A non-religious community support group on Reddit.com has been taking a stand against their own personal use of pornography. For various reasons — usually because they recognize the negative effects it has had on their life — these Reddit users are voluntarily abstaining from using porn.
A survey was taken of these Reddit users and mixed with other research data gathered from various sources, and compiled into an interesting infographic that is featured on ProjectKnow.com.
From this infographic, there are at least five different non-religious reasons to avoid pornography.
5 Non-Religious Reasons to Avoid Pornography
1. Disinterest in Marital Sex
Viewing pornography creates the Coolidge Effect or novelty-seeking behavior. The effect is declined arousal with the same mate, and the only way to restore arousal, is by having different mates regularly. Porn trains the brain to continual newness. The effects, of course, often lead to infidelity or a complete lack of sexual interest towards ones spouse.
2. Lack of Control
1 in 5 people, who watch pornography regularly, admit they feel controlled by their sexual desires. Much like a drug user becomes powerless over their addiction, pornography seeps in and dominates every area of your life.
3. Never Satisfied
64% say the type of pornography they indulge in becomes increasingly extreme and deviant. When you consider these effects with the fact that people are viewing pornography at a younger age, the long-term results will only lead towards a broader spectrum of acceptable deviance — even within the Church.
4. Greater Risk of Sexual Dysfunction
Ironically enough, the more you sexualize yourself the more likely you are to be unable to be sexual. Among the 27-31 year olds surveyed, 19 percent suffer from premature ejaculation, 25 percent are disinterested in sex with their partner, 31 percent have difficulty reaching orgasm, and 34 percent experience erectile dysfunction. These are young men with these problems! Of these men surveyed, 60% felt sexual function improved after committing to no pornography.
5. Less Energy Levels and Productivity
67% felt an energy increase and felt more productive after they stopped using pornography.
But We’re Christians
I think it is easy for Christians to neatly place everything into a spiritual box and ignore the effects of the physical world. Sin leads to death, so the effects of sin will always have its deadly effects on those that indulge in it — no matter what that sin is. To learn about these natural negative effects of pornography should be no real surprise to believers, because Christians know that viewing pornography is sinful.
However, I think that it is particularly powerful when a non-religious group, like this Reddit group, is taking such a pro-active stand against pornography, solely on its natural effects.
This only amplifies the need for us to eradicate pornography from our life and the Church.
[via ProjectKnow.com | Image via Todo-Juanjo via Compfight cc]
Jose says
Great article, it’s great to see secular groups opening their eyes to the real affects of this.
Now it’s time to pray for the people that feel a conviction. Thanks Eric.
Eric Dye says
Thanks, Jose! So, true. 🙂
sh says
can you email me the group? we are currently working on this issue. it is so difficult.
S says
It’s called Nofap
http://www.reddit.com/r/NoFap/
as well as pornfree
http://www.reddit.com/r/pornfree/
Eric Dye says
Thanks, “S”! 😀
just no says
Tiny sample size, not at all representative. It’s a niche group where of course the respondents are going to have negative views on masturbation if they are subscribed to a ‘no masturbating’ subreddit.
But it’s absolutely normal to try and make boys feel that masturbation is something dirty and that they should be ashamed for it, when it’s entirely a natural urge.
Eric Dye says
I agree!
The sample size was small and the respondents had already made up their minds on the issue…however…these are people that are really wrestling with this issue face to face.
And you’re right about it being a “natural urge.” Sin is a very natural thing. It’s a part of our human nature. 🙂
sk says
They may well be “wrestling” with the issue, but if the participants in this sample are indeed pornography addicts or are uncomfortable with the amount they masturbate, then the point makes itself irrelevant, as all addicts “wrestle” with their addiction.
Just because some individuals are overcome with addiction for a certain thing, be it pornography, alcohol, video games or even shopping, it does not necessarily make the object of the addiction a bad thing. The real “issue” occurs when moderation is exceeded and an addiction becomes apparent. Until then, you shouldn’t condemn every other healthy human being who is not negatively affected by pornography and who are more than capable of having happy, fulfilling romantic relationships.
The arguments provided in favour of the “no porn” argument are also riddled with falsities, most prominently that masturbation decreases the quality of sex. It is common knowledge to most people now that masturbation is one of the most ideal ways to improve your enjoyment of sex, as it allows you to know your own body and how it reacts to different sensations – You cannot expect a partner to know their way around your body if you’re not sure of it yourself.
Of course I’m not belittling those who are attempting to abstain from or decrease the frequency of masturbation, on the contrary, if they have realised that they are suffering from an addiction or believe that they are close to crossing the line into addiction then it is a positive thing that they have taken preventative/corrective steps. However, this accepting, respectful attitude should be mirrored for those who are not addicts.
Referring to watching pornography as a “sin” and thereby calling those who engage in it “sinners” is highly patronising and slightly insulting.
Eric Dye says
Pornography is never healthy.
Jc Gibson says
it’s no mystery that pornography leaves and causes a warped sense of sexuality and everyone that partakes weather people want to admit it or not each one of us male or female possess an attribute within themselves and a sense of what is right and what is wrong so people can lie to themselves and say this is a natural act and its okay but the aftermath is devastating
sh says
yes, it is. i have 9yrs in a relationship like this and can attest to the devastation it’s caused everyone. i wish the one article i found was still active, it was on the effects of the addiction on the spouse specifically. finding that piece was in many ways relieving- it validated everything i had felt over the past 9 years, while everyone i had sought help from had said it was just me. the addiction is akin to emotional abuse. he was never engaged, never connected to me. could not meet my needs regardless of how much i watered them down. i almost killed myself 2 years ago, there was no self worth left. i just didn’t know what was going on until a couple weeks ago. he hid it very well. his addiction is embedded in a childhood trauma. i have nothing but empathy for him, but also am unable to continue the relationship under the current conditions without putting myself and our children at further risk. positive thoughts and prayers for my family if you can spare them, please.
Eric Dye says
So sad to hear. 🙁
#prayed
Karen says
my kindest thoughts and prayers for you. I broke off a fairly new relationship with someone who sat in front of the comp. totally transfixed for HOURS. I was so devastated and became depressed. I told him he had to leave. ! Miss him yet God does not want any of us to be disrespected. Best wishes dear.
Eric Dye says
You’re right, it’s no mystery at all…
Xathuron says
If I might interject, even from a non-religious standpoint the adage that “too much of anything is a bad thing” applies. Even though Christians and other Hebrew based faiths have viewed it as an immoral sin, they shouldn’t be so quick to take credit for any insight into this. That’s just stupid and arrogant. All morality is based on reason. It’s unreasonable to subject yourself to addictive behaviors that lead to these effects. You don’t need a bible to realize that, unless you’re actually stupid. I’m glad this article is trying to be unbiased, but the majority of Christians act like they know everything better than anyone. It makes them unappealing and their faith sound stuck up. For those of us who don’t believe in God, there are those among us who know how to have self control.