I used to view pornography, but I stopped because of God's prompting, and I believe this prompting, pull, or urge can be used as evidence for God's existence. I didn't grow up in a Christian home. I didn't even grow up in a religious home. And I've grown up during a time where pornography is no longer seen as a taboo. So, where did this very powerful urge to not view pornography come from? I've always believed in God, but this urge didn't come in the form of, "Do not look at this or you're going to Hell," or "Do not look at this because God says so!" This urge was voiceless, foundational, and powerful.
In an attempt to uncover the source of this urge, I remember asking myself various questions like if two consenting adults choose to have sex on camera and purposely disseminate the footage to the public, then in what way am I wronging anyone by viewing the footage in the privacy of my own home? Or perhaps an even better example would be an unmarried woman who photographs herself nude, and then purposely disseminates the photo to the public. Why am I being urged to not look at such material?
If societal pressures or my upbringing did not produce this urge, then what or who produced it? If I were an atheist, then I suppose my next step would be to look at nature itself or more specifically, evolution. But the urge doesn't seem to come from there either, because how would it benefit the survival of the species for its members to not gaze upon unmarried naked women? On the contrary, if evolution were truly unguided and chiefly about increasing the survivability of each species, then I'd expect to have a powerful urge to look at naked unmarried women without any inner conflict.
If upbringing, society, or nature isn't producing this urge, then is this not a signpost to God? More specifically, to the Holy Spirit? I believe so.
With that being said, if you feel this prompting to do good, then it is from God and you should listen. He's trying to guide you to Him.
In an attempt to uncover the source of this urge, I remember asking myself various questions like if two consenting adults choose to have sex on camera and purposely disseminate the footage to the public, then in what way am I wronging anyone by viewing the footage in the privacy of my own home? Or perhaps an even better example would be an unmarried woman who photographs herself nude, and then purposely disseminates the photo to the public. Why am I being urged to not look at such material?
If societal pressures or my upbringing did not produce this urge, then what or who produced it? If I were an atheist, then I suppose my next step would be to look at nature itself or more specifically, evolution. But the urge doesn't seem to come from there either, because how would it benefit the survival of the species for its members to not gaze upon unmarried naked women? On the contrary, if evolution were truly unguided and chiefly about increasing the survivability of each species, then I'd expect to have a powerful urge to look at naked unmarried women without any inner conflict.
If upbringing, society, or nature isn't producing this urge, then is this not a signpost to God? More specifically, to the Holy Spirit? I believe so.
With that being said, if you feel this prompting to do good, then it is from God and you should listen. He's trying to guide you to Him.
