Generally speaking, pornography is the visual depiction of nudity or sexual immorality. It rears its repulsive face in the forms of magazines, strip clubs, XXX-rated movies, "phone sex" talk lines, and the Internet. In almost every state, such forms of "entertainment" are already prohibited from depicting rape, pedophilia, incest, bestiality, and necrophilia. However, in almost all of those same states, the depictions of sadomasochism, homosexuality, and heterosexual anal copulation are legal so long as all of the participants, retailers, and viewers are at least 18 years of age. (In some states the legal age is 21.) Pornography is regulated by the law, but only to a certain extent. Should it be banned altogether?
I would certainly like to see pornography banned altogether, but I certainly do not think we can eradicate it simply by outlawing it. In 1920 our nation passed a Constitutional Amendment that prohibited the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Suddenly there emerged a "black market" for the liquor industry, and violent crimes began to soar. In 1933 we realized what a terrible mistake we had made, so we repealed the Prohibition Amendment. Violent crimes suddenly returned to pre-prohibition levels. In fact homicide rates dropped nearly 50 percent! Prohibition is a brutal reminder that our nation cannot always suppress widespread immoral behavior merely by passing laws against it. Look at the well-intentioned "war on drugs." Are we winning?!
Please do not misunderstand me. I do not want to see any current anti-pornography laws repealed at all! They should all remain in effect until the end of time. Furthermore, tougher measures should be taken to prosecute child pornography, especially on the Internet! Even "imitation" child pornography (which uses animations of children instead of real children) should also be prohibited by law! Public libraries should be required by law to filter their Internet access! Christians should be rising up in protest, flooding our politicians' offices with letters, calls, faxes, and e-mails, demanding change! However, and hypothetically speaking, if our Government were to ban all forms of pornography right now, then I fear that history will repeat itself. The prohibition of pornography will not fulfill its intentions--to stop people from producing and using it. That is because laws do not change people's hearts. Only God can change people's hearts (Ezek. 11:19).
On one hand I totally agree that pornography has absolutely nothing good to offer our society! There is no empirical evidence to sustain the popular myth that pornography can improve sexual intimacy between married couples (as porn producers claim); instead it destroys marriages! Even some porno producers openly admit that their films often lack the intimacy and sensitivity that are essential for a healthy relationship. It is also a major factor in the cause of rape and sexual assault on children. It is nothing but detrimental to our society, and never socially-redeeming! That is why it is not protected by the free speech clause in the First Amendment, just as the act of yelling "Bomb!" at an airport is technically a crime. On the other hand, anti-pornography laws do not work unless the Church works! Do we long to see the day when pornography is driven out of mainstream society, and ultimately outlawed? Can we accomplish that? I believe we can (Matt. 19:26; Mark 9:23; 2 Cor.10:4; Phil. 4:13), but not without blood, sweat, and tears, literally!
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