Are you curious about pornography? Perhaps you've already viewed what would be considered pornographic material. Maybe you are thinking about it or maybe you are addicted to pornography and can't stop. Just how dangerous could this be? What's the big deal?

Pornography is defined in Webster's Dictionary as "the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement. " So how bad could viewing pictures be or reading details?

Pornography can take over a persons life unexpectedly and very rapidly become a life long escalating problem that is never satisfied for long. Although it starts out as what seems to be harmless curiousity, pornography entices the victim and develops a thirst for more. Often the person is content with just viewing certain types of pictures or reading low-level types of descriptions of various acts but then there comes a point where that is just "no longer satisfying" and they being to wonder - - to get curious. What else is out there? What about movies? These may also be good for a time but then they too grow to be not as stimulating so the victim continues to look on until they begin a deceptive spiral that continues to grow out of control. Sooner or later masturbation enters into the scene and later a need may develop for acting out things that have been viewed or read. This continues to grow and foster.

So does this mean that everyone who views pornography will become helplessly addicted and out of control? No. But the chances are pretty high that if you begin in your teenage years to explore pornography to such a degree that you no longer control it, but it controls you - you will have difficulties in your later relationships - even after marriage. The chances also increase that you will, after continuous progression, develop into a sexually aggressive person that would go to whatever extremes necessary for that durg-like "high" that has been allowed to seap into your life in unhealthy ways. Ted Bundy was one of many who have grown out of control that will confess that their beginnings came from their love of pornography. But your not like that - I mean after all - it's only a magazine or a video - or maybe computer sex....no biggie right? Wrong.

Many married individuals find nothing wrong with computer sex with others outside of the marriage. This is becoming a fascinating trend. Teenagers also are quick to get their "curiousness" out of the way and explore sexuality via the net. What's harmful about this is that these acts diminish the beautiful act of sex that is present in marriage between two people who love each other. What takes place is a mechanical self-seeking lust for a picture, a person, or a fantasy. If you are married - you are still committing adultery even if it is done over the computer or even the phone. If you are unmarried, you are toying with your future relationship(s) by putting them at risk. How?

If you are a teenager and your view of sex comes from what you is currently viewed on TV or from those hidden faces behind your computer monitor, your ideas of sex will not only be distorted, but they will lack essential elements for meaningful relationships. Things do not progress naturally as they would in a normal environment. More than likely your information you obtain about pleasurable sex and relationships will be more than erroneous. Lets face it - the others on the screen are in it for the same reason you are - for selfish reason covered with smooth talk. You will tend to view the opposite sex as objects. Respect for opposite sex will also diminish and may I add that if you become addicted to pornography, respect for yourself will also become diminished. You will want to stop, but find you cannot. The addiction is as real as if you were addicted to a drug.

Ask someone from a counselor or related position if pornography plays a very big role in a persons later years and ever growing problems. I hope that you will ask help from others and not learn on your own but through others mistakes.

God has intended a monogamous relationship between one woman and one man. This is not a restriction on a persons life - it is for protection. When you go outside the marriage relationship for sexual acts (either before or after marriage) you open the door for progressive problems in your life and in those whose lives you touch.

Wherever you are at in this web of pornography, stop now. Seek help if you cannot stop this unquenchable desire. The longer you are a part of this type of life, the longer will be your recovery from it. And yes, it is a recovery. Just as an alcoholic or a drug addict, you must remove completely this area from your life in order to be free of it. Until then it ensnares you and deceives you and will bring misery into your life.

Seek God and pray about your current situation. Ask Him for the strength to overcome this. The more involved you are, the more you will need others to help you through out of this addiction. You need support, understanding, and unconditional love. Everyone has their personal stumbling block - an area that they have difficulty in dealing with temptations in. Some are more serious then others. Assuredly, this is a very real and a very serious issue to rid of.

Everyone has a curiosity about sex and relations, especially a teenager going through puberty. Those curious wonders are normal. But it's what you do about it that draws the line. Get accurate facts from reputable sources. Read the bible where it will clearly warn you of pervisions and unhealthy lusts and how you open yourself up to all sorts of things you weren't planning on having to deal with.

Your life is more important than this addiction and this can be overcome. You have to be the one to make the decision to stop - before you are unable to. Are you happy with yourself about what you are doing? What if others who are close to you found out? Is this something you would feel comfortable talking about with your future children? Would you encourage anyone to engage in what you are doing? Will you feel comfortable telling your spouse or future spouse? How much of your life does this control?

God is a forgiving God and He can make a way when there seems to be no way. Seek Him. Ask Him for forgiveness. Read His word and seek out a support group or a group of those who are secure and trustworthy to support you and your situation. You should not be looked down upon but treated with love and compassion. But you have to help yourself before anyone else can. Turn to God, won't you? He's waiting to help, but you have to allow Him to.

The following were shared by those who were once addicted to pornography and their testimony on how they broke free through Christ. Please take a moment and read of their experiences: Testimony 1 / Testimony 2

I would like to hear from you - please e-mail to Tammi. I'll answer whatever questions you have through scripture and based on my personal experiences with Jesus Christ and what a difference He can make in a life!