A free-thinker’s take on Pornollution by Tal Prince – A Campus Crusade for Christ’s (CRU) event

A free-thinker’s take on Pornollution by Tal Prince – A Campus Crusade for Christ’s (CRU) event

This is from memory and a few hastily jotted notes about an event a few weeks ago. Always read critically!

A few people on the Facebook linked to this event that the CRU was putting on. It was billed as “an experience that will trace the effects of hard-core pornography from its legalization in 1968 until today. Sex addiction will be discussed openly and honestly. Feel free to invite your friends to this event packed full of must know information and practical application.”

Being ever so slightly acquainted with pornography and having more than a passing interest in how the ‘other side’ thinks, I figured this was an event I wanted to attend. This was my first CRU event, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

I arrived a bit early as I’m prone to do. I entered the lobby area outside the lecture hall where the “open honest discussion” was to be. I was taken slightly aback by the assembled folks milling about listening to what I can only assume was ‘Christian Rock’. There were at least 60 folks awaiting entrance to the lecture hall. This attendance was well beyond my expectations. My experiences with student groups is minimal, but that many ‘Christians’ there to attend an event on ‘pornography and sex addiction’ was unanticipated. It was also a snowy Thursday evening, so I guess I assumed attendance would be light.

I saw a fellow BFS member and we began chatting about the strangeness of the environment we found ourselves in. We didn’t wait long as the lecture hall was opened soon after. There was music playing as we entered the hall. Blaring music. So loud it was difficult to think and nearly impossible to have a conversation. I can’t say this was intentional, but it did impede my ability to think prior to the ‘discussion’. I use quotes as this turned out to be a lecture with no audience participation.

The event began in earnest when the MC for the evening (a student). He welcomed all and sundry and gave a short spiel. He requested the ‘first timers’ raise their hands (I did), he then called for a greeting hug. Nearly the entire room some 60+ people began hugging… it was like the Peace handshake in a Catholic service. I remained seated. I noted how this was probably the first college event where hugging was called for. The MC spoke of some CRU business and introduced Tal Prince.

Mr. Prince is a recovered/recovering porn addict. He’s all better now thanks to Jesus. I don’t recall the full 90-ish minute talk, but I will recount some memorable highlights.

He used music (specifically the Billboard charts) as a measure of the ‘sexualization’ of pop culture. One of the first songs “All Shook Up” performed by Elvis Presley. It was number one on the Billboard charts in 1957. He used this as an example of a pure wholesome song from a pure wholesome time. Either Mr. Prince didn’t know or chose to neglect the fact that in that era, Elvis was “unfit for family viewing” said Ed Sullivan. And that a church sent a letter to J. Edgar Hoover warning “Presley is a definite danger to the security of the United States. ... [His] actions and motions were such as to rouse the sexual passions of teenaged youth.”

So his opening salvo in the ‘The world used to be a better place before porn was legal’ fell short in my opinion. Now the 19 year olds in the audience probably have no idea about the history of Elvis. To me it showed either ignorance or deceitfulness. Mr. Price said he was in his 40s, so ignorance is possible but even a quick scan of Wikipedia would turn up the above. I’m 33 and I knew of Elvis’ checkered past without checking the wiki. Other songs used were specifically selected to promote his view. Songs were selected for their sexual lyrics. A few that didn’t make the cut: “Another Brick in the Wall” and “Walk like an Egyptian”. Not sexual on any level, so they didn’t make it in.

The downfall of western civilization can be pinpointed. It happened in 1969. That is the year that Switzerland and the Netherlands made hardcore pornography legal. At least that’s what Mr. Prince really tried to insinuate. What he completely neglected to mention was everything else that was happening in the 60s. The birth control pill, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the social/feminist/sexual revolution that began in the late 60s and continued on into the 70s. Not a peep on them. Just the Netherlands and their legal pornography. This couldn’t possibly be ignorance. This was manipulating the truth, in my opinion. Now the 19-22 year olds that made up the majority of the audience may not have known this, but Mr. Prince must have.

Let see… other memorable moments…

Addiction is a WORSHIP problem. Really? I think the current psychological thinking is it’s a COPING problem. Using god as a coping mechanism is ok with me, provided it doesn’t become a new addiction. Then again using friends, family and therapy as a coping mechanism seem to be much better in my humble opinion.

“Sex is not a need.” “Jesus never ejaculated.” – Tal Prince
Yes, those are direct quotes. As for sex not being a need, again modern psychology would disagree. It may not be on the food/oxygen level but to be a healthy well adjusted adult, sex is a need. As much derision I sometimes cast on the soft sciences, they at least use the scientific method. On to holy semen… Jesus never ejaculated… really? A bold and silly position. Not one nocturnal emission in the awkward teenaged years? 30+ undocumented years of Jesus doing god knows what behind the proverbial tool shed? No mention in any version of bible either way… not much to stand on. Why even mention it?

Oh, he really went after the evolving use of euphemisms. He said something to the effect of: “If I was in public, and I asked you when the last time you had been intimate with someone, wouldn’t you be upset?” He went on to explain that intimate used to mean close or friendly, but now it means just one thing. It didn’t really make sense to me. Language evolves… intercourse used to mean a conversation, now it generally means sex. We are an inventive bunch, we love to use euphemisms. See Chaucer’s use of quaint in the Canterbury Tales which dates back to about 1483. Yep, legal porn is so bad it bends space/time.

The most memorable thing overall was Mr. Prince’s style. His honesty about addiction, behavior as an addict, the behavior of his wife as a codependent, and his humor really worked. He seemed genuine; he really knew what it was to be an addict. He described in detail the lying, hiding, denial, blame games, and narcissism that I’ve seen in addicts. He engaged his audience, he got them on his side. I can honestly say that if he left out all the religious cruft and blaming porn for the fall of civilization I would like this guy. I think his message, minus religion, could really help people struggling with addiction of any sort and especially those who share his addiction to porn/sex.

As a wrap up, he answered some selected questions sent by email (this event was moved due to weather). Again there was no really interaction with the crowd. When he was done they started a musical number. Too loud (yes I know I’m too old) and with lyrics about bathing in blood or some such. I left to the lobby to chat with the BFS folks and bide my time to talk to Tal after the music. The music lasted a good long time, but I persevered.

I didn't speak to the man himself, I was quickly passed off to his minions (the other two guys there from his church).

I began by saying I thought his use of humor, honesty and modern cultural references really did help him connect to the audience. I went on to say that his points on addiction itself, the behaviors of an addict, and the issues of codependency were spot on. They were smiles and nods at this point.

I then began to correct a few things about the lecture… The biggest one being addiction is a COPING problem NOT a worship problem. (Smiles begin to fade.) Legal or not porn has little if anything to do with people who are addicts, they find something that helps them cope and they go with that. Alcohol, illicit drugs, porn, sex, religion, etc… (Serious faces now) I agreed that addiction to anything is bad and that their message could be helpful to so many more people if they left out the Christ/Religion bits. (Frowns, and shaking heads).

One of the guys said something along the lines of "When I disagree and get upset with something, it usually because deep down I KNOW it's right and I just don't want to admit it." I stared him directly in the eyes and said "Really? You're going to try reverse psychology on me? Seriously?" (Big time frowns) That shut him down and the other guy jumped in and tried to clarify/address my reasons for being there… was I an addict? I answered in the affirmative; I'm addicted to eating, breathing and applying logic to every situation. He didn’t think that was funny. I went on to enumerate the other issues with the presentation…

• Jesus never ejaculated… really? A bold and silly position. No nocturnal emissions? 30 or so undocumented years? No mention in the magic book either way… not much to stand on
• Sex isn't a 'need'. Really? I believe the psychologist would differ.
• 'Walk Like an Egyptian' was number 1 song in 1987
• Porn becoming legal in 1969 was small potatoes compared to everything else going on. Namely Vietnam, The Pill, Social/Feminist revolution in the US, etc…
• In every media since the beginning of time, there has been porn. From cave paintings to sexting.
• A few more I can't recall but basically silly, useless, pointless, or religious stuff

It ended with them asking me for my contact info, me politely declining and stating "I seriously doubt anything I said will change anything you guys do. I just couldn't in good conscience leave without telling you that you could really, genuinely help more people by eliminating the religiousness of the presentation."

In the car on the way home, I thought of something I wish I would have said/asked… "Would Jesus rather help 100 people and let them come to him on their own, or help 10 that were already believers?" A classic l'esprit de l'escalier moment. (French for that witty comeback you think of while walking down the stairs later.)