fully employed...)
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To: trubluolyguy

The "Big Guy" up there. Like all around and in everything and everywhere. Him the only one. I could get into the three in one stuff but hey, I'm a heathen at heart.

I don't throw salt over my shoulder, get out of the way of black cats, knock on trees to hear the little people talk or any other strange stuff.

I'm just me and it drives my preacher nuts.


40 posted on 08/24/2005 4:45:35 PM PDT by PeteB570
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