LDS Church vs. Porn...what happens if we lose?

[_Maxrep]

I think that porn will go the way of teachings on birth control or oral sex. They won't repudiate the former teachings, they will just stop talking about and try to bury the old references. Like talking about the Heavenly Mother or damnation for suicides, the brethren will discourage even bringing up the topic.

But by this time, the Church will continue its slow decline into a backwoods church that is a heaven for arm chair survivalists and wheat collectors.

Completely agree. The church has no power over societal changes.

It has become quite common among teen girls, to send picture messages of themslves to boys in their social circles, schools, etc. It goes without saying that they are not always fully clothed.

It is a new generation that has other facets of social interaction that we just can't relate to immediately, as we didn't experience it.

[_The Nehor]

I think that porn will go the way of teachings on birth control or oral sex. They won't repudiate the former teachings, they will just stop talking about and try to bury the old references. Like talking about the Heavenly Mother or damnation for suicides, the brethren will discourage even bringing up the topic.

But by this time, the Church will continue its slow decline into a backwoods church that is a heaven for arm chair survivalists and wheat collectors.

Completely agree. The church has no power over societal changes.

No, the Church has no such power. God does. Society has collapsed before. I see no reason he can't or won't let it happen again.

I also find it disgusting that you're willing to accept the changes you mentioned.

[_Dr. Shades]

LDS Church vs. Porn...what happens if we lose?

If we lose, then we'll have to get our porn elsewhere.

. . . from my experience, a lot of people I dealt with when I was in leadership positions struggled with masturbation and porn.

Did you teach them the proper techniques so they would no longer struggle?

[_moksha]

Three possible solutions:

1. Not to overreact. Mainstream to liberal Christian Churches do not pin their entire concept of morality on human sexuality. They actually see masturbation as a normal biological process for bodies which God created.

2. React. Start required attendance for the 12 step program as outlined by Jason, for Mormons from 14 to 30 living in America.

3. Overreact. Require all LDS males from 14 to 50 to take regular shots of Depo Provera, to remove their sexual desires.

[_Sam Harris]

I think that one of the best ways of dealing with this would be for the Brethren to share their own, personal experiences in struggling and overcoming their issues with porn and masturbation.

I think, generally, LDS are discouraged from sharing any past experiences with sin and repentance. And I'm sure such an anecdote would quickly make the young men put 2+2 and realize they can sin now and become an apostle later.

No they're not. Because you have confess past sins, ALL of them in order to have a temple recommend. I was coerced into "confessing" being in an intimate relationship that happened a year before I sat before that bishop. He asked that I not take the sacrament for another year.

And why not sin and still become an apostle? Here's a song I like:

We fall down but we get up,
We fall down but we get up,
We fall down but we get up,
For a saint is just a SINNER who fell down and got up.

Those men in those pulpits are not perfect.

[_Sam Harris]

If Christianity in general would stop making sex out to be such a taboo and realize that even those who abstain until marriage are still sexual beings, a lot would change.

Far too many Christian churches expect individuals to just shut down until their wedding night, and that is just not realistic. Sexuality isn't a switch you turn on after marriage.

Because of the fact that it is discouraged to talk about or in some cases express your sexuality before marriage (and who feels comfortable going there with your parents? Have you seen that show "Sex with Mom and Dad on MTV? Oh my hell!), many people go into marriage not knowing how to communicate their needs and desires sexually. They're afraid of getting the same judgment from their spouse that they've gotten from their church, so they wait until honey is asleep at night, and get all their answers (and perks) on the internet.

[_antishock8]

I think as Leftists continue to make themselves available to Islamists, and as Christians see their pews empty out over the next few decades the Internet is in serious danger of being "moralized". Pornography will be deemed a "disease", and attempts to eradicate it will be under way. The Soviet Union, for example, mandated women wear skirts at one point to increase their appeal to men, and thus raise Soviet birthrates. The point is it isn't uncommon for Socialists/Progressives to suspend their "enlightened" ways and force "traditional" values on the state whenever they feel the urge. Couple that with traditionalists clamoring to convert the masses and you have a serious threat to Internet pornography, privacy, commerce, etc...

So. What happens when we lose Internet pornography? Well, if we lose that we'll have most likely lost print pornography, too. Sex will continue to be misogynized, and the Patriarchy, whether it be religious or political will continue to exercise control over women and reproduction (not to mention everyone's sexuality). I don't think it's the State's right to regulate morality, and if pornography isn't hurting anyone, literally, then it isn't the State's business to get into bed with religious organizations. One man's morality is another man's Taliban.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Antishock,

Interesting post.

One problem I see with your possible scenario, the porn business is too profitable.

Seems to me, the one thing more important to (religious) men than God is power (money).

So long as wealthy and powerful men in the world can make money off of porn it will thrive; Muslim, Mormon, Catholic, doesn't matter.

What do you think?

~td~

[_DarkHelmet]

Completely agree. The church has no power over societal changes.

No, the Church has no such power. God does.

God doesn't have much power over societal change either. God was pressured into caving to society's demands on polygamy and priesthood for the negroes. He eventually even allowed negroes into his holy temples to marry his white women and intermingle their seed with his chosen people. If you go back and look at the things God said about the negroes, it was a lot harsher than what he has to say about pornography today.

[_Mercury]

Step one: Decry a RECENTLY common practice as sinful (Porn has recently become much, much more common)
Step 2: Punish those who sin (including telling them not to pay tithing in many excommunication cases, possibly making the Church poorer).
Step 3: Hope for repentance from those who sin.

Fixed for accuracy.

No, not accuracy. You fixed it to fit your narrowmindedness.