To intentionally view pornography is a mortal sin, for Jesus taught that to lust after another is the equivalent of doing the act itself. Pornography is a misuse of another human person, most especially by those who profit upon it but also those who view it, who make, reduce and manipulate the person into someone to be misused. It is a dark and sinister world, often tied to other forms of crime, and Christians must have nothing to do with pornography. It has infiltrated our homes, wrecked marriages and families and ruined careers. Satan must be quite pleased with the success he has had, in bringing pornography so readily into homes and the workplace.
Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.
I was actually meaning softcore porn that doesn’t involve acts of intimacy but simple nudity. The greeks seemed to have a belief that form was beautiful (I guess it depends on what beauty is) in their displays. But I’m not familiar with their philosophy. Ony Summa and it was based on Aristotle.From the CCC 2354:
Aside from considerations of true art- making, critiquing, etc, which I am well aware exist and for some is no issue, what on earth are you trying to accomplish by what Greek philosophy was in regards to nudity?I was actually meaning softcore porn that doesn’t involve acts of intimacy but simple nudity. The greeks seemed to have a belief that form was beautiful (I guess it depends on what beauty is) in their displays. But I’m not familiar with their philosophy. Ony Summa and it was based on Aristotle.
Bill
Yes.Is pornography a sin? Does it lead to sin? Is the viewer’s subjective thoughts and imagination concerning this sinfull?
Backing up to #2354:Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices
You’re focusing on the lack of real or simulated sexual acts… but, your description of soft-core still consists of simulation, whether it be between two people or not. The very act of being disrobed on screen is meant to not only simulate the idea of a nude person being an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others, but to stimulate one to sin via lust.Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other.** It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others.** It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.
Page 223, though, contains the real coup de grâce, and is very inspiring:Immoral books, magazines, and newspapers. Many are in attractive garb, but enkindle the passions and do harm.
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5. Indecent shows, pictures, games. Bad shows, whether on the stage or in the films, corrupt more subtly than immoral conversation, because what one sees leaves a stronger impression. Moreover, bad shows represent evil in attractive garb
Wage the internal battle against the flesh, brother in Christ, for surrendering your chastity to your desires is to surrender to your enemy’s greatest asset against your soul.St. Catherine of Siena was severely tempted against purity. Shortly after Our Lord appeared to her. She asked, “Where wert Thou, Lord, when those evil thoughts were in my mind?” Jesus replied, "I was in thy heart, taking pleasure in the victorious battle thou wert waging."
The body of a woman in certainly beautiful, and thank God you feel attracted by it. However, WHY is that? WHY do you feel attaction to some parts of a woman’s body (that usually remain hidden)? The reason is: they are connected to procreation, they lead you to seek that woman in order to procreate. It is thus wrong to disconnect them from their purpose. If you look at a naked woman without a good reason, you’re commiting a grave sin.I was actually meaning softcore porn that doesn’t involve acts of intimacy but simple nudity. The greeks seemed to have a belief that form was beautiful (I guess it depends on what beauty is) in their displays. But I’m not familiar with their philosophy. Ony Summa and it was based on Aristotle.
Bill
OK I think you might be hitting on what I’m looking for. You “the body of a woman is certainly beautiful and thank god you feel attracted to it.” Then it is good that we are attracted to it. In god’s eyes. I agree this is a lower animal base desire. Now the question to me is “what is beauty” ?The body of a woman in certainly beautiful, and thank God you feel attracted by it. However, WHY is that? WHY do you feel attaction to some parts of a woman’s body (that usually remain hidden)? The reason is: they are connected to procreation, they lead you to seek that woman in order to procreate. It is thus wrong to disconnect them from their purpose. If you look at a naked woman without a good reason, you’re commiting a grave sin.
We all know this is hard, but you must really mortify your eyes and save them for your future spouse. And if you fail 1000 times, may you rise up other 1000 times, always with a greater trust in God’s power, and a deeper understanding of our own weakness.
Romans 7:21-2521 I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind and captivating me in the law of sin that is in my members. 24 Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 The grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with the mind serve the law of God: but with the flesh, the law of sin.
According to Aquinas, beauty is essentially due to:And also what is beauty? In god’s eyes which should be our own.
As far as an excuse to look at porn I don’t need one. I would simply do it. The fact that I am inquiring means I’m concerned.What are you wanting to know in relation to your OP?
I can’t see where you are going with this, outside of assuming it’s in search of an excuse to foster, rather than forsake, baser degrees of concupiscence- regardless of how well worded and litigious the excuse is, it seems you just want an excuse to look at porn.
Litigate with your flesh if you must; in the mean time, I don’t foresee word tricks and semantics as legitimate in a discussion on porn as it relates to fostering spirituality in the grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 7:21-25
Ok can you give me some references to summa on this? The three things you mentioned do not apply to a woman’s body or to music?According to Aquinas, beauty is essentially due to:
If you think carefully, the woman’s body parts which are usually “illicit” for one to see do not accomplish completely these three criteria, while, for example, a beautiful face does. We are attracted by a simmetrical, healthy face, with radiant eyes. Why? Because it is objectively beautiful. Why do men tend to be attracted to some other parts of a woman’s body? Because of our reproductive instinct.
- integrity;
- proportion;
- radiance.
It’s not wise thus to look a naked woman, as you will get aroused but won’t be able to accomplish the next logical step, that is, to procreate. Do this many times and you will be confused and unable to love a girl like you should.
And, if for nothing else, don’t do it for this simple reason: you’ll ruin your life. Here on earth and on eternity.
They do apply to a woman’s body. It is both beautiful and lovely. But there is more to a woman than her body. The problem here is dignity. When you look at a woman who has been reduced to nothing more than a ‘beautiful painting’ or ‘piece of art’ exposing her nakedness to your eyes and thoughts, you have taken away her dignity as someone created in God’s image. When a man looks at his wife in their room in the intimate act created by God for creating children, he has not reduced her to anything, because she is present. She is there with him and he is accepting all of her, as God intended for a married couple to do (two to become one.)Ok can you give me some references to summa on this? The three things you mentioned do not apply to a woman’s body or to music?
Bill
If sin did not feel good, why would ANYONE do it?What is the difference in delighting in say for example music and pornography. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to sin. I struggle with this sin and can see where it leads to other things. I am asking questions to understand. Viewing nudity and the pleasure obtained from that is not what things were originally to be about. But why is there so much pleasure in music and is it sin and lead to other things?