A Must-Read Article on Pornography and the Brain

This article by Donald L. Hilton of Salvo Magazine is a cogent, no-nonsense scientific explanation of the ways pornography rewires the brain — and the sociological implications of porn’s recent move into the cultural mainstream.

What is a Pirate Monk?

In March of 2007, I mailed a copy of my brand-new book “Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood” to a guy named Michael Spencer. In the world of blogging and podcasting, Michael is known as The Internet Monk. He publishes his insightful and entertaining ruminations under the subtitle “Dispatches from the Post-Evangelical Wilderness” at www.internetmonk.com. Michael is an influential guy. I sent him my book hoping he’d read it.

A few weeks later, a highly complimentary review and recommendation appeared on the Internet Monk website. “Nate Larkin’s Samson and the Pirate Monks is a five star book,” Michael wrote. “As far as men’s books go, it may be one of the best books I’ve ever read, far surpassing most of what comes out of the Christian ’men’s’ movement. There’s a great story, tremendous insight into real life, humbling vulnerability, practical application and the kind of humility, humor and honesty that IM readers value.”

That was my favorite part of the review. What really killed me, though, was Michael’s opening line, the one he used to set the whole review up: “It’s a great book that needs a better title. Seriously good book. The title has gotta go.”

Michael would

Pastors and Porn

My friend Paul Coughlin, the radio host and author of “No More Christian Nice Guy,” has asked me to explain in 150 words or less what makes so many pastors susceptible to porn addiction. Since I am a former pastor and an admitted porn addict, Paul thought I might have some insight into the problem.

Most pastors are not porn addicts, of course. But in an anonymous survey conducted recently by Pastors.com, 54 percent of pastors admitted viewing porn within the last year. That’s a lot of pastors.

Since the survey was conducted online, it’s pretty safe to conclude that those pastors who admitted viewing porn had found it on the Internet, where pornographers freely dispense their wares to any anonymous web surfer. It is the perceived anonymity of the Internet, I think, which has given so many men, including pastors, the courage to experiment there.

Why would a pastor look at porn? First, because he’s male, and sexual curiosity is hard-wired into the male human body. Second, because he lives in a fallen world, one in which his natural sexual instincts have been warped and titillated. Third, because he works under incredible stress, his performance critiqued on a weekly basis by an