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January 30th, 2011
04:11 PM ET
Churches prepare for 'Porn Sunday'Check back on the CNN Belief Blog this week for more coverage of Porn Sunday. We'll be featuring interviews with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and porn star Ron Jeremy.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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After research a number of of the weblog posts on your website now, and I actually like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site record and shall be checking again soon. Pls check out my website online as properly and let me know what you think.
Thanks to the voices of reason (David and NL specifically - some excellent points). Unfortunately, there is no chance of converting others here (CW, Steve, etc. - no disrespect intended) to our own non-belief. They come from a broken, brainwashed generation. ... Guess we just have to wait for them to die off, then maybe some progress can actually be made. Unless they're casting voodoo-Angel-magic from Heaven. Then I guess us Atheists are in trouble.
belief-blog: ok, you fooled me... it's a web blog for antichirsts, right? I'm outa here.
Everyone should bring their favorite and exchange it with fellow parishioners!
"Children must be protected" is a terrible argument in a country where abortion is legal.
Hey, I don't mind.
Ha. Ha ha. You think that's the biggest detriment to children today? I believe Mr. Sky Man doesn't approve of all the terrible things that so called "good" Christians do and say about abortion clinics, the women who use them, and the hospitals who OK them. Sorry, buddy, but aren't good religious followers the ones who actually follow the rules, guidelines and suggestions??
Bored with this. Back later
really am not liking the moderation filter today.
OK – sixth time is a charm.
S.m.ut is not inheren.tly evil.
Like any vice, it carries with it the potential for abuse.
It can certainly break up a marriage if done furtively and/or if used as a subst.i.tute for inti.macy. Same rules apply with alcohol, but that doesn't make wine evil.
P-o.rn actors are not de.ified in the same way as sports and hollywo-od stars becuase of the underlying pur-itan ethic of shame and guilt regarding se-x in the USA.
Now – I won't argue that many involved in se-x for profit are being coe.rced, nor that there are many brands of sm.u.t that are indeed degra.ding.
But that is not true in ALL cases.
Since the expl.osion of the internet, there's been a welcome increase in the number of healthy, happy e-xhib.it.ionist couples sharing their se-x lives with the world – and a huge number of voy-eurs wanting to watch!
However one feels personally about sm.u.t, I hope we can all agree that is the healthiest example of it...
As for the "won't somebody think of the children!" argument, I say that it is up to parents to protect and educate themselves and their kids about whatever they deem unnac.ceptable. My child is too young to grasp what s.m-ut is all about, so I make sure to block what I don't want her to see. And more importantly, Mom and I pay attention to what she's doing online.
But whatever consen.ting adults do is nobody else's business – even if it turns your stomach. If you don't want to view it, then don't.
Just like if you don't like what is on TV, turn it off. If you don't like the message of a part.icular band, don't buy their alb.ums.
Se.xua.lity is a huge part of being human. History has shown us that it cannot be swept under the rug. Sm.ut and prosti.tut.ion will always be with us so we'd best find ways of dealing with it other than harmful and (worse yet) useless tact.ics like guilt, shame, condem-nation and prohib.ition.
Reality,
Add Span-king to your list! This is truly ridiculous!
Funny! It reminds me of the times I would tell my kids not to play in the street. It would all start with them slowly walking towards the edge of the sidewalk, later one foot in the street and the other on the sidewalk! You can imagine what is next! Full body contact with the street! It all ended with a span-king! (Take THAT Dr. Spock)!! They are ALIVE, happy and healthy today!
hoot-ers
Good wings.
hoot
hoo
ho
@Steve the real one
Looks like CW went to confer with Jesus. So I will ask you: Do you go to the Dr's when you are ill?
Will read and reply later, I have a Dr's appointment.
Curious
Good question! The answer is yes! The reasons: here we go:
1. The apostle Luke, one of the 12 was a physician!
2. God gave man the wisdom, ability, and skills to became doctors!
3. I realize even some Christians don't believe the same way! I am NOT one of them! I know some children have died because some parents have been extreme, yet I believe the law is clear an sides with the chidren as it should!!
How'd I do?? Suprised by what I said? God is NOT offended by me going to a doctor! !
@ David,
No I didn't go away....I just read your reply. First off I never said that div-'orce isn't a problem with christians....my point is that p-'orn is a problem and is a problem for marriages. Secondly....on your rant....be careful of what you wish for.....you never know when it will happen. Our Lord one day if you don't change can and will strike you down.....may not be at your command but that's God's way of giving you a chance to repent. Third...thanks for confirming my point...p-'orn has never done anything that helps...it only hurts families and people. The last point I will make is this....Christians aren't perfect...I'm not and no one is...so...with that said that is the reason we all need to live according to God's will and word.
Now for your point on the doctors....yes I do go to the doctor. I know that there are christians that don't believe in this but as Steve pointed out....God isn't offended by us Christians going to the doctor.
@CW
@Steve whatever...
How do you know Jesus is okay with your not trusting in Him for your health? Did he tell you? Are the Christian wrong then?
Don't we have to read the good book, to know the will of the desert hobgoblin?
In Mark 16, Jesus talks about the laying on of hands:
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Or this little diddy: James 5:15, where the Bible says:
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.
Mark 11:24 :
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Or Jesus on prayer:
John 14:14:
If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
I think it shows you lack faith. Don't you believe Jesus?
If God gave man the wisdom, ability, and skills to became doctors, why did He take so long to give them the ability to prevent small pox and polio? Why doesn't He give them the skills/wisdom to cure cancer? When science does finally find the cure for a disease, will we give god the credit? LOL
What about the person who undergoes chemo for cancer and prays. If they recover, do we give god the credit. Sort of pretend the chemo never happened?
What about the person who undergoes chemo for cancer and prays. If they die, do we just blame the doctor's care? Claim it was part of god's great plan?
Curious in Arizona
You seem to ask a serious question, you get an answer, then you get silly! Show me where Jesus condemned Luke for being a doctor! I will wait patiently for you reply!
@ David,
Yep....your getting silly......A-'hhhh where to begin. I guess a better question is this....where is your proof that there is no God? Let me guess.....you have put your faith in that there isn't one....so....okay....so where does this fierce belief derive from? Did you read some book writ-'ten by someone who said...."that bible is non-'sense"....or....did you just wake up in-'saine one day and decide that this was the path you were going to bet your eternity on? Better yet if this is the case your putting faith in your fel-'low man that he is correct?
We don't need to prove there is no god. There's no point in trying to prove a negative. The burden of proof falls on you, saying that this thing, that cannot be seen, heard, or tested in any way, does in fact exist. So tell us, what is your proof? A book written thousands of years ago? The fact that millions(billions?) of people believe it? That many people once believed the Earth was flat as well, didn't make it any more true.
Colin,
God will prove tHimself to you in His time. You guys try to box him in with your reason and logic. In short you are trying to understand based upon you limited, fallible, finite, human minds! God is bigger than that and to even approach Him requires faith that He is! You don't have that faith! Without it you will NOT experience Him (until the judgement and for many that will be too late). I cannot make you believe. You cannot make me not beileve, either! Other than that I am not sure what else to tell you!
@CW
@Steve
Actually my questions were not meant to be silly. If you have the faith you claim, why would you seek medical care?
I quoted several bible passages that should lead you, as it has other Christians, to the conclusion that all you need is god.
You have the word of Jesus.
Yet, you do as I do. You seek medical help. And I am not a believer. I think you do this because in your heart you know that it is all b.s. Otherwise, why? I wouldn't if I had faith that Jesus would heal me.
@CW
I became an atheist over time. I find no evidence for god. God is no more real than Santa.
Steve,
You crack me up with your scorn of reason and logic. Reason and logic are generally based on provable, reproducible results. This is why facts stand up to scrutiny and religion is best left to those who believe because they simply want to.
@CW
You seem to mention your sky fairy's ability to strike non-believers down pretty often. Any chance you have some doc-umented and verifiable examples of people being struck down? Or is this yet another "god/jc/sky dufus works in mysterious ways..." line of bull crap?
@tallulah13,
I don't scorn reason and logic. They have their place. What you and those like you are doing is using reason and logic which is NATURAL (not yelling just an emphasis), in an attemmpt to disprove the supernatural. It ain't goonna work. You will NEVER experience God in your life in that manner!
Steve the real one-
Ah, but can there ever be a real realm called the 'supernatural'? We consider ghosts to be part of the supernatural, but if we found evidence for ghosts, then we would simply redefine what we understand as being 'natural' to include them, right? Wouldn't it be the same for God?
Black holes existed long before we developed the understanding that they might exist, and the technology to detect them. We now accept black holes as part of the natural universe, but to someone with a knowledge comparable to even Newton they would have appeared to be beyond our ability to comprehend.The idea that God could not be understood through rational investigation is only theoretical and cannot be proven to be actually so until we are given an opportunity to study him. Saying that God must be supernatural, meaning beyond our ability to ever comprehend how he 'works', then only amounts to being an excuse for there not being any objective evidence of his existence.
I once read a Christian Right list of things they would like to do.
P_ornography would be illegal. The Christian Right would define what is "p_ornographic". Also, what is art.
Believe it or not, I do not seek p_orn. But, I don't want to be told that I can't.
Christians in America are the biggest internal threat to American democracy – anonymous
God save the First Amendment.
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Const_itution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law "respecting an establishment of religion", impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the pet_itioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
Cheers!
You "once read" this; therefore, it accurately describes an agenda supported by all Christians. Is that what you're saying? And you make fun of Biblical literalists?
I don't necessarily disagree with your views, David Johnson, but this kind of post makes you look like a snarky hypocrite making sweeping generalizations about people based on their religion. It only hurts your case.
@dajackg
You asked: "You "once read" this; therefore, it accurately describes an agenda supported by all Christians. Is that what you're saying? And you make fun of Biblical literalists?"
It accurately reflects the view of the Christian Right, who would create a Christian Theocracy. Note my actual quote:
"I once read a Christian Right list of things they would like to do." See, "Christian Right."
I once saw a commercial for "Hooked On Phonics" . It may be of help to you.
Yes, I make fun of Evangelicals AKA fundies.
You said: "I don't necessarily disagree with your views, David Johnson, but this kind of post makes you look like a snarky hypocrite making sweeping generalizations about people based on their religion. It only hurts your case."
That is why you accused me of being a troll in another thread? I think you just don't love me the way Jesus would want you to.
I made a statement of fact, about the Christian Right.
Cheers!
I'm interested to see this. Being that this is a sinful thing anyway. I'm just as guilty in the past of watching this fi-'lth as anyone but any christian will tell you that when they accept Jesus and live according to his will you must turn from this and never watch again.
Looking forward to reading what churches are doing to come against this. What people don't realize is that the women in these films have a family....and I wonder if I was a father of one of these women how I would feel knowing my daughter is doing this....I'm sure I would feel just like any other father would....very an-'gry....and up-'set that this ind-'ustry still exist's. In addition....I wonder....these women and men may have a child or two and one day they are going to discover what Daddy and Mommy were doing for a living and this will hurt them as well.
@CW
I would feel almost as bad if my daughter was in the p_orn industry as if she came to the conclusion that god exists.
Cheers!
@ David Johnson,
Go ahead and poke fun....as you always do. Laugh all you want now....I hope you stop laughing and get serious with God and accept Jesus into your heart. As far as your comment though....I would say that all Christians will have the last laugh but I won't b/c anyone that goes to H-E-L-L...this isn't something we should laugh about.
As for you feeling some threat from all of Christians...There are a lot of us...that is good. As for your point on free speech...I guess instead of having any rules we should abolish any and all rules...sounds like that is what you want anyway. Guess we should allow Kid-'die p-'orn as well since that is someone's first amendment rights rights isn't it? I mean since it may be a parent and its their child there doing this to...they could say its art right? Just making your same kind of argument.
@CW
You said: " As for your point on free speech...I guess instead of having any rules we should abolish any and all rules...sounds like that is what you want anyway. Guess we should allow Kid-'die p-'orn as well since that is someone's first amendment rights rights isn't it? I mean since it may be a parent and its their child there doing this to...they could say its art right? Just making your same kind of argument."
Child p_ornography is illegal. No one is advocating that it should not be. It is disgusting. As vile as your god killing the innocent children, including babies.
The p_ornography industry employs, by law, only people who are consenting adults. Children cannot consent. They are victims. The children must be protected.
People under the age of 18, by law, are prevented from viewing p_ornography.
Your argument is trash, as usual. God must be embarrassed by you. Jesus must weep.
Cheers!
@ David Johnson,
You say:
Child p_ornography is illegal. No one is advocating that it should not be. It is disgusting. As vile as your god killing the innocent children, including babies.
I say:..your not but your advocating keeping this industry that does no good around to anyone. It breaks up marriages...causes shame to those in the industry...let me ask how many times do you see someone using a p-'orn actor to pitch any product....you don't b/c this industry is looked upon as trash. In addition as usual your blas-'pheming against God....isn't good as well...need to get on those knees and ask God not to strike you down for such words.
Second you say: "The p_ornography industry employs, by law, only people who are consenting adults. Children cannot consent. They are victims. The children must be protected.
People under the age of 18, by law, are prevented from viewing p_ornography."
I say: And yet again this industry not only breaks laws....b/c they do....because there are teens and people that get into this not on their own but are coerced into it. Also your under 18 arguement holds no water as usual b/c anyone with a computer can view this stuff.
Your right about one thing....Jesus does weep...b/c you won't accept what he did for you. You refuse to believe God and put your Faith and Trust in him.
CW stay encouraged! I needed to take a breather, that is why I have not been blogging! I really don't feel the need to address every story though. I believe enough folks know where I stand! Stay blessed and encouraged! Only God can change hearts! !
@ Steve the real one,
Good to hear from you...well everyone knows where I stand as well. Anyway stay strong...stay steadfast...keep the faith...God Bless.
CW and Steve the real one. All we can do is present the Truth on this blog. A number of atheist on this blog hang out just to trash those of faith(not all). I agree, only God change hearts which want to be changed. It is frustrating when the name of God is trashed, ("he is vile and should be hated"). Nothing we can do about it though. Peace.
@Anglican,
Peace to you as well!
"It is frustrating when the name of God is trashed, ("he is vile and should be hated")."
See, that's the thing with imaginary characters - they can be *anything* that one wants them to be.
It is the trendy idea for the past 40-50 years to imagine "God" as a loving being, and to have a 'personal relationship' with 'him'; in prior times, 'he' was mainly Power and Might and Wrath - a being to beg to for mercy. One can browse the myths and legends of the Bible and find justification for whatever tack one wishes to take.
Magic,
I never met you, never seen you, don't know what you look like, don't kno wwhat you sound like! SOOO according to YOUR theory, YOU my friend are not real!
@CW
I said:
Child p_ornography is illegal. No one is advocating that it should not be. It is disgusting. As vile as your god killing the innocent children, including babies.
You said: "your not but your advocating keeping this industry that does no good around to anyone. It breaks up marriages...causes shame to those in the industry...let me ask how many times do you see someone using a p-'orn actor to pitch any product....you don't b/c this industry is looked upon as trash. In addition as usual your blas-'pheming against God....isn't good as well...need to get on those knees and ask God not to strike you down for such words."
On marriage:
"The real scandal," Mohler writes, "is the fact that evangelical Protestants divorce at rates at least as high as the rest of the public. Needless to say, this creates a significant credibility crisis when evangelicals then rise to speak in defense of marriage." – Politics Today – Quote from Albert Mohler Conservative Christian.
On god striking me down:
God does not exist. I double dog dare Him to strike me down. See? It is all b.s. I might as well have dared the vacuum cleaner to strike me down. LOL
I said: "The p_ornography industry employs, by law, only people who are consenting adults. Children cannot consent. They are victims. The children must be protected.
I also said: People under the age of 18, by law, are prevented from viewing p_ornography."
You said: "And yet again this industry not only breaks laws....b/c they do....because there are teens and people that get into this not on their own but are coerced into it. Also your under 18 arguement holds no water as usual b/c anyone with a computer can view this stuff."
And, anyone with a gun can rob a convenience store. If p_ornography were outlawed, people would still seek and find it. Even child p_ornography hasn't been eradicated. There are existing laws. Enforce them better. Children have no business starring in nor watching p_ornography. This is not the same issue as making all p_ornography illegal. You are building a straw man, but even that you cannot knock down. Sad.
You said: "Your right about one thing....Jesus does weep...b/c you won't accept what he did for you. You refuse to believe God and put your Faith and Trust in him."
Jesus has been dead for 2000+ years. There is no proof, outside the bible, that isn't disputed, that Jesus even existed. Do you have any proof?
Do you have health insurance, CW? Just curious.
Cheers!
David, who said God is "vile and should be hated." Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Words for ST Paul. The Faithful is evidence. You hang out on a "belief blog". Prove Christ does not live.
Anglican,
Here is another definition to ponder:
Superst!tion: a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing [being], circ.umstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like.
Steve,
"SOOO according to YOUR theory, YOU my friend are not real!"
Maybe not. Maybe you should look into that. My physical existence (as a person, not a screen name) is testable, however.
Magic Good job cut and paste, and such a "big" word.
@Anglican
You said: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Words for ST Paul. The Faithful is evidence. You hang out on a "belief blog". Prove Christ does not live."
I have a Dr's appointment in 20 minutes, so I have to leave now. I will address this. Probably later this evening.
Cheers!
Dave. Hope Dr. appt goes ok. Nothing you can do to rock my faith. I wish I could rock your unbelief, I really do. One who does not seek, will not find. Don't waste your ATP on me.
Magic,
There is plenty of evidence that Jesus is real as well!
Just wondering, many here would condemn the Muslim practice of hijab, specifically the full-veil clothing worn by women as oppressive.
If consenting adults want to participate in po.rnography as participants and/or spectators, then wouldn't it be oppression to stop them?
Who are you to say it is filthy or immoral?
@Anglican
You make it hard for me to throw rocks at you. You are likable. If I have offended you I am sorry.
Already back from Dr. Blood work was good. My cholesterol improved.
Cheers!
Dave. Thanks. I hope friends despite differences. My chol. is awful. I need to be on Lipitor. Trying to lower with red wine and olive oil. Probably failing miserably.
If you believers are so concerned about kiddie p-orn, why haven't you jumped in to condemn islam for allowing 10 year girls to be married off?
Look, if any of you haven't gotten it already, calling upon supernatural enti-ties to try to win some type of logical point is as nonsensical as it gets. Fine, believe in whatever you please, but don't expect others to take you seriously or judge your gods on a special basis simply because they're "your beliefs."
The Abrahamic faiths actually have produced a vile God, the and the only excuses for saying that he isn't are either illiteracy or ignorance (as in, you haven't actually looked at your own beliefs). No, we are not being mean, we are not being rude, we are simply abhorring the idea of a creature such as your God, whether he is described in the Bible or as you describe him yourselves.
You make up excuses saying "oh well we can't judge God" but then you turn and say that he wouldn't be evil and that he's a nice guy! How dishonest of you.
So if you plan to use your religious views in order to convince someone of something, don't label them as mean or close-minded if they happen to notice that your reasoning is (invariably, as it seems) flawed. Why don't you turn that supposedly high powered perception of social apti-tude and logical reasoning on your own actions before you run around complaining about the idea that other people might actually disagree with you.
Religion sucks! Po rn is way more fun!
Just to back up the comment about free po-rn/exciting biology on the Internet, I "googled" free p-orn (without the hypen). The result:
213,000,000 hits.
I googled iPhone and got 725,000,000 hits. What's that mean?
It means that there is more interest in iPhones than free po-rn? Keep in mind that there is apparently a $1.99 po-rn app for iPhones. (eleven million hits)
Lol I doubt this will be a change in Sunday topics for many people.
Po-rn used to be a luc-rative business. With the Internet, most po-rn is free i.e. said business no longer exists. So add at least one positive to the situation
It is I, hyphen; how dare you besmirch my good name with your flagrant dashes! Are you sending a mash-up morse code or just trying to make Hyphen angry? Remember, hyphens are used to compound words such as "pick-em-up-truck" or "monster-in-law."
Use me wisely or I'll send in...the COLON! HAHAHAHAHA
I am curious to hear the twist on moral superiority with this one.
Morally superior po-rn?