Has Pornography Been a Problem for a Long Time? Is it Only a Problem in America?

Dear reader,

While many ancient writings no longer exist, we do know that pornography is not a new problem. One writer observed that pornographic literature or art has been around since humans could write or draw. The Canaanites (people whom the Israelites were to drive out of the Promised Land) had religions focused on false gods and goddesses who represented pornographic ideas.

We have records of ancient Greek and Roman literature that included pornography. Jesus warned against the immoral viewing of that kind of material, when He said: "Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). Paul told young Timothy to "flee…youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).

Many trace the beginnings of modern pornography to the 1650s, when several major pornographic works were released. Pornography has been much more widely accepted in European countries than in America, but American promoters of pornography are using the Internet more eagerly, so many unrighteous Americans see less and less wrong with it. Instead of asking a good question like yours, many Americans might ask: "Is pornography really that bad?" How tragic.

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