CASTIMONIA

Sexual Purity Support & Recovery Group

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Exposing Adult Entertainment Industry PR Tactics: A Heads Up for Parents

by Kristen Jenson

Porn is harmful, can cause an uncontrollable addiction, loss of employment, and may destroy a child’s ability to enjoy future loving, long-term relationships.

Study after study shows this is true. But you might not think so if you believe the media. That’s because the PR machine of the porn industry is hard at work.

Recently I and my team attended the Utah Coalition Against Pornography’s annual conference. Keynote speaker Dr. Donald L. Hilton, Jr., MD, a neurosurgeon and expert on pornography addiction, described four ways the porn industry is working to make over its bad image.

Porn Industry Tactics You Need to Know About

Tactic # 1: Pay for junk science that “proves” porn is good or at least not harmful. Companies with lots of money can hire PhD’s to conduct “studies” whose results conveniently help promote the corporations’ products and are used as ammunition against their critics. (Years ago the dairy industry got caught doing this when they touted a “study” which said that eating dairy helped people lose weight. They got sued and had to retract.)

For example, people are waking up to the fact that using pornography can become an addiction, so the porn industry comes out with a “study” that says that porn is not addictive—there are just people out there with “high sex needs” who use it. According to Dr. Hilton, the press publicizes these junk science studies and ignores other valid studies that show how pornography damages brains, lives and relationships.

Tactic #2: Make up a nicer word. In the academic world, pornography is now “visual sexual stimulation”—a much nicer, sanitized euphemism that helps to cosmetically improve the dark underworld image of porn–the one associated with sex trafficking, prostitution, addiction and child abuse.

Tactic # 3: Sue the psychologist! According to Hilton, some clients in California are encouraged to report their psychologist if they are diagnosed and then treated for a porn addiction—a condition that isn’t recognized in the psychologist’s bible, the DSM, as an actual addiction. WHAT???

Tactic # 4: Watch it so you don’t need it! The porn industry wants us to believe that watching porn provides a “safety valve” for people with “high sex needs” so they don’t go out and commit rape on innocent victims. As long as potential perpetrators are satiated by watching porn, we’re all a lot safer, they reason.

Hmmmm….let’s extend this logic to the real world. As long as your kids simply watch commercials portraying tempting visuals of hamburgers, fries, and sodas, they won’t actually want to eat the potentially harmful fast food. That works, right?

I don’t think so. It’s a well-known fact that virtually all sexual predators have a history of porn use. Co-author Dr. Gail Poyner of Good Pictures Bad Pictures counseled sex addicts in prison and never met one that wasn’t also heavily involved in pornography. The infamous serial killer Ted Bundy admitted in a final interview that pornography was a huge contributing factor to perpetrating his violent sexual fantasies, something he had in common with other serial killers.

And there’s this troubling news from the UK:

A new report in the United Kingdom revealed a startling trend of young boys being charged with rape or other sexual crimes, with authorities claiming online pornography is leading to the increase.

So what’s the takeaway?

Your kids will “hear” these and many more pro-porn arguments as they grow up. Begin young to teach your kids the truth about pornography. Teach them your values before popular culture teaches them something completely false. For example, older children can understand:

  1. Not everything we hear or read in the media is true. Scientific studies must be designed and interpreted with great care, and some studies that get reported in the press are poorly done or purposefully misinterpreted.
  2. Pornography is harmful to the brain and psyche no matter what you call it.
  3. Pornography can become an actual physical and chemical addiction.
  4. Viewing pornography can lead to acting out physically in inappropriate ways. In other words, watching porn can instigate people to commit crimes.

Have you noticed “pro-porn” news stories or media? How do you push back against these influences on your kids?

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Set Free Summit – April 4 – 7, 2016 – Greensboro, NC

http://setfreesummit.org/

Set Free Conference

 

 

About the Set Free Summit

Pornography is pervasive in our culture—in TV shows and movies, on your neighbor’s magazine cover on the airplane, and especially on the Internet. Even Christian men and women can get caught up in this addictive behavior, and yet most church leaders don’t have a clue about how to broach the subject at all, let alone break free.

On April 4-7, 2016, Josh McDowell Ministry and Covenant Eyes are hosting the Set Free Summit, a global summit to equip church leaders with the facts and emotional realities of porn’s impact on families, the church, and culture at large. This event, held in Greensboro, NC, will feature the presentation of a brand new study by the Barna Group, as well as three full days of information presented by Christian leaders from across the country.

Fast Facts About the Event

  • April 4-7, 2016
  • 1,000 tickets available
  • Features all-new research about pornography across various denominations from the Barna Group
  • Nearly 30 speakers scheduled to give 23 talks

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CASTIMONIA Book – Revised Edition

https://www.createspace.com/5554305

I am humbled to announce the “official” publishing of our ministry’s resource book:

CASTIMONIA

THUMBNAIL_IMAGE

Authored by Servants of Christ
Edition: First Edition (Revised)

I want to thank everyone that sent feedback to the Castimonia Literature Committee (or me) on the First Edition of the book, or the “First 50” copies.  Bill W. of Alcoholics Anonymous had the privilege of having the “First 40” of the Big Book of AA reviewed and thus Castimonia was fortunate enough to have the “First 50” reviewed.  All feedback was appreciated and changes were made to the original First Edition in order to better help men who struggle with Sexual Purity.

Castimonia is Latin for “moral purity” something every man should strive for.

Castimonia is a Christ-centered 12-Step Support and Recovery program for sexual impurity or sexual addiction with the goal to achieve a Biblically-based sexual purity. We share our experience, strength, and hope with each other so that we may achieve sexual purity and help others overcome sexual impurity or compulsive sexual behaviors.

This book is used for working the 12-step Castimonia program and should be used with the guidance of a Sponsor only.  The revised first edition includes text on a proper sexual purity recovery program, a thorough working of the 12 Steps, stories from men in the group, and a work book for working the 12-Steps.

Many thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous and Sex Addicts Anonymous for paving the way in the 12-Step world as well as the countless men in recovery and the therapists that have helped facilitate God’s healing of their wounds.  Most importantly, thank you to the patient spouses who have put up with our issues long enough to make this ministry and book possible.

Original Publication Date: August 22, 2015
Revised Edition Publication Date: January 20, 2016

ISBN/EAN13: 151531023X / 978-1515310235
Page Count: 454
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 6″ x 9″
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Related Categories: Self-Help / Twelve-Step Programs

The book can be purchased at any Castimonia meeting  or via the Create Space store. 

If you are a man struggling with Sexual Purity and would like to purchase a copy of the book for the same amount as sold at Castimonia meetings ($20) please contact the publisher, Armaturam, LLC for a discount rate: Jorge@Armaturam.org

https://www.createspace.com/5554305

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Star Wars: Redemption – VIDEO (Part 3)

This is the finale of the previous two Anakin Skywalker movies, Star Wars: The Fall and Star Wars: Tribulation.  One of the most fundamental items to understand about the Star Wars Saga is that it is not just a battle between rebels and an empire, it is all about the redemption of one man, Anakin Skywalker. 

The Star Wars Saga was probably one of the best film series ever created and had an amazing recovery theme.  Below is a short summary of the overall movie from Wikipedia:

Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise centered on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of various characters “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”, mostly involving, but not limited to, the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker.

In this final part of the Star Wars Redemption Trilogy, we see Darth Vader continue to struggle with the fact that he has a son and the Emperor (the addiction) wants to cause harm to his son after years of tormenting Darth Vader.  Many of us in recovery have felt the Holy Spirit speak to us about our children and the effects that our addiction had on them.  For Darth Vader, it is just the same.  A struggle continues inside of Darth Vader.  He knows he has lost a lot to the Dark Side, his first master, Qui-Gon Jinn murdered by a Sith, his mother, Schmi Skywalker murdered by evil Sand People, and even his wife, Padmé Amedala who dies from a broken heart after Anakin chooses the Dark Side.  Now there is a possibility of losing his son Luke to the Dark Side, aka the unhealthy lifestyle.  Will he draw the line and say this problem ends with him, or will he allow the addiction to continue and pass on to his son?  Can someone so vile and evil be redeemed or is he destined to live a life of anger and rage?

One of the things I explain to my daughters is that my own personal story is a lot like Anakin Skywalker’s.  A lot of bad stuff happened to me when I was a child that formed me into an unhealthy individual that made a lot of bad choices.  For 30 years, I was involved in unhealthy behaviors.  But like Anakin, I was redeemed from my past with the help of the “Son” Jesus Christ and now do good for the Lord.  My small children seem to understand this and have compassion on Darth Vader rather than fear him.  Maybe we should all have compassion on those that have fallen into the pit.  After all, if I, “Darth Vader” can be redeemed than anyone can.  I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I enjoyed creating it.  As always, take what you like and leave the rest.

 

FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, & education, etc. This constitutes a ’fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED! All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their owners.

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PERSPECTIVE AFTER THE AFFAIR

This is a very good write-up by a wife in recovery.  The only thing I don’t agree with is the two statements that her husband was the healer and her husband had to carry her.  Although a husband can facilitate the wife’s healing, I believe God is the only healer and that it is He who carries the wife through the emotional tornado.  Take what you like and leave the rest…

Originally posted by: huperecho: to rise above

I’ve decided to clean up my blog and just regroup a little. It’s been two years since my world starting falling apart and I see things a little differently now and definitely with a clearer perspective or maybe a different perspective would be more accurate. There are things I did or said that I wished I hadn’t but I have to give myself some grace here because the pain of infidelity is unlike any pain I have experienced before. Add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on top of the pain and sometimes you just can’t think as straight as you would like to and you often act before your common sense can kick in. I am happy to say because my greatest desire was to serve God and be the example of a Christian woman, there were many things I didn’t do that I wanted to. I also attribute my faith to the amazingly quick healing process

I did learn that no one and I mean no one can understand the pain that a betrayed goes through except another betrayed spouse. You can sympathize but cannot come close to empathizing. It took my husband 8 months to even begin the process of being my healer because although he saw my pain he could not feel it. It hurt him to see how hurt I was but he could not put himself in my shoes since he never experienced being the betrayed. I remember when a woman and man in our church went through it. I couldn’t understand her rage, anger, hate or bitterness. I thought it was my job to remind her how important it was to forgive. I also was mentoring the Other Woman and allowed her to keep coming to our church not knowing how it was terrorizing the betrayed woman. I thought I had all the answers UNTIL I went through it. In my own pain she was the first person I thought of and ran to to ask for forgiveness because at that moment I knew what it felt like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

One of the things I had to accept was that my husband was not going to be able to walk in my shoes but he could be the one to carry me when I couldn’t walk any further. I think we betrayed can allow the pain of the affair to control our life because we are so busy trying to make the betrayer feel what’s impossible for him to feel. So it drags on and on until we recognize that our happiness does not depend on another person understanding our pain. It’s helpful for sure but WE are responsible for our happiness. Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Where your thoughts go there your energy flows. It is important not to deny your feelings but we have to be careful to not carry around unreal expectations of our spouse’s feelings.

Another thing I had to accept was that my betrayer husband was suffering pain too. My husband’s pain came from losing his job, career, integrity, respect etc….I knew he was hurting and I somewhat knew what it felt to lose the things you love because I lost all my ministries. Even so I could not truly understand what he was going through but God gave me grace and sympathy for him even while I was in my own pain. It was tough! I was dying inside because of the choices he made. It was his fault we were suffering. He chose to go outside our marriage rather then fight for it with a willing wife. Thoughts crossed my mind often that he had no right to feel sorry for himself but I saw him repentant and sorry for what he had done, so I never allowed those thoughts to take over and was able to extend mercy as well as grace.

I resolved it in my heart that whether Lee and I stayed together, I was not going to allow bitterness and anger to rob me of the plans I knew God had for my life. I was not going to let the enemy have my family or my husband without a fight. I refused to become and angry, bitter woman.