I’m thinking of dealing with the topic of pornography in an upcoming issue of The Interim, but it is difficult to address the subject without delving into details that cannot be comfortably discussed in a family publication. Any way, the Witherspoon Institute has a book and excellent website dedicated to the issue of social costs of pornography that is worth examining. The website has some papers and all the presentations at a recent consultation on the subject. Right now I’m watching Norman Doidge’s talk on “Acquiring Tastes and Loves: What Neuroplasticity Teaches Us About Sexual Attraction and Love.” In other words, how does viewing pornography pervert our understanding of sex and sexuality.

It is hard not to address pornography without coming off a scold, but a point that many of the presenters raise is that it is not only morally wrong to view pornography, it is psychologically and socially damaging.