Do you believe in demons and is pornography sinful?

[kanicbird]

@Czarcasm

Revealed by who?

For one by the demon itself as I described, and also that parallels with the OP’s demon who also made such a claim.

But also when trying to get rid of that thing, I was researching different books, one that may have gone over this is ‘They Shall Expel Demons’ by Derick Prince. While I’m not sure if this is where it went into spiritual contracts, it was a great resource for my understanding and I think it may have.

@Czarcasm

Did you, at any time, seek the help of a medical professional?

Yes, 3 separate psychologist (1 Christian), each time we got to a point that each one told me to continue to do what I’m doing, and they felt they would only hinder my efforts and discontinued sessions.

[Czarcasm]

@kanicbird

Yes, 3 separate psychologist (1 Christian)

Any professional psychiatrists?

[kanicbird]

@Czarcasm

Any professional psychiatrists?

At one time, during the breakup of the marriage. This was before my understanding about the demon.

[Czarcasm]

About the problem you have with demons, or something else?

[pulykamell]

I don’t believe in demons, good, evil, or sin. (Though that may well depend on your definition for each word. Anything supernatural, just no.)

[Czarcasm]

Personally, the amount of science/knowledge you have to ignore and deny to begin to believe in them simply astounds me.

[kanicbird]

Maybe, but perhaps you would feel differently if you were personally involved. It’s easy to stand back and pass judgement on someone elses experience.

[Czarcasm]

Seeking professional help would be my first step.

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

I’ve got so,e porno art drawn as demons.
Very naughty girls indeed.
But no, to both.

[FrenchDunadan]

Did you ask an exorcist? (or depending of your faith another professionnal of the occult)

[kaylasdad99]

@GIGObuster

I have the theory that sometimes the brain enjoys giving your fears and concerns too much power in your dreams, and resents when you figure out a way to deal with the fears that it tosses at you.

I have an opposite hypothesis. Your brain wasn’t enjoying the sleep paralysis any more than you were, and was training you to cure yourself.

[DSeid]

@Wesley_Clark

if you’re having these experiences and they are making you feel stressed and confused, it would be good to see a therapist

Agreed and was the point of my questions that remain unanswered.

For the purposes of this thread we accept the OP’s description of their experienced reality; no less real to them than my experienced reality is real to me or yours to you.

If what they experience is not interfering with their function in society or presenting a risk of harm to themselves or others, then why would they get help for it? Frankly why should they?

If it is then hopefully they see value is getting help to function with less distress.

Compulsive porn use can be debilitating. Self contempt, however it manifests, and for whatever the cause, can be debilitating. And who knows what a perceived demon might tell someone to do? The person though can hopefully recognize the value in getting help resisting acting on the advice that demon is giving as perhaps not in their best interest?

[Two_Many_Cats2]

For most of my life I have had imaginary friends and imaginary lovers.

I always knew they were not real. I knew they were creatures of thought that I created for my own pleasure and purposes.

That’s the difference. I knew, and still know what is real and what is not.

If you’re not sure, it’s time to seek professional help.

[Czarcasm]

@kanicbird

Yes, 3 separate psychologist (1 Christian), each time we got to a point that each one told me to continue to do what I’m doing, and they felt they would only hinder my efforts and discontinued sessions.

Where did you solicit help that this was the “help” they gave you??

[Voyager]

@puzzlegal

Also, in a farming community that required lots of child labor, and that also had no reliable birth control, producing lots of children to married couples was economically critical, and making sure the husband accepted his wife’s children as his was also important. Their in a little patriarchy and perhaps an aversion to male homosexuality, and we’ve got plenty of justification for biblical sexual rules.

But in Greece while heterosexual marriage was the norm, so was a relationship between a young man and an older man. Aristotle talks about this. So you could support marriage for its social benefits while not making homosexuality a great sin.

@Melbourne

I place pornography pretty much in the same place as computer games: ultimately pointless. As such, I consider it a sin.

Do is the Dope. You consider it sinful also?

[puzzlegal]

You are right that some homosexuality doesn’t prevent married couples from making babies. That’s why i also said:

@puzzlegal

Their in a little patriarchy and perhaps an aversion to male homosexuality,

That first word was supposed to be “throw”.

[DSeid]

@Voyager

so was a relationship between a young man and an older man.

Not an expert on this, but that was pederasty; not relationships between same sex adults. Which we would today frown upon for many good reasons. Acceptance of pederasty varied by city state as I understand and was not universally accepted.

[Czarcasm]

Which is another good reason why following ancient writings to get advice for modern problems is probably not the best way to go.

[Voyager]

@puzzlegal

You are right that some homosexuality doesn’t prevent married couples from making babies. That’s why i also said:

I agree that the aversion could have been the reason for the rule, but why the aversion? Cultures made babies just fine without making homosexuality a mortal sin.
We in the west are a bit crazy about sex (not in a good way) mostly due to religion which institutionalized biases.
I have a culture in a story I wrote where sex education is like drivers ed - you get to practice.
I can just imagine the “you can’t do that” reactions now.

[Roderick_Femm]

@madmonk28

My entire post touched on that when I said exploitation is so common as to become mainstream.

Thank you, I didn’t intend to change the emphasis of your post by selectively quoting. I am a person of my time, and I think that current levels of exposure to sexual content extend from freeing to appalling.

@Steve_MB

I am at a loss to identify a meaningful difference between this scenario and the possibility that (for example) watching celebrity chef shows will make one’s actual diet less satisfactory.

I can think of several meaningful differences; I’m not sure this is the thread to go into them.

@Little_Nemo

Isn’t the same true about watching anything on TV or movies?

No. Not remotely. But, as above, this probably isn’t the best place to discuss the differences.