By Mark B. Kastleman

(summary by Mr D. Bosman)

OUR FAMILIES UNDER ATTACK

Internet pornography is creating an epidemic of obsession, compulsion and addiction that is sweeping across the world like a tidal wave destroying marriages, families and individual lives with a devastation never before witnessed in the history of the world.

The trail of wreckage in the wake of pornography’s unprecedented proliferation through the Internet goes way beyond what we can imagine. The number of Internet sites and those viewing them continues to increase so rapidly that no-one really knows the exact figures. The statistics presented are from USA.

NUMBERS OF PEOPLE VIEWING INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY

· Sex is the number one searched for topic on the Internet

· In the USA well over 60 million people purposely visit porn sites viewing over 15 billion pages of adult content per annum. No statistics are available for South Africa.

· 2500 new sites come online every week.

· 87% of University students use Instant Messenger

· 32 Million women visit at least one porn website per month.

· One of out every 6 women struggle with an addiction to porn.

HOW PROFITABLE IS THE INDUSTRY?

· Child porn has become an 83 billion dollar annual industry

· Companies can invest $45 000 a year and gross $2-3 million per month.

· Annual sales of porn videos/DVD’s are over $4 billion-20 times more than Hollywood.

MOBILE/CELL PORN

· Cell phone porn is growing at a fast rate with revenue rising to $1 billion in 2005. Images on cell phones are easy to acquire and is a real problem among the youth.

HOW IS INTERNET PORN AFFECTING CHILDREN

· 9 out of 10 children between 8 and 16 years old with Internet access have viewed porn mostly accessing unintentionally.

· The 12-17 year age group is the largest consumer of Internet porn

· 62% of parents are unaware that their children have accessed these websites.

· Only 25% of teenagers with a computer at home say it has a filter or parental controls on it.

CHILDREN IN CHAT ROOMS AND INSTANT MESSAGING

· 50% of high schoolers “talk” in chat rooms or use Instant Messaging (IM) with Internet strangers in the USA alone.

· 49 % of high schoolers have provided their personal info – this assists a stranger to locate them.

· 20% of high schoolers admit having met with someone they first met on the Internet, face-to-face.

· 65% of learners admit to having committed unsafe, inappropriate or illegal activities online. Some admit a “scary” experience.

· 30% of teenage girls said they have been in a chat room sexually. Only 7% told their parents.

· Demand for porn images of babies and toddlers is increasing dramatically.

WHAT ABOUT CHRISTIANS?

· 50 % of Christian men and 20% of Christian women in the USA are addicted to porn. 60% of these women have significant struggles with lust.

· 51 % of pastors say Internet porn is a temptation and 37 % say it is a current struggle.

More statistics found on

www.enough.org or www.nationalcoalition.org

Much of the statistics provided are conservative figures.

This terrible situation is claiming the spiritual and emotional lives of millions of people. Marriages are destroyed, families devastated and lives extinguished.

It erodes the dignity, integrity and nobility of men. It isolates people. It darkens the light and spirit within, separating people from God. Every civilization that has allowed this epidemic to spread has collapsed into ruin.

Fortunately we need not be helpless victims. There is reason to be hopeful and optimistic by the grace of God.

(to be continued; whole summary at: www.cft.org.za;)

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