Friday, December 18, 2009

Statistically Speaking: Porn and its Effects

The enemy uses sexual immorality to destroy God’s people. Paul specifically cites sexual immorality in his letters to the churches of the nations, often the first or only sin he specifies.

According to the Associated Press, most Americans (90%) believe that adultery is wrong, yet internet pornography use, a non-relational form of adultery, increases each year. Christians are not immune to this, as 47% of Christians say pornography is a major problem at home, and 37% of pastors say they personally struggle. And it’s not just men—one out of six women struggle with a pornography addiction too, and fully one-third of visitors to adult websites are women.

Pornography is not only spiritually destructive to an individual and devastating to a marriage, but can and does lead to infidelity, which is the cause of 17 percent of divorces in the United States (AP).

The enemy is using sexual temptation to destroy families across the country! And the culture is helping to plant those seeds early, as 80% of 15-17 year olds are having hard-core experiences, and 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography online, most while doing homework.

Statistics show more than 72,000 sexually explicit sites on the web and an estimated 266 new porn sites being added each day. These sites alone generate revenue of $1 billion dollars each year, according to the Harding Institute.

And it is estimated that $2.5 billion in annual US revenue is related to internet porn.

L.I.F.E. Ministries uses the internet, our primary communication method, to offer hope and tools to combat this wide-spread (and growing) pandemic. Each year, our staff and volunteers, based in homes and offices across several states, operate this ministry on about $80,000.

L.I.F.E. Ministries restores addicts and recovers marriages one addict at a time, helping hundreds each year on an $80,000 budget. Imagine what this ministry can do with $150,000 in 2010.

What if we don’t reach that man in Seattle next year that is viewing porn at work before he loses his job and marriage? What if that devastated spouse doesn’t find support from others?

Each year, internet porn gains $1 billion in revenue. Help L.I.F.E. next year by donating $100 (or a comfortable amount) today – let’s restore more lives and marriages in 2010!

http://www.freedomeveryday.org/donations

1 comment:

Chip said...

Could you be more specific about your sources. You mention AP a few times but not a specific source. AP associated press?

I am interested in using some of these stats as I sometimes talk to people about sexual addiction as a person in recovery myself I can clearly speak to addiction and treatment on a personal basis but when it comes to stats they need to be verified when challanged.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Chip