Is there any evil from Satan that God cannot bring about good, including porn?

[Robert_Sock]

Is there any evil from Satan that God cannot bring about an ultimate, greater good? If so, what would that greater good be in the case of porn and masturbation? Would it not be that porn acts as the raw sewage pipe that expels our hyper-intense sexual urges into a wasteland, similar to what St Augustine proposed in the case of prostitution?

God is good and He has divine providence over the whole Earth. This is central to Catholic theology. St. Paul writes that “in everything God works for good” (Rom 8:28).

I’m not saying we should condone porn, but be cool, God has everything under control!

(It’s also OK not to sit back and chill, and I agree that we must all be righteous and fight evil when it’s at our doorstep, but I also contend that at some point we must all sit back and chill to the multitude of the world’s problems because God has everything under control. We would go nuts otherwise!)

 

[RosaryFan]

Is there any evil from Satan that God cannot bring about an ultimate, greater good? If so, what would that greater good be in the case of porn and masturbation? Would it not be that porn acts as the raw sewage pipe that expels our hyper-intense sexual urges into a wasteland, similar to what St Augustine proposed in the case of prostitution?

God is good and He has divine providence over the whole Earth. This is central to Catholic theology. St. Paul writes that “in everything God works for good” (Rom 8:28).

I’m not saying we should condone porn, but be cool, God has everything under control!

(It’s also OK not to sit back and chill, and I agree that we must all be righteous and fight evil when it’s at our doorstep, but I also contend that at some point we must all sit back and chill to the multitude of the world’s problems because God has everything under control. We would go nuts otherwise!)

The good which results from evil may be so far removed that only God can tell from which evil the good has emanated. For instance, someone’s porn addiction may be so repulsive to another person, that this other person may, as a result of such repugnancy, become closer to God in order to avoid a similar stigma.

So, for instance, a father’s porn addiction may result in his son’s extreme opposition to same.

Does this mean all fathers should become addicted to porn so that their sons will hate it? Of course not! But God can allow such good to emanate from the evil in which a man with free will chooses to participate. It’s good for the son, but certainly not the father. Woe to him!

 

[Robert_Sock]

The good which results from evil may be so far removed that only God can tell from which evil the good has emanated. For instance, someone’s porn addiction may be so repulsive to another person, that this other person may, as a result of such repugnancy, become closer to God in order to avoid a similar stigma.

So, for instance, a father’s porn addiction may result in his son’s extreme opposition to same.

Thank you!!!

 

[michelleds]

Is there any evil from Satan that God cannot bring about an ultimate, greater good? If so, what would that greater good be in the case of porn and masturbation? Would it not be that porn acts as the raw sewage pipe that expels our hyper-intense sexual urges into a wasteland, similar to what St Augustine proposed in the case of prostitution?

God is good and He has divine providence over the whole Earth. This is central to Catholic theology. St. Paul writes that “in everything God works for good” (Rom 8:28).

I’m not saying we should condone porn, but be cool, God has everything under control!

(It’s also OK not to sit back and chill, and I agree that we must all be righteous and fight evil when it’s at our doorstep, but I also contend that at some point we must all sit back and chill to the multitude of the world’s problems because God has everything under control. We would go nuts otherwise!)

To continue our discussion from the Porn thread over in the Apologetics section, I will again say that I think that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of theology in how you are stating things.

You agree that porn is evil. You agree that we are not to allow/concede/toy with evil.

but then you say, but really there is some good that comes out of porn and so clearly God is using porn for some good. and if not, He’d not allow porn.

the problem is as John said in another post–we have free will. we freely choose to use or not use porn, masturbate, murder, commit adultery, whatever. if we choose to do any of those things, you can’t then say, well, God will fix it.

I guess I’m reading you as saying that God is allowing all the evil in the world for some ulterior motives. Would you make this same argument and substitute any other mortal sin? abortion? murder? seriously, change all of the “porn” words to “abortion” and see if you would stil make the argument.

 

[Anthony_V]

As with any addiction, virtue is strengthened when fighting against it (by God’s ability to turn it into a fruitful circumstance).
If a sexual addiction is considered a condition under which an product assimilates, you have a main product (sin). When the condition is acknowledged, and put into the crucible, you then have two products, both powerful in their own regards: the main product, sin, and the secondary product, patience (or whatever else virtue that is strengthened in resistance to said condition).

 

[Robert_Sock]

To continue our discussion from the Porn thread over in the Apologetics section, I will again say that I think that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of theology in how you are stating things.

You agree that porn is evil. You agree that we are not to allow/concede/toy with evil.

but then you say, but really there is some good that comes out of porn and so clearly God is using porn for some good. and if not, He’d not allow porn.

the problem is as John said in another post–we have free will. we freely choose to use or not use porn, masturbate, murder, commit adultery, whatever. if we choose to do any of those things, you can’t then say, well, God will fix it.

I guess I’m reading you as saying that God is allowing all the evil in the world for some ulterior motives. Would you make this same argument and substitute any other mortal sin? abortion? murder? seriously, change all of the “porn” words to “abortion” and see if you would stil make the argument.

I believe God can bring about an ultimate, greater good from any evil Satan has to offer, including that temptation of our free will that leads to the use of porn. God is ultimately good, and God has divine providence over the whole Earth. Again, as St. Paul writes: “in everything God works for good” (Rom 8:28).

The day is coming, and how I wish it was already here, that all evil will vanish from the face of the Earth. But we are not there yet and so we will all be judged by how well we resisted evil in the world of today! Whether or not porn and masturbation has a greater good, it’s up to God to decide. All I’m doing is guessing what this greater good may be given it’s so prevalent in our society.

Nowhere have I stated that we should give into evil!!! God will not just fix it. Indeed, we will be judged by the evil we indulge in!

 

[Robert_Sock]

As with any addiction, virtue is strengthened when fighting against it (by God’s ability to turn it into a fruitful circumstance).
If a sexual addiction is considered a condition under which an product assimilates, you have a main product (sin). When the condition is acknowledged, and put into the crucible, you then have two products, both powerful in their own regards: the main product, sin, and the secondary product, patience (or whatever else virtue that is strengthened in resistance to said condition).

Thanks Anthony. I think you have a general idea where I’m coming from, and where I’m going to, with my OP.

 

[Garyjohn2]

Sometimes, by falling, we learn how to get up again and avoid the pitfall for the next time.

This is the good that comes out of sin, in my mind. By walking that path for a while, we can see it leads to death, and we change course, hopefully never to return.

 

[Robert_Sock]

As for a greater good for porn and masturbation, can anybody here grasp the notion that porn and masturbation can act as a raw sewage pipe that expels our hyper-intense sexual urges into a wasteland for the population as a whole, similar to what St Augustine proposed in the case of prostitution? Why else would God allow it?

 

[Garyjohn2]

As for a greater good for porn and masturbation, can anybody here grasp the notion that porn and masturbation can act as a raw sewage pipe that expels our hyper-intense sexual urges into a wasteland for the population as a whole, similar to what St Augustine proposed in the case of prostitution? Why else would God allow it?

God allows sin because he gave us free will to choose. THere are lots of topics on free will that will answer this question for you.

Does God allow murder so that there will not be wars? Maybe when we murder we get a hyper-violent urge out of our system so we don’t go and kill hundreds of people later. This is a silly thought. It’s not a perfect comparison, but it’s the same idea. The kind of good that can come from sin is not a “lesser of two evils.” It is a real good, that can transform people and help cause all desire to sin to cease.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

As for a greater good for porn and masturbation, can anybody here grasp the notion that porn and masturbation can act as a raw sewage pipe that expels our hyper-intense sexual urges into a wasteland for the population as a whole, similar to what St Augustine proposed in the case of prostitution? Why else would God allow it?

If Augustine said that, I disagree with him. It’s like he was saying men have needs and prostitutes can fulfill them. You are saying the same thing with porn. Or are you saying this? I am very unclear on what you are saying. In any case, what about the prostitutes and the porn workers? They have souls too, and it would be much better for them to not have that kind of job. What good can they possibly be getting out of such a lifestyle?

 

[Robert_Sock]

In any case, what about the prostitutes and the porn workers? They have souls too, and it would be much better for them to not have that kind of job. What good can they possibly be getting out of such a lifestyle?

I believe it would be better for prostitutes and porn workers NOT to get involved in the first place. But since they do, I believe God can use them to promote a greater good, but not necessarily for them. Prostitutes and porn actors may very well be judged negatively by God for choosing these professions.

Please go back and re-read my OP for the rest of your answers.