During the recent Clergy Congress, Elizabeth Ministry International Retreat and Resource Center, located in Kaukauna, made a presentation about local efforts to bring awareness to the problems of addiction to pornography and its devastating effects on men, women, youth and families.continue at The Compass
We are in the midst of a world-wide pandemic that is claiming the physical, spiritual, emotional and social lives of many millions of people. It is destroying marriages and devastating families. It separates individuals from God and is at the polar opposite of everything that brings true peace and happiness. What is this pandemic? Pornography and its primary delivery system is the Internet!
North American statistics indicate that porn makes more money than Hollywood at the box office; more than the sum of NBC's, CBS's and ABC's revenues; more than the music industry generates from record sales; and more than all major professional sports in the United States combined. It is estimated that 60 percent of Christian men and 30 percent of Christian women are addicted to pornography.
In 56 percent of divorces in the United States "an obsessive interest in Internet pornography" was a significant factor. A survey conducted among U.S. Christians revealed that 50 percent of men and 20 percent of women struggled with pornography use. Fifty-one percent of pastors say Internet porn is a temptation and 37 percent say it is a current struggle. Every year, millions of Christians are caught off guard and become hopelessly addicted.
Pornography undermines human dignity. It goes against God's plan for the body and the intimacy of sexual union in marriage. We must learn more about this scourge and its effects on families and offer concrete ways to offer hope and healing.
It's very important to understand that those who become trapped in pornography addiction and other unwanted sexual behaviors are not evil, broken or a lost cause. In fact, the profile of an Internet pornography addict is intelligent, sensitive and spiritual. There's a logical brain-science explanation behind their struggles. Pornography viewing triggers the brain into releasing a tidal wave of internal chemicals, including dopamine, endorphins, norepinephrine and more. The effect on the brain is very similar to street drug use, and can quickly create a literal "chemical dependency."
In reality, Internet pornography is electronic cocaine. These are good, valuable human beings who have developed a dependency on an extremely powerful brain-chemical-releasing activity for escape, self-medication and pleasure. This is not unlike an addiction to alcohol, drugs, food or any other personal "drug of choice."
It is fantastic to see His Excellency tackle publicly this issue!
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