LE GRAND DANGER DU NET: la pornographie
According to the Justice Dept, in 1998 there were 28,000 X- rated websites, generating 925 million dollars in revenue. Now, only 3 years later, there are 280,000 X- rated websites, generating over 10-20 billion dollars in revenue. (Source- Wall Street Journal, Monday, Nov 26, 2001.)
Pornographers 'disguise' their sites with common brand names and misspellings designed to "entrap" people. (Ex: ESPN, Disney, and White House.) (Source-surveillance study, March 1999.)
Pornography in many forms is invading people's homes and is available 24 hrs a day. In a short period of time, the Internet has become the most exploited instrument of perversion known to man.
51% of Pastors say Internet pornography is a possible temptation. 37% say it is a current struggle. (Christianity Today, Leadership survey, Dec 2001.) 4 in 10 pastors have visited a porn website.
Internet pornography comes from many nations outside the US, where there are no limitations on obscenity. It's like pumping raw sewage right into our homes.
Pornography is physically more addicting than cocaine and 'imprints' the mind with images. Overcoming pornography addiction takes years, and will affect you and everyone around you, the rest of your life.
The Internet would not be able to sell this product if the craving and temptation didn't already exist. Protect yourself, your marriage, and your family.
A recent study by Focus on the Family, (March 2000) shows 1 in 5 adults, 20%, which is nearly 40 million people, have visited a sexually oriented web site.
In the book "The Sacred Romance", the authors point out that "The addiction attaches itself to our desire for God, with chains that render us captive." Addiction expert Gerald May calls addiction "The most powerful enemy of humanity's desire for God".
Previously, if you wanted pornographic material you would buy a magazine, video, or visit some strip joint. All of these 'risked' your being seen and found out. Now, with computers being used in private, unaccountable settings, people can find and view hardcore pornography right in their homes and offices. This can quickly escalate into an addiction with great harm brought to individuals, children, wives and families.
5 stages to addiction: Early exposure, addiction, escalation, desensitization, and acting out sexually. This addiction is a sin committed with the mind and then, with the body, by acting out. It can destroy individuals, children, families, marriages, and our testimony.
Prevention: Pornography addiction and the destruction it causes can be prevented by recognizing the dangers, (As stated above) and taking immediate action. You never know when temptation will strike. Be accountable in all of your Internet activity. Protect yourself, your children, your family, and your marriage.

By Nilsen RHEVI at http://nilsen.home.ro