Missionary Positions: XXXChurch.Com Tackles Porn genre: Hip-Gnosis & Uncivil Unions
While I frequently criticize religion and those who have used it as a vehicle for their own self-interest, every now and then I've come across some people of faith who are actually willing to take an honest look at people and then set out to make a difference. The following documentary, Missionary Positions, is about two such Christian ministers who started xxxchurch.com to assist Christians who are addicted to pornography. I wrote about their ministry in the past in a piece titled, Icebergs And Identities: What Lies Beneath?
Before proceeding I want to offer one caveat. I respect these guys for addressing an issue that is prevalent in society...as well as in many of those who are affiliated with religion. On the other hand, I'm not sure that the approach they employ will produce the intended outcome since I don't necessarily think that immersing oneself in religion actually puts a halt to this or any other addiction. I say as much because we're all aware of the many ministers who have succumbed to any number of carnal obsessions and fallen from grace.
In fact, part of the problem, as I've outline in the posting mentioned above, is that religion frequently seeks to cast sex as sin, ignoring the fact that it is an integral part of our human identity. In my opinion, the goal shouldn't be to extinguish pornography; it ought to be to encourage and educate our children that sex is a healthy component of human behavior and, when channeled properly, it should and will enhance our relationships.
Until we abandon the sex as sin construct, everything that is negatively associated with sex and porn will continue to propagate. I relate the pornography problem to the notion of, "you can pay me now or pay me later". When we cease stifling sex education in our schools and begin to encourage our children to incorporate their sexuality into a healthy identity, we will begin to disarm the power of pornography.
By the way, while pornography is the subject of this documentary, it is, for the most part, tastefully presented. The video is just over 71 minutes in length.
Tagged as: Craig Gross, Mike Foster, Pornography, Religion, Sex, Sex Education, Sexuality
Daniel DiRito | June 28, 2008 | 2:26 PM
Comments
1 On July 5, 2008 at 1:57 PM, michael wrote —
XXX church you people are wicked and God will destroy you!
repent!
XXX church is evil...
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/01/wally-the-weine.html
Imagine showing up to church next sunday and finding a 30 foot high erect phallus on top of your church or in the church parking lot announcing a sermon series on Pornography. "Absurd and ridiculous", you say. "No Christian Church or Ministry would ever resort to something as shameful as a giant phallus", you say. Sadly, you'd be wrong. (Warning: Explicit Link)
According to Wally's Website:
Mike and Craig of XXXchurch dreamed up the idea of Wally one afternoon in sunny southern California. XXXchurch exists to bring awareness, openness, accountability and recovery to the church, society and individuals in the issues of pornography and to begin to provide solutions through non-judgmental and creative means. XXXchurch is here to make you think, react and to decide where you stand on the issues of porn. We're not here to sling mud, but to shove the envelope and try and do some good.
Call us old fashioned but the church doesn't need marketing gimmicks in the form of a giant inflatable phallus to fight porn. The church needs to get back to preaching God's Word and the message of Christ Crucified for Sinners.
2 On July 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM, michaelmarkley wrote —
even the 700 club is in on this supporting XXXchurch
I rebuked Pat Roberson for supporting this evil…! he is wicked!
on 700 club..
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=6873303
also the "way of the master" is against XXX church's dragging the church down and making it look bad, there is a blog on the way of the master,, radio where they say XXX church is real wrong..they show a video of XXXchurch's porn puppet and a porn producer Ron Jeremy telling children at a grocery store porn is not for children but is for adults...this is abomination check it out..
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1389981839&channel=1185329932
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/01/wally-the-weine.html
Imagine showing up to church next sunday and finding a 30 foot high erect phallus on top of your church or in the church parking lot announcing a sermon series on Pornography. "Absurd and ridiculous", you say. "No Christian Church or Ministry would ever resort to something as shameful as a giant phallus", you say. Sadly, you'd be wrong. (Warning: Explicit Link)
According to Wally's Website:
Mike and Craig of XXXchurch dreamed up the idea of Wally one afternoon in sunny southern California. XXXchurch exists to bring awareness, openness, accountability and recovery to the church, society and individuals in the issues of pornography and to begin to provide solutions through non-judgmental and creative means.
3 On July 6, 2008 at 12:08 PM, daniel wrote —
Michael,
I appreciate the fact you've chosen to share your thoughts. At the same time, I can't help but notice the level of denial that you impart.
While you're assailing xxxchurch for dragging the church down and making it look bad, countless high profile ministers have been found to be engaged in acts far worse than the viewing of pornography. Why call xxxchurch evil and wicked when all they are doing is being honest about a pervasive problem? Let's be clear, the inflatable phallus isn't the problem.
Unfortunately, you're approach seems to be similar to so many who would rather bury their head in the sand than confront the realities that exist. Do you think fire and brimstone is going to stop a teenage boy from picking up a Playboy magazine? If you do, you must reside on another planet.
At least Mike and Craig are willing to admit that sex and sexual curiosity exist and that talking about it might take away some of the power it gains when it is portrayed in a manner reminiscent of the proverbial apple.
Frankly, the prudish posture, adopted by so many religious institutions with regard to sexuality, is simply fomenting and fostering the very prurience you abhor. Sexual desires swept under the rug are still sexual desires. Do you want to help people or make sure they don't make the church look bad? That doesn't seem like a very honest or Christian approach to me.
In fact, I'm of the opinion that the sex as sin construct simply accelerates the compulsions of those who have been taught to view sex as wrong and evil. It would be far better to talk about sex in a healthy manner and characterize it as a natural element of our humanity...one that can be a rewarding adjunct to loving relationships.
Honestly, what is wrong with using an inflatable phallus as the means to encourage men to discuss what they're doing while hiding behind their computer screens? Half of the world's population has a penis and most of the other half will marry a man who has one. Seeing an inflatable penis causes what? Does it make men look at porn? Does it make women want to have sex? In vilifying it, you give it power. The point xxxchurch is making is that it needn't be that way.
Finally, this "repent" and "God will destroy you" nonsense is absurd. Who appointed you to judge whether Mike and Craig's work is an abomination? If they've helped some men break their addiction to porn, do you really think God will destroy them for doing so?
In the end, you can choose to live by fear or you can choose to live deliberately. The bottom line is that people will always have problems. At least xxxchurch is willing to admit as much. If you think you're going to rid the world of pornography and adultery through fear, you're sorely mistaken.
Regards,
Daniel
4 On July 6, 2008 at 1:12 PM, michaelmarkley wrote —
Daniel
your as sick and evil as they are,,
people like you have attempted with the power of satan to destroy Gods church,,I have good news for you,,unless you repent, Jesus has the honor of destroying You and sending You to a devils hell
that you justly deserve to go to,,,I would not be surprised if you invite XXXchurch with their 30 ft tall wally the wiener to your church,,are you going to teach your children its christian?
your repulsive ..
michaelmarkley@yahoo.com
5 On July 6, 2008 at 6:38 PM, daniel wrote —
Michael,
The only thing that exceeds your intolerance is your arrogance. Regardless, I'm happy to publish your thoughts and comments...as well as the judgmental tenor and tone they impart.
At the same time, I take comfort in knowing that you lack the ability and the authority to condemn anyone to hell. Secondly, since I don't believe it exists, I could care less where you think your version of your religion leads you to believe I will eventually reside.
Truth be told, I have little doubt that I am far less repulsive than the dogmatic drivel that flows so freely from your mouth.
You take care and enjoy your self-imposed prison. In the meantime, I plan to get on with living a full life...unencumbered by man-made mystical manipulations.
Regards,
Daniel
6 On July 6, 2008 at 7:08 PM, michael wrote —
daniel
you fit very well in the XXX church and Gross's religion,,since you deny that God has a lake of fire (hell) you dont have to worry about
if Craig Gross and His XXX church comes and exposes your children or any other children to His 30 foot tall sex organ or brings in the Porn puppet and Jeremey "the Porn producer" to explain that porn is for adults,,,
you have created a Idol that you control and can dictate your oppinion of right and wrong..
the only problem is your Idol cannot save you or XXX church.com..
Jesus is Lord
michael////
7 On July 9, 2008 at 5:15 AM, michaelmarkley wrote —
Hey ,, a 30 ft wally the wiener is not Christian,,its sick
theses people are sick! ;;;; peter the porn puppet with Ron Jeremy telling children at a grocery porn is for adults is Sick..
I really think Ron Jeremy is behind XXX church it is a stunt by Him like the tobacco companies anti smoking campains...
I would not be surprised if Ron Jeremy started and Financed XXX Church.com.....................
Trackback Pings
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Missionary Positions: XXXChurch.Com Tackles Porn:
» Missionary Positions: xxxchurch.com Tackles Porn from www.buzzflash.net
The following documentary, Missionary Positions, is about two Christian ministers who started xxxchurch.com to assist those who are addicted to pornography. While it is a noble effort, until we cease viewing sex as sin, stifling sex education in our sc... [Read More]
Tracked on June 28, 2008 7:32 PM
© Copyright 2024
Post a comment