True, it is a sin against your own body, and I don't condone porn at all. All I am saying is that we do so many things that are a sin against our own bodies and eating until we look like the Goodyear blimp is also a sin against our own bodies. Clogging our arteries though we know what does it yet we do it anyway.
Smoking cigarettes that shorten our lives and we know they are shortening our lives is a sin against our own bodies.
According to the Bible, the woman isn't to refuse her husband sex anytime he wants it BUT the man is supposed to love his own wife as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. If you love someone more than your own life, you wouldn't demand unreasonable things from it.
Filling your mind with cheesy soap operas day after day after day is a sin against your body also.
So where do you draw the line?

Well I think sex IS different in this respect - it is the only time we cooperate with God in creating life! We are co-creators with Him, which is a big responsibility.
I agree with you, though, that mis-treating your body is a sin also, it is the temple of the Lord.
Where in the Bible does it say that a wife can't refuse sex? I know it ays that a husband and wife can abstain, mutually, for various reasons.
Man, if it says in the Bible I can't refuse him I'm not showing him that!!!

Bluebird, it says to come together often and the "come" means meet in a sexual encounter. Sorry, I've been thumbing through my concordance and can't find it, but being raised as a S. Baptist minister's daughter,,,believe me, it is in there.
After a long, long pilgrimage through the religious forest for many years, I have finally come to the conclusion that I am NOT a religious person, but thankfully and wonderfully I realized a personal relationship with my Creator doesn't necessarily include a trip to church every Sunday and hanging out with those who think they have it all together in the spiritual realm. I really believe none of us has any clue about the greatness and immensity of God's love and grace. It has been the most emancipating experience of my entire life.

Number5, I totally agree with you. I am a spiritual person who believes in prayer and its power and the answers that come from God. I just don't think that the only "spiritual" people meet in Church three times a week.

Sherri

Doesn't that mean submitting to him as head of house?
The scriptures about abstaining are in the OT. I will look them up and post tomorrow, ok?

I have always been taught that the 'submit' used in those Scriptures in the original language refers not only to spiritual and intellectual submission, but to submission of the body as well.

Here is a NLT translation of Ephesians. Submission of the body is indicated in the 23rd verse where it refers to the husband being head of the woman as Christ is head of his "body" the church. Then in verse 24 it is made clear that the wife is to submit in 'everything.'

BTW, that is not to say I do that. But I do see it as a goal. And I see a profound difference between being "subjected" our of cruel domination and voluntarily "submitting" out of love.

21 And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything. 25 And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her.

Actually the man is commanded to love his wife as Christ loves the church and that seems much more difficult. If your husband loved you as Christ loves the church, would he desecrate that love by bringing porn into it?

Interesting discussion.

smile

Bluebird, is your husband willing to talk to the priest with you?

This topic of porn is becoming bigger and bigger all the time due to the internet. This is an area where I believe there should be some type of regulation, but I don't know how it could happen.

Due to the enormity of this issue, I'm wondering if there is anything for people with porn addictions similar to alcohol and drugs? AA, NA, PA? If not, I think it might be time.

Wow, ladies, you are all great! It has been so long since I actually had intelligent, nice, ladies to discuss issues with in an honest and straightforward way without fearing rejection and ostricization or excommunication from the female sex....I've had a few very bad experiences because of my ideas and opinions.
I willingly submit to my husband's headship over me as spiritual leader of our household. I believe it is the most perfect order and reflects the order set forth in the Trinity.
I draw the line when he is acting outside God's will for my life, such as cruelty or abuse. My husband is not a believer so the circumstances are a little different. I'm to follow my husband's lead but you can't follow a parked vehicle.
I work with him as much as possible and am trying to give him as much of God's love as I possibly can while preserving my integrity and fulfilling my purpose for being which is to bring glory to God in my life.
Sex to me is a gift. My non believing husband had subscriptions to Hustler, Playboy and other girlie mags. I told him I objected to them right off the bat and what I have to offer my husband is so far superior to what he might find in fantasy, that he gave up the subscription when it ran out.
Submission to my husband is a not a relenquishing of power, it is a gift of obedience to my creator and in that willing submission with wisdom and prudence, comes peace and joy. I don't do cartwheels and I'm down a lot, but at least I know I'm doing the right things in my relationship. I constantly ask for guidance.

There are 12 step programs for porn addiction, Dotsie. Don't know the name of it but I've heard of it. They even have them online.