Christian Morality and Moral Development Pornography - 1

Definition n Write a definition for “Pornography”. n NB. The difficulty in definition comes partly from the fact that there are so many different attitudes to the issue. n This happens within the same culture as well as across different ones.

One Definition n “Pornography applies to visual stimuli such as writings, pictures, films etc that show sexual activity and nudity in a manner that violates present day standards of appropriate behaviour”

Points to consider n Standards may change with time. n What is its purpose? n To whom is it directed? n What motivation is behind it? n What effect does it have on viewers? n Use of humans as objects? n Disregard for relationships?

Origin of the word n Pornography comes from Greek. n Porne meaning “whore”. n Graphein meaning “write”. n Literally it means “to write to a whore”.

A comment from the censors n Because in pornography a person uses pictures, publications, videos etc for sexual stimulation, it denies interpersonal relationships. n It usually uses women, and sometimes men and children, as an object for sexual arousal.

Further comment n Pornography not only harms women: it is humanly degrading. n It degrades everybody who engages in it, male or female, young or old.

Moral outrage isn’t enough n Fr Ritter is a priest working in New York. n Times Square is the heart of a $1 billion sex industry. n kids every year come to Fr Ritter’s Convent house for help. n 60% have been involved in prostitution and pornography.

Moral outrage isn’t enough n Fr Ritter can tell story after story of children who are shot full of drugs by their pimps, bought and sold like merchandise, tortured, imprisoned and killed. n He has little patience for those who call pornography a victimless crime.

Moral outrage isn’t enough n Pornography teaches millions of young men that its okay to take advantage of young women. n Why do people worry so much about keeping negative things about minorities out of books? Because we know people can be taught good things. And we know they can be taught evil things.

Moral outrage isn’t enough n 14 year old boy chased by a pimp with a broken bottle. n 10 year old carrying the toy cars and trucks his customers used as payment. n 11 year old girl arrested 8 times for prostitution. No one asked her age.

Moral outrage isn’t enough n If people are really convinced that children should not be bought and sold, they should insist that the laws against pornography and prostitution be enforced. n Because we’re afraid to stop it, this really evil thing - pornography - has grown like a weed in our society.