(CP) A majority of practising Christians, including pastors, admit to viewing pornography and a big share say they’re comfortable with the habit, a latest study has found.
In Barna’s recently released researched report, Beyond the Porn Phenomenon, produced in partnership with Pure Desire Ministries, researchers found that pornography use is so prevalent amongst all demographics and the gap in use amongst Christians and non-Christians, in addition to men and ladies, has decreased during the last eight years.
Even though practising Christians were still found to view pornography less continuously than non-Christians, the gap between the 2 groups was only 14 percentage points. Some 54% of Christians reported viewing pornography compared with 68% of non-Christians.
In general, 75% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women reported consuming porn on some level.
“Despite the Church’s stance against lust generally, it seems little progress has been made to discourage lots of those that fill the pews from pornography consumption specifically,” researchers said. “The gap between professed beliefs and actual behaviour raises questions on the efficacy of current approaches inside faith communities.”
The study noted that within the last eight years for the reason that report was first published, the rapid shift within the cultural and digital landscape has compounded the problems within the Church with pornography and unwanted sexual behaviour.
“Beyond the Porn Phenomenon represents a sobering call to understand our collective struggle has not improved, regardless of some initial steps to bring health to the Church. The average Christian isn’t experiencing freedom on this area — 75 per cent of Christian men and 40 percent of Christian women report that they’re viewing pornography no less than occasionally,” Nick Stumbo, executive director of Pure Desire Ministries, said, noting that the statistics for pornography use amongst today’s youngest adults, Gen Z, “are even worse.”
“What could also be more troubling is that well over half of Christians who use porn say they’re comfortable with their porn use. The reality for individuals who struggle within the Church is that they, too, often feel like they’re alone. When asked, ‘Who helps you together with your struggle with pornography,’ a staggering 82 per cent of Christians say ‘nobody.’ Isolation is the enemy’s playground,” Stumbo said.
The Pure Desire Ministries leader said the Church must be the place where people can get free from the troubling habit so many Christians have now accepted.
Some 62% of people surveyed within the study, on the whole, expressed comfort with their level of porn consumption. Another 16% said that they had some reservations about it, but said they found moderate levels of use acceptable. This group still wished they didn’t use pornography as continuously.
The study further highlighted how comfortable people have change into with pornography, as only 14% expressed a desire to kick the habit entirely.
Gen Z, those individuals born between 1999 and 2015, were the least more likely to say they were comfortable using pornography.
Nearly half, 49%, of practising Christians who’re also porn users said they were comfortable with their level of use in comparison with 73% of non-Christians. Another 21% expressed a desire to completely abstain.
Still, a majority of US adults imagine that regular porn use has no impact on their overall sexual health and claim they will frequently view porn and live a sexually healthy life.
“This view is held more strongly by men (75% agree) than women (59%). Practising Christians are less more likely to agree, in comparison with the overall population. Still, greater than half of practising Christians (55%) agree an individual can frequently view pornography and live a sexually healthy life,” researchers noted. “Additionally, a majority of US adults (60%) agree that watching pornography can improve an individual’s sex life. This sentiment is shared by almost half of practising Christians (48%).”
Besides using porn for private arousal, Christians reported engaging within the habit to set a mood with a romantic partner.
“Non-practising Christians and non-Christians are more likely than practising Christians to make use of porn because they’re bored or because they find it entertaining. Perhaps more interesting, nevertheless, are other motivations that do not differ significantly across the religion groups: Christians and non-Christians are only as more likely to chalk up their porn use to being curious, searching for sex suggestions or relieving stress and anxiety,” the researchers note.
To help churches address the pornography problem among the many pews, researchers encouraged leaders to, amongst other things, partner with experts, prioritise education and awareness and “create protected spaces for people to get real.”
“Ultimately, the Church is supposed to be a source of hope for people facing all varieties of challenges in life, including struggles with pornography. By addressing this issue head-on with care, understanding and practical support, churches can fulfill their role as places of healing and restoration,” they said. “Even small steps toward openness and support could make a major impact within the lives of those struggling.”
