Posted on 01/18/2013 6:56:42 PM PST by Morgana
LATROBE, PA, January 18, 2013, (Cardinal Newman Society) -- Seventy percent of 18-24 year-old males visit porn sites monthly.
Thats not just a frightening number. Thats an epidemic of pornography that is likely going on at college campuses all throughout the country even Catholic colleges.
Jason King, chair of the theology department at Saint Vincents College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, wrote about the accessibility and damage of pornography in his latest piece at Catholic Moral Theology. King summed up the situation well when he wrote that people used to have to exert an effort to view pornography. Now you have to exert an effort to not view it.
King provided further scary statistics about the viewing of pornography and its effects:
The best estimates indicate that 77 percent of Americans view pornography at least once a month. 75-77 percent of males have downloaded porn in their lives. 20 percent of males consciously abstain from viewing pornography. 47 percent of women believe pornography harms relationships while 33 percent of men said the same. 33 percent of all Americans believe that pornography will not harm a relationship. During a six-week experiment the statement, marriage is an important institution, was affirmed by 60 percent of men who viewed no pornography during that period, but only 39 percent of those exposed to heavy viewing of pornography during the same period affirmed the same statement.
The best advice King could offer is dont start viewing pornography, install internet filters, and look to Gods love.
I would probably despair of this situation except for two things. First, practically, the beginning of a solution to this problem is simple: stop (or do not start) viewing pornography. If help is needed with this, there are countless effective and free filters available for routers. This one was recommended to me by two of my tech savvy friends.
Secondly, theological, God made us such that in our hearts we desire much more than what pornography offers; we desire to love and to be loved. This is the heart of the Churchs sexual teaching: that sex should always be life-giving, not destructive, dominating, violent, or commercialized. This is why the metaphor Jesus frequently uses for Heaven is the wedding banquet, friends and family singing, dancing, and eating in the celebration of love. Pornography cannot ultimately compete with this joy for which God made us.
Saint Vincents, where King teaches, announced in 2008 that it was placing internet filters on its computer network to block student access to pornography and gambling websites. It was controversial at the time.
You can read Jason King at Catholic Moral Theology.
Anyone with the vaguest realistic understanding of the actual human condition since, well, the evolution of humans (male humans in particular) isn’t somehow shocked the figure is as high as 70% for 18-24 year old males; they recognize almost all of the remaining 30% lied to the survey takers out of embarrassment. For anyone left, they probably have some sort of medical or mental condition.
We live in a society where for a variety of reasons getting married before 24 is generally frowned upon. Even if you don’t agree that it’s unrealistic to expect 18-24 year old men to abstain from sex; it’s silly to the point of absurdity to expect them not to look at any porn at all.
You’re trying to apply a set of sexual moral standards from when people were getting married at 15 or 16; we’re never, ever going to go back to that.
And actually what porn is probably replacing is prostitution; back in the “good old moral days” that was rampant, despite whatever you might imagine.
That’s not 70% of Americans.
...and I’m up to the year 2137.
I've seen R Movies....TV is much worse...especially with the gay agenda at work.
That was my first thought too. But, one stat is for Americans viewing any porn (including Fifty Shades of Pervy) while the other is for 18-24 males of unspecified nationality viewing porn online. I guess a lot of the 18-24 year old males are going old school with DVDs and magazines.
People!
I am ashamed to be part of a group of folks who...
...cannot do simple math.
77% would leave 23% not 33% and not 30%.
Why are you bring reason into this fun thread....You are ruining it....lol.
if this overall “estimate” for men is correct and actually refers to hardcore), its a disaster for men in America. the crap on tv is bad enough, too (really if you’re still watching any tv and it’s unfiltered for content, you’re destroying your mind).
i pray God that that number among all men is just wrong. among young men, i believe it. 4 out of 5 sounds about right for young men (it is unfortunately impossible to avoid in your 20’s). but if you’re wasting time and money pursuing it and you haven’t discovered the corruption it’s working on your soul and your sexuality by the time you’re preparing to start a family. i think you’re headed for big trouble as a man. as for women, i sure wish they’d stop letting themselves be used to corrupt our young men. i guess that’s a pipe dream.
I was gonna say:
Once a month?????
That’s it!?
If someone is using money to access porn they're doing it wrong.
thank God, i haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.
This story is about men but the real story is the increase in women watching porn - Sun article states 66% of women watch porn.... that surprises me... but I’m old.
You're omniscient? I haven't viewed any since college, 30 years ago.
Yep.
Damn! I was sure Obama had his face on TV more than once a month!
Film footage of him on the golf course does not count.
For me, 32-33 years, I'd say.
And there is no citation of how they came up with these numbers.
They are referring to young males....which for the older set I am sure you hid Playboy or some such in your rooms ( or maybe had them out to be seen by everyone). Men are very visual. The so called data do not describe what is meant by ‘pornography’. This is just so much blather
No wonder we have such a weak nation!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.