Defining porn as a whole

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I have been thinking lately, and I looked up the definition of porn on Google. What it gave me was that it is ‘sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.’ -Marium Webster dictionary. So my questions about that is: 1 so if there is something a little outside that, -doesn’t have the purpose or sexual arousal, and is just meant to be funny- would that not be considered porn and a mortal sin? 2 is seeing animals having sex porn and/or a sin? And if or if not so, why?
 
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Its always a grave matter because sexuality is very important part of your humanity. What is meant to be funny? You cant joke about sexual acts.
Why would you look at animals copulation? Their instincts tell them to do so, to procreate. Its only an action, they were created for that. I dont think its sinful but it depends on the conditions. I think its not sinful when you spot them wandering in the forest for example because its their nature to procreate. Maybe it will make you feel awkward. But watching them deliberately and even pleasuring yourself by that is immoral and disordered. Its my opinion only.
 
The Webster dictionary’s definition of pornography is insufficient. Here a better one, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2354 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.
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Any display of “real or simulated” sexual acts.
Therefore, jokes or memes which use sexual acts for the purpose of “humor” fall into this category.

In regards to the second question - animal sex:
Intrinsically, seeing this is not pornography, because copulation between animals (non humans) is not a conjugal act, not a sacred event. However, there are few legitimate reasons to pursue viewing of this material. If you’re viewing it for perverted reasons, it is obviously a sin.

It would certainly be permissible, however, when viewing it for reasons of science or education.
 
Jp2.0 said:
-doesn’t have the purpose or sexual arousal, and is just meant to be funny- would that not be considered porn and a mortal sin? 2 is seeing animals having sex porn and/or a sin? And if or if not so, why?
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technically speaking, images and writings that are not intended for sexual arousal are not 'pornography". However, it is not expedient for Christians to use this definition.

I am going to share some spiritual direction I received, and regret I cannot remember the souce!

The first step to making a decision is to pray: “God lead me and guide me. Purify my motives -
get rid of any selfishness or unrighteousness within me. I want to serve you in anything and
everything, putting you first! Help me open my heart and mind to the best way to think about this situation, even if it’s new to me.” Try to wait and listen to God’s voice throughout this process.

These are called the “6,8, 10 principles”

From 1 Corinthians, we can ask yourselves these questions:
  1. Is it good for me?
    I Cor. 6:12a “Everything is permissible for me”-- but not everything is beneficial.”
  2. Can it control me?
    I Cor. 6:12b "Everything is permissible for me-- but I will not be mastered by
    anything.”
a. Is it habit-forming?
What could the ripple effect of this choice be in my own life? What are the consequences
of this choice? Is it beneficial?
  1. Does it encourage someone to do something he thinks is wrong? Is it a stumbling
    block?
    I Cor. 8:12 “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their
    weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”
Will my actions cause someone else to stumble? What would be the ripple effect of this
decision on those around me?
  1. Does it glorify God?
    I Cor. 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
    glory of God.”
What is my motive for what I do?

What arouses an person is very individual. These principles are useful to apply to situations that differ from person to person. It may be that you can look at a comic and it does not lead you or others into sin (as defined by the 6,8, 10 principles). Yet, for another person, it might.
 
guanophore said:
technically speaking, images and writings that are not intended for sexual arousal are not 'pornography". However, it is not expedient for Christians to use this definition.
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See my above post for a more complete definition of pornography - I think you will agree that “images and writings that are not intended for sexual arousal” can indeed be pornography.
 
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dshix said:
See my above post for a more complete definition of pornography - I think you will agree that “images and writings that are not intended for sexual arousal” can indeed be pornography.
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You will not get an argument from me about that! I think the focus needs to be not so much on “definition” as how we respond to images and (name removed by moderator)ut. It is a great challenge to keep oneself pure in this culture with so many electronic sources of temptation!
 
OP, are these serious questions? Would a Christian amuse himself by watching sexual relations? Why would a Christian watch animal sexual relations, except perhaps if he is breeding animals?
 
I grew up on a farm ,worked on farms and learnt from my father never to be watching animals copulate.
I feel I am respecting Gods creation by averting my eyes.
 
Jokes with visual images could be porn. But a verbal joke that is impure isn’t porn. It is however gravely sinful since it is impure. Our thoughts should be pure. If our thoughts should be pure then it follows that so should our words and what we listen to.
dshix said:
Therefore, jokes or memes which use sexual acts for the purpose of “humor” fall into this category.
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If you mean graphic images such as drawings/cartoons I agree. Verbal jokes would just be more generally impure.
 
Just to make it clear, I am not suffering from this sin that I have made in this topic, I just made the topic because I don’t know a whole lot about it
 
I definitely agree. I would take the same approach.

But if there was a sufficient reason for me to view such a thing, I would not have moral qualms about it.
 
Jp2.0 said:
I have been thinking lately, and I looked up the definition of porn on Google. What it gave me was that it is ‘sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.’ -Marium Webster dictionary. So my questions about that is: 1 so if there is something a little outside that, -doesn’t have the purpose or sexual arousal, and is just meant to be funny- would that not be considered porn and a mortal sin? 2 is seeing animals having sex porn and/or a sin? And if or if not so, why?
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Catechism 2354 states about pornography that “It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world.” Consider that when we have charity for others, in both thought and deed, we treat them with dignity and due seriousness rather than for the purpose of having fun. This also should apply to ourselves, guarding our state of grace and consciousness of others, and social responsibility, rather than seeking a dark isolation and escapism in fantasy.
 
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I don’t think watching animals have sex is porn. That said, I have no idea why you’d want to watch that. 🤔
 
Growing up on a farm, I remember at around 14 my dad pointing at the bull while he was doing his job and dad said “that’s where calves get made. Humans do the same”

That was the extent of my sexual education 😂
 
I am not wanting to watch anything of the sort. It was just a question, and I stated earlier that I am not involved with this sin.
 
The catechism has a very specific definition of pornography:
2354 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.
Click to expand...
 
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