Pornography: A Christian crisis or overblown issue?
A sweeping study by Barna Group released yesterday showed that pornography usage has become less taboo among Americans, has morphed in the digital age, effects both men and women, and is prevalent among Christians and non-Christians alike. The number of Christians viewing pornography virtually mirrors the national average. Religion's critics charge that conservative Christianity has become sex-obsessed, placing a disproportionate amount of influence on topics like abstinence, sexual orientation, and pornography. These judgments are not altogether invalid. Conservative Christians' responses to the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 70s have often bordered on paranoia.And yet, the pornography industry undeniably contributes to many social ills, including the objectification of women and the exploitation of children and teenagers. These matters deserve our serious attention.