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    In today's ".com" era, kids as young as four can be exposed to sex online. "More than a decade after the American public started cruising the Web, it is clear that children can find everything from nudity to sites featuring sexual violence and other extremes. For parents, this creates challenges that never existed before: how to keep porn away from young eyes, and what to do when safety measures fail." http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-01-29-porn-protection_x.htm

CBS news has also recently covered the topic of porn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Tg3FuzU2s . So what can we do? First, we must LEARN how porn is coming in to our homes. Next, we must TALK to our children about what they might find online and tell them to flee from it as fast as they can. FINALLY, we must put filters to make finding such material more difficult. Because filters do not block everything, it is more important to talk to our children about the subject. How do we do that? Start with scientific fact. Randy Hyde, a clinical psychologist, and Bernell Christensen, a marriage and family therapist say that pornography greatly affects the chemicals in the brain that causes porn to be a true addiction, like drugs or alcohol. The following chemicals are released in the brain when someone views pornography.

1) Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that focuses attention and energy and gives the body a sense of excitement or arousal.

2) Nor epinephrine – causes the brain to have precise recall of experiences or images.

3) Oxytocin – is a chemical that causes a sense of bonding. "During sexual intimacy, a tidal wave of oxytocin is released at climax, forging a powerful bond" and causes porn viewers to bond powerfully with the images.

4) Serotonin is my "drug of choice" because it is what causes women to crave chocolate during PMS. The chocolate triggers this chemical to be released, the darker the chocolate, the stronger the dose of serotonin. It is a natural stress relief and a relaxant. Porn viewers get a "release" from life by watching porn when serotonin is present.

Click here to listen about this topic.

    Why should kids care about brain chemicals? Using scientific facts to talk about this subject makes it less uncomfortable for them. Also, kids are going to be more receptive when you can back up what you are trying to tell them with facts. Sometimes listening to Mom and Dad's advice just isn't the cool thing to do. But if you can give them facts as to how porn becomes an addiction instead of just a pep talk, it will stick with them much easier. Who knows, they may even want to share this information with their friends because it will make them sound smart.

    Beyond telling children what happens to people's brains when they look at porn, it is probably more important to tell them about Jesus. If Jesus lives in your home, within one or both parents, and you give your faith and trust to Him, he will see you through.

Philippians 4:7, 8    7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Psalm 101:3         I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.

Matthew 5: 8        Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matthew 5:27,28    27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Porn does not affect boys only, although most pornography is targeted at guys, women young and old are also pulled in. But, there is a difference in the WHY when it comes to girls and boys. Boys view porn mostly because they are addicted to the "drugs" released into the brain while viewing. Girls, on the other hand, look at porn because they do not have a positive self image and they want to become the desirable woman in the pictures. "Women, more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life such as having multiple partners, casual sex, or affairs." http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html

    It is true that women do get addicted to the brain chemicals, but they originally view the porn in the first place because they have been taught that beauty is on the outside, not the inside. Girls need to be taught from an early age what it means to be a lovely work of art by the Father. In a desperate search for beauty, girls seek images to tell them what they have to do to be considered beautiful by the world.

Proverbs 31:30        Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

 

    I cannot stress the importance of talking to your children enough. Tell them why they need to stay away from porn. Tell them that God made them very special and has a plan for their lives that cannot be fulfilled if they are engaged in such sin. Have faith that God will speak words of wisdom into your children's ears when you are not there to guide them.