The National Populist

CANCELING PORN AND PROMOTING CHRIST

“The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction.” - Ven. Fulton J. Sheen.

Conservatives like myself look around at the state of society and feel hopeless. Over the last few decades, marriage rates have declined while divorce rates are skyrocketing. Birth rates are plummeting. Obesity rates are soaring. Cases of depression and mental health problems are rising across the board, and people are turning to sinful habits in order to fill the empty void in their hearts instead of turning to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One might ask: what does this have to do with conservatism? In my view, it has everything to do with conservatism. These social problems and immoral behaviors stem from a decline in Christianity and increasingly secular culture. If conservatism is not just about tax cuts and limited government — which it clearly isn’t — then conservatives need to recognize the role that pornography has played in depleting American culture, social standards, and the dynamic of the family. Conservatives need to cancel porn, promote Christ, and protect our society.

1 Corinthians 6:13 reads, “The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” To be conservative — which is built upon Christianity just as our nation is — we should not engage in pornography, hookup culture, sexual immorality, or anything of the sort. As Christianity has declined since the cultural revolutions of the 60s, pornography has been made increasingly available thanks to technology, and unfortunately more embraced by society.

The openness of sex, hookup culture, and pornography being consumed has caused enormous damage to the culture — particularly for relationships between men and women. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2002 found that roughly 60% of divorce attorneys in the study involved clients that reported internet porn playing a significant role in the divorces; this has surely gone up since. The Fight the New Drug Organization, a group committed to combatting pornography, reported a study presented at the American Sociological Association in August 2016 which found that married people who start watching porn are twice as likely to be divorced in the following years as those who don’t, and women who stop watching porn are three times likely to split.

Pornography consumption also has major, deleterious effects on individuals. It causes distorted views on sex, objectification of women, higher rates of mental health problems, less ability to focus, and the same neurological effects on the brain as drugs and alcohol because of the corruption of your dopamine reward system. The worst effect, however, is the damage to your relationship with God. Matthew 5:28 says, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Similarly, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulters nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God.” Fortunately, if we accept Christ fully, repent for our sins, and change our ways regarding pornography, masturbation, and lust — we can be saved. Individuals, particularly teenage males, are having their lives destroyed by pornography. Covenant Eyes, an organization dedicated to helping people live porn-free, reported that “9 out of 10 boys and 6 out of 10 girls are exposed to pornography online before the age of 19. The first exposure to pornography amongst boys is 12 years old, on average. 83% of boys and 57% of girls are exposed to group sex online. 69% of boys and 55% of girls are exposed to same-sex intercourse online. 71% of teens have done something to hide their online activity from their parents. 28% of 16-17-year-olds have unintentionally been exposed to pornography online. 20% of 16-year-olds and 30% of 17-year-olds have received a sext.”

Hookup culture amongst teenagers is the new norm, and they are becoming sexually actively at an increasingly young age, typically having many partners before marriage. Although this type of sexual immorality has pervaded society throughout history, only recently has it become so severe and widely accepted. Those who call out the sinfulness

of hookup culture and pornography are attacked by these same people caught up in their own sin and degenerate lifestyle. “Mind your own business! Don’t hook up with people if you don’t like it! Your loss!” Firstly, waiting for the right person to come along with shared Christian morals is anything but a “loss.” Second of all, it’s a bit hard to “mind your business” when the culture around you is entirely hyper-sexualized, and any hope to find a modest, pure person of the opposite sex that hasn’t engaged in such behavior is much slimmer than you’d imagine. Actually, the most damage is done to those who engage in hookup culture and casual sex. The American Psychological Association did a study involving college students and found a variety of negative effects from those who engaged in casual sex and hookups. 27.1% felt more embarrassed, 24.7% reported emotional difficulties, 20.8% experienced a loss of respect, and 10% reported problems with a steady partner.

The damage is clear and the evidence overwhelmingly shows that pornography is toxic to our society, causes so much damage for children and teenagers, families, couples, partners, individuals — yet it is much easier to access than drugs or alcohol. But why isn’t anyone calling for change? Some moderates and Libertarians believe we shouldn’t do anything as a government or as a society. “It’s up to the individual! It’s up to parents to protect our youth! Couples should still be able to access it!” These are silly, amoral arguments. If the left wields their power to effectively enforce their corrupted agenda, why shouldn’t conservatives do the same to prevent young people and couples from being damaged by this addictive evil?

35% of all internet downloads are related to pornography. 34% of internet users have experienced unwanted exposure to pornographic content through ads. Every second, 28,258 users are watching pornography on the internet. Every day, 2.5 billion emails containing porn are sent or received, 68 million search queries related to pornography — 25% of total searches — are generated, and 116,000 queries related to child pornography are received. Over 200,000 Americans are classified as “porn addicts,” and even that is most likely an underestimate. 40 million Americans regularly visit porn sites. The criminal, evil pornographic industry is inherently tied to human trafficking, as well. 4.8 million people, by some estimates, are trapped or forced into sexual exploitation globally, with more than 1 in 5 being children, and 90% of sex trafficking cases involving pornographic exposure to the victims. However, this criminal enterprise gets to continue because it is extremely profitable for the global elite, much more important than the dignity of women and wellbeing of the people who consume it. Sex trafficking generates an estimated $99 billion annually. The pornography industry is $97 billion in “business” worldwide; over $13 billion in the US. How much damage must be done before people stand up and call for government regulations?

I believe it is the duty of the government to protect those who cannot protect themselves, to look out for our most vulnerable, and ensure the good of society. That is why I have a deep commitment to and sympathy for those with mental health problems, including those struggling with pornography. If we do not protect our most vulnerable, especially concerning the youth of the nation, then who are we to talk about morality as a country and a people? Some say that you cannot legislate morality, but all law requires moral judgment which may contradict the values of some people in society. The nation itself has been spiritually bankrupted from pornography and hookup culture. To this day, it holds captive many men and women, and its effects will forever be a cancer looming in the souls of its victims searching for peace and happiness and a loving spouse. Only God can make them whole.

I believe the solution is a total ban on hardcore pornographic content. We have long had obscenity laws as a countr, and we should bring them back to ensure sexual scenes and content in movies and television are restricted. Internet pornography should be banned from all websites and providers. Companies that do not comply should receive hefty fines or other legal action. The same message must be sent to distributors and producers of pornographic content, as well, and those who voluntarily engage in the making of such content need to face significant jail time. Social media standards need to be changed to prohibit such content on their platforms. We can debate solutions, but the complete lack of action cannot continue. Our youth has been corrupted, addictions have been caused, marriages and relationships have been broken, individuals have been demoralized, and the meaning of love itself has been obscured.

However, true change requires a strong moral framework as well as action. We need to cancel pornography and combat sexual immorality as the Bible commands us to do. It is not easy, and we all have had our battles with it, but it is necessary to overcome for a fulfilling life on Earth and eternal life with Christ in Heaven. Great things are in store for conservative men and women eager to take our country back. Pornography is one of the greatest barriers against us restoring our country and improving ourselves as individuals and members of a righteous society. I favor government solutions like an outright ban and more restrictions to combat pornography and crackdown on the industry, and will continue to do so, as well as personally spreading the word of the Gospel to accomplish these ends. “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” - James 1:13-15.

12/18/21

Contributed by Grant Friedland (@_conservative_coalition_)