Is Porn Adultery?

[anniebo]

In a great article in The Atlantic this month, Ross Douthat asks the question "Is Porn Adultery?" A few quotes from the article: One perspective, broadly construed, treats porn as a harmless habit, near-universal among men, and at worst a little silly. A second perspective treats porn as a kind of gateway drug—a vice that paves the way for more-serious betrayals.

A 2004 study found that married individuals who cheated on their spouses were three times as likely to have used Internet pornography as married people who hadn’t committed adultery. It is everywhere (for men, anyway): A survey of American college students last year found that 70 percent of the women in the sample never looked at pornography, compared with just 14 percent of their male peers; almost half of the men surveyed looked at porn at least once a week, versus just 3 percent of the women. What do you think? POLL QUESTION: IS PORN ADULTERY?

[broken11]

In my opinion, nothing healthy or good can come out of pornography. The topics and characters are based on fiction. Pornography is not only poison to a marriage, but also poison to society (which includes your daughter, mother, sister and wife).I recently discovered that my husband is addicted to pornography. It is the one and only thing that I disclosed BEFORE marriage that I would not tolerate. He has been hiding it for years. When I found out, my whole world collapsed. When I opened these pages, I found horrific pictures/movies involving children and physical abuse to women. Please don't be the woman that tolerates pornography. Please don't fool yourself into thinking it's harmless. Please don't try to be the cool wife that goes to the strip club or participates in your S.O.'s addiction. Take some responsibility, take some initiative, have some self respect, YOU DESERVE BETTER.

[MarciaC]

ok who are the 2 people who said porn is cheating? Very curious to hear why.what if you are watching it together?

[blueb]

There's a legal term used primarily with the criminal justice system calle mens rhea (sp?) which is latin for guilty mind. It kind of applies here. If you see an attractive person and indulge in a fantasy, is it cheating? Maybe in your mind, but that's where it ends. When you try to make fantasy a reality, then you are in violation of your marital vows. Porn is the same thing...you're watching others have sex. In and of itself, not cheating...no matter how much you wish it were you instead of the other actor the act was happening to.I do agree with trisha in that it has the possibility of getting out of control and start causing problems in your marriage, but then so can video games, football, gambling, etc. But it isn't adultery.

[shelay]

Yes, it is a gateway to more serious betrayals. Caught my husband soliciting oral sex on Craigslist with a male. He watched porn prior to this action. Sin leads to more serious sin!