Responding to Candace Owens Responding to Me

[@pintswithaquinas]

Why is pornography evil?

[@Mishterius]

Because it clouds my mind making me less creative, and active.

[@PatrickInCayman]

Because it feeds what is immensely destructive to our relationships with other people. Whether that relationship is with our spouse or platonic relationships.

[@SaintCharbelMiracleworker]

1.Because it demeans women and men who participate in it and consume it. 2.Some of the participants are unwilling and/or minors who are trafficked 3. It's selfish, there is a reason it's called self-abuse

[@johnnysins9054]

I need to do my work

[@willwilson7290]

It inverts the sacrifice of Christ and the Eucharist. Instead of "this is my body given up for you" it gets twisted into "this is your body given up for me."

[@etheretherether]

"The problem with pornography is not that it shows too much of the person, but that it shows far too little" what an awesome quote that perfectly summarizes the inherent evil of pornography.

[@joeysimoneau]

I think that was JP2

[@jonbolton491]

I've never liked that quote. It's pithy but meaningless. Every other non- pornographic visual media shows too little of a person but we don't call it evil. The evil of pornography is that it reveals too much of the parts of a person and/or activities that are supposed to be private. Among many things.

[@kevinfromsales9445]

I think the evil of porn / prostitution is how the pimps or "directors" profit off of somebody else's self destruction. Not only will that person be mentally and physically deteriorated, but also shunned from their families and society as a whole and lead to broken families, increased adultery and increased divorce rates also the sexualization of women, children and every possible normal situation.

[@naturallycurlyhair4413]

@@jonbolton491 I would argue that that’s not really true. The purpose behind let’s say a Hollywood actor is supposed to be providing entertainment as a representative for a character of a specific story, but not necessarily exclusively for entertainment. For an example celebrities regularly engage in interviews revealing facts about them as a person. I think if you don’t see actors as people and as simply eye candy that is in fact evil. If God blessed someone with remarkable acting abilities and physical beauty and they performed those things in a movie then that is showing a God given gift. On the contrary pornography is perverting God’s creation into something of no significance. As someone who’s struggled with porn I can assure you no porno is made to portray the beauty of a well written story, nor theatrical ability. Even with modeling(non-sexual) you’re capturing the beauty of God’s creation, but with porn you’re purely amounting the person to their capacity to bring you sexual pleasure. Simply by not portraying someone as the whole of who they are is not necessarily “TOO little” because for an example I could say “John Smith is a great guy,” but that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of evil. Though, if I said “John Smith is the very incarnate of Satan himself, he’s not even human” I’d be portraying too little of him because I am amounting him to be subhuman and incapable of good. With pornography you’re amounting the person to simply being a means of assistance in engaging in vice yourself. (P.s. I could be missing a particular field of visual entertainment that you’re referring to)

[@podawe8051]

I've also heard JP2's response to the sexual revolution as: "it's not that people glorify sex, it's that they don't glorify it enough."

[@Haedox]

kinda wild how many people can’t just say “yah porn is evil” and move on

[@apan990]

ye idk whats there to discuss, the fact that matt had to even write a book on it is extremely alarming to me as to just how integrated porn is in our society. it sets a false image of sex its degenerate its addicting its disgusting its a waste of time its harmful to your brain, and soul what is there to discuss? (and i say this as someone who once struggled with it).

[@uruk_bye1232]

You would have to admit to the concept of 'evil' first, especially without a direct victim.

[@kyrptonite1825]

It’s online Prost_t_tion, done

[@boidoh]

Haedox on Pints with Aquinas? Wtf

[@brianfarley926]

It’s because one becomes attached to the sin. The issue with sin especially one that is evil is that people get sucked in by it and enjoy it

[@davidtrujillo993]

I love the friction you are generating. I think it helps to redirect the American right and conservatives. For far too long, the right has been under the influence of non-Christian groups.

[@jon6car]

Watch the whole thing. Candace does not condone the consumption of pornography.

[@AscenderPrime]

@@jon6car she’s a child, I really don’t care what she thinks

[@sebastianofmilan]

@@Wunderhass Real.

[@mima_piedade]

​@@AscenderPrime you're on a video responding to her, what she thinks is relevant regardless of what you think of her.

[@FiliusChristi1]

I think all American political parties have been under the influence of non-Christian groups since the foundation of the country, but I see your point and also enjoy the friction. The best we can do is stand in truth and let it (Him) lead

[@AS-fu1kd]

The rosary has been helping free me from pornography. Strikingly hard habit to quit

[@kennethsolomon665]

I can fully understand...going through the same thing....The HOLY EUCHARIST and Rosary are helping me to get rid of this bondage

[@AS-fu1kd]

@@kennethsolomon665 Our blessed mother will help win this battle 🙏 🙌 💪

[@musicAle77]

Amen, glad to hear

[@AS-fu1kd]

@Ed M - London it was still her rosary that taught me how to pray

[@marvalice3455]

The rosary helped me quite porn and self abuse, and also helped me get out of the trans movement. It's truly a tool of tremendous grace

[@fruzsimih7214]

It's mind-boggling that you even have to argue that pornography is bad nowadays...

[@DigitalLogos]

Well, we do live in a culture that is based on sexual pleasure as the greatest good, so of course porn would be the golden calf

[@plermpt]

and against a so-called conservative...

[@rachelluna4010]

Your brain on not following God sees nothing wrong with porn, abortion, ECT. Giving in to selfish impulse dulls the intellect.

[@Paola-jf2qf]

Father Casey did a great job on breaking the habit as well. I liked how father casey talked about human trafficking.

[@tabe5686]

Please listen to the video. And have you ever heard Candace or Ben Shapiro? They both DESPISE pornography!

[@cowsal77]

I'm honestly grateful that Prager accidentally stumbled into this hot mess. It has generated much needed compassionate teaching and discussion. Thank you for your ministry!

[@calebbenjamin1089]

Exactly! I'm certain it was that debate in Exodus that initiated this generating so much interest

[@Wonderpattypatty]

💯🎯🎯🎯

[@sebastianofmilan]

Being against pornography and abortion is the reason the powers-that-be know Catholicism is their enemy.

[@calebbenjamin1089]

Christianity

[@ronaldjacob1323]

Just some thoughts i have. For me, if i want to get help derive a moral conclusion from any topic discussed in the DW sphere, my go to host is always Mr. Knowles because, according to me he has the most coherent and linear line of thinking in the DW sphere. Not only that but he has a very sharp mind but also a very charitable heart. He doesn't let the economics and politics affect the morality of the discussion.

[@josephharvey1762]

Knowles is awesome!

[@xblJoey]

And Catholic

[@laudashra]

I agree! he’s awesome

[@jacobrobinson8892]

I love your work Matt. At the beginning of my conversion your Vibes with Aquinas was instrumental in my journey, no pun intended. Your episode on the Shroud cemented my faith. Keep up the good work!

[@bluecomb5376]

Amazing! loved that episode too. Brought me to tears.

[@alisterrebelo9013]

That Shroud episode was incredible. Fr. Andrew Dalton is a wonderful presenter. His description of the various parts of the Passion left a permanent mark on my soul. Agree with the part about cementing the faith.

[@LadyDisdain3]

I love listening to you speak on this topic because of how well thought out and deep your ideas and opinions are. And because you speak it boldly. Thank you. We need more of this in the world. You’re truly a candle on a hill.

[@alisterrebelo9013]

Love your comment. Minor feedback, 'candle in the dark' or 'light on a hill', amusing that you've mixed the two.

[@MrPicklesAndTea]

He uses a classical moral framework too, that of the formal, efficient, material and final cause. I do not have thee coffee, nor the requisite practice to describe it succinctly, but the basic idea is that the goodness or evilness of something is defined by more than just it's use or purpose; looked at from four different aspects

[@LadyDisdain3]

@@alisterrebelo9013 that’s what happens when you’re just leaving a quick reply🤣

[@BriD2119]

What's worse is nowadays young adults are turning to onlyfans so your daughter or son is trying to make their way through college maybe doing some peep shows and it's turning your average citizen or closeted person into a lewd stripper. Once it goes on the internet it'll be up there forever

[@sarahalderman3126]

I mean its been that way for 40 years already, at least for our young men. Ever since pornography became culturally acceptable, back in the 60’s. This is exactly the moral decay we should have expected.

[@lindsayhickman9604]

I absolutely loved Candace’s response I would highly encourage everyone to watch the entire thing. Matt you and Candace should really do a dialogue on this.

[@HodgePodgeVids1]

As someone who struggles with porn use, I never once say that looking at its good. I don’t excuse my behavior or try to justify it

[@sheilasmith7779]

HedgeHodge: Porn interest is not about sex at all, it is about the inability to experience emotional intimacy. Fix that emotional problem, and your interest in porn will end.

[@paulkompanowski9099]

Matt, you should interview Adam Savage from Mythbusters regarding this. He is an advocate for Fight The New Drug and would provide a non-religious point of view as pertaining to a strictly scientific justification for banning porn.

[@AJKPenguin]

Brilliant!

[@Patrick_Bard]

Matt, I love how you strive to make your definitions of very common terms as accurate as possible. That's something that everybody should try

[@carlosadurt6153]

The video starts on 05:08. You're welcome.

[@kathleenorourke6917]

Very interesting. Jeffrey Dahlmer said in an interview that he started to view porn obsessively as teen. He actually warned parents to be vigilant regarding they’re children consuming pornography.

[@samuellp1146]

he was a bad man before porn, porn just ramped it up.

[@kathleenorourke6917]

@@samuellp1146 This activity started between the ages of 10 and 14. The absolute fact that he was an evil, “bad man”, is irrefutable. I was just referencing how a vice can lead to so much more.

[@samuellp1146]

@@kathleenorourke6917 I agree, on the level of a normal person and abnormal person porn can be destructive either way.

[@adilchaudhry3272]

And yet there are less serial killings today then there were back then. Violence in general is down per capita. Violent crime is down. The religious right can't tell right from left when it comes to facts.

[@markmooroolbark252]

I'll bet he drank milk too and had cereal for breakfast. Just because one sick freak does something and blames it on something else doesn't make him right. I have no doubt Dahmer would have raped and murdered people whether he had viewed porn or not. There were serial killers and rapists hundreds of years ago too when no porn was available. Some serial killers enjoy hurting pets and animals they come across- perhaps parents should never allow their kids to have a pet.

[@pulsar403]

Mario Kart is a weird example to use because even in the context of the game there is no harm to the characters resulting from your actions.

[@podawe8051]

The sin is ultimately lust. If you watch a movie with a hateful murderer, you don't become wrathful (which is a sin), if anything you probably pity the victim. With porn you become lustful. And Matt's point is if you watch pornography and don't lust, perhaps for educational purposes or the example he used which was to bring someone to justice for a crime, then it's not a sin. It reminds me of the adage: Two priests walk out of church and a scantily clad woman walks by, one priest says 'avert your eyes brother' and the second priest looks at her with compassion and pity; who is correct? The answer is actually both. One knew his weakness and likelihood to lust after her and averted his gaze, the other looked at her as Jesus probably would have with no lust in his heart.

[@markmooroolbark252]

If Jesus never felt lust in his heart he was never truly a man. It is what you do when you feel or think something that makes your action good or bad, not the thought or feeling which is beyond our control.

[@Elizabeth-sg1xj]

​@mark mooroolbark no Jesus never felt lust because he was like us in all ways except sin. Lust is a disordered desire that results from our fallen nature. Jesus's human nature was like Adam's before the fall.

[@jpesmar]

​@@markmooroolbark252 if you think Jesus lusted, you aren't s Christian. Jesus was a man, a perfect one, without sin. He was, in the Flesh, what we ought to be. Off course, we will never be like Him because unlike Him, we are fallen creatures. He had a divine nature and a human nature, which could be hurt and which the devil tried to tempt, but even in his human nature he never succumbed to sin. Lust is a sin, there's no point arguing about that. If you think Jesus chose sin at any point in his life ou don't think He is perfect l, you don't think He is God.

[@markmooroolbark252]

@@Elizabeth-sg1xj You cannot be brave unless you feel fear and overcome it. You cannot be good unless you have the occasional bad thoughts but overcome them through choice. Why is somebody worthy of praise for not eating junk food if they have never once felt the desire to eat it?

[@Elizabeth-sg1xj]

@mark mooroolbark Okay first of all Jesus is worthy of praise because he is God and created everything out of love and became man and suffered and lay down his life for our sins so there's that... But when people in general are naturally virtuous, their virtues are still good. Yes, it's less of a huge feat of heroism when someone is naturally brave as opposed to the timid person who overcomes their fear. That doesn't cheapen the gifts of a person who already has a habit of being virtuous. That's the goal for sanctity: to eventually desire only the good and tp automatically choose the good thing to do without inner struggle. We weren't meant to be created to be tempted to lust and gluttony and all these disordered desires. These are purely the result of Adam's sin. Also just to point out, (although this doesnt apply to Jesus anyways) when you say lust, it implies that sin and consent is involved, and I don't think that's what you meant? I think you meant a temptation to lust? But to back up, disordered sexual desire was a result of original sin. It's the will or passions desiring something against our reasoning (intellect). It would not make any sense for Christ, who was not tainted by original sin, whose will was always conformed to the Father's, ( the example for us to strive to imitate) and whose passions were also conformed, to will or even be tempted to desire something disordered. It doesn't mean he never suffered, (he suffered more than any us can imagine for our sakes) but he never suffered any desire to sin.

[@caterinadc5567]

Great stuff, Matt! Thank you for your ministry, and thank-you to Candace for participating in the conversation. It takes courage to go against the cultural grain, especially experimentally in a 'thinking out loud' kind of way, so kudos to her for jumping in with her thoughts, and I'm glad that you also jumped in with this being your special area of expertise, to help hone the conversation further.

[@lolas185]

Why wpold anyone take moral advice from a 3 times married man anyway?

[@cutty2404]

I started The Porn Myth right after listening to the horror novel, The Ritual, which happens to be read by the same narrator. That was an odd experience!

[@megarakadmea]

Imagine how the narrator felt

[@cutty2404]

@@megarakadmea lol!

[@kristinazubic9669]

What’s the horror book about? Is it good?

[@cutty2404]

@@kristinazubic9669 This is one of the rare instances where the movie is way better than the book. It is about 4 old friends who go on a hiking trip in Sweden, and things happen. I recommend going into it with as little information as possible. The book meanders a lot and fails to stick the landing, in my opinion. But, the movie was great! Edit: The Ritual from 2017

[@kristinazubic9669]

@@cutty2404 thanks!

[@chrisfinoc6236]

Matt I am so grateful you get to the philosophical underpinnings of your arguments! The DW+ crew is great, very logic and very consistent; but I have noticed lately a lack of firm philisophical knowledge that in many instances weakens their arguments (ie. Michael Knowles and his opinions on Fertility-Awareness Based Methods; which I am daily emailing him / commenting on his videos to kickstart a conversation about!) Thank you for building and presenting your cases the way you do! Frater, memento mori.

[@eries77]

I love that you are getting the recognition you deserve!! You are helping so many men and women I’m sure!!

[@silviagregorowicz4786]

You're awesome, Matt! Keep up the good work and that great sense of humor!

[@thegoatofyoutube1787]

Get Candace on the show! She’s on her way to Rome.

[@41093AnthonyB]

So relieved to see that Candace was not defending pornography! I'd love to hear Matt Walsh's perspective. I am confident he agrees with you.

[@angelalemos9811]

Matt Walsh would agree completely obviously and so would Michael.

[@mac8179]

Matt, your philosophical distinctions were truly engaging. This was refreshing to listen to.

[@paulsantiago9630]

I want to see Candice Owens make a reaction video of Matt Fradd reacting to her, and then a video of Matt reacting to that video of Candice reacting to a video of Him reacting to Her

[@michaelmicek]

No, I want to see Christopher West reacting to this video and Jimmy Akin reacting to that.

[@raphaelrobles8104]

Haven’t watched this yet, but I just love how Matt is filing it out hard with the Daily Wire. One by one.

[@jeffreydale6731]

Candace has obviously never played Mario Kart with my brothers

[@chrisc7265]

"We've had six million more views than normal" _Dennis Prager sends his regards_

[@sebastianofmilan]

Let's double those numbers!

[@susanharrington5261]

You made an interesting comment that "using porn reduces the other person and does not treat them with the love they are do". I would do that we also reduce and diminish ourselves from the beauty for which we have been created.

[@Miatpi]

God bless you too Matt. Thanks for what you are doing!

[@brianfarley926]

Thanks for the work you do with the porn issue. I was very young when I got exposed to it and quite frankly it was laughed off and pretty much boys will boys mentality back then.

[@evea9811]

I am convinced my marriage failed because of pornography… I hope he gets help & finds the healing from our Lord

[@matt8637]

So sorry to hear that, Eve. If you should someday start dating and whatnot I hope you find someone who is accountable to the Lord and other Christian men, if necessary.

[@rgCA_01123]

I'm sorry this happened 💔 I do hope he gets help and you are able to heal from what you went through. God bless you ❤

[@DanyTV79]

Great thoughts, Matt. We need to talk more open on this and its definition to clearly identify it.

[@BeregondFirstCaptain]

Pornogrphy is wrong because that is someone's daughter. After i had my daughter, that thought would run through my mind when i got done. Took the Holy Spirit saying dont when the urge came along to fully break free, though. Im forever thankful.

[@AkayshaKay]

I love this brother. Thank you for being a great male role model Matt. God richly bless you.

[@jimthompson5844]

So Matt’s just “beefing” with everyone now.

[@sengan2475]

He's responding to people

[@sengan2475]

@CJ P. didn't see any indicators that the original comment was a joke. Hard to tell with text alone I suppose

[@michaelanthony4750]

Welcome to media

[@Artaxian_Debacle]

The truth will anger those enslaved by the lie

[@abbyxiong3931]

Yeah. He is. He wants to be a cool preacher that will speak for gay rights.

[@abbylheureux1317]

Gonna get the book now! Thank you for making it into an audiobook

[@gunsgalore7571]

Conservative says pornography is evil. Conservatism goes nuts. I realize that 99% of conservatism isn't actually conservatism. God bless Matt, one of the last true conservatives.

[@gunsgalore7571]

EDIT: Good to see that Candance Owens is anti-porn, too (should have waited to watch the whole video to comment), there's a few more true conservatives out there than I thought.

[@DArtagnanFurioso]

Pornography is more harmful than violent videogames because it's not a merely imaginative and mediated activity. I mean, the videogame is 100% medium, the player doesn't involve itself with acts performed by his body in the imagined narrative, he doesn't get any sensorial experience from it (if we except that kind of wifi videogames in sports which trace the movements of the players, but precisely these videogames are not violent). The person who watches pornography does have this kind of experience in his/her body. In fact, the main objective is not to reach a mediated or imagined experience but a sensorial experience at its most basic level: an orgasm. So the impact is much more deeper than a mere media consumption

[@kevinfromsales9445]

Exactly, some Catholics argue that movies, videogames, anime are evil and distractions from God. But they don't ever criticize their own podcasts or even watching too much youtube as being distractions because they need that income obviously.

[@Thagomizer]

Video games also give you dopamine hits and the like, as does any potentially addictive activity. Either experience largely takes place in your head. The main difference is that the right wing media has largely given up on the war against video games, as the data shows us that playing violent video games will not, in fact, make you a murderer, and associated some positive effects with this activity as well. The same is true of porn, except the anti-porn people won't acknowledge this.

[@mikemallett64]

I probably missed you responding to Billie Eilish's claim that pornography destroyed her brain but did you see that?

[@mikemallett64]

Never mind I just saw your video about it.

[@csongorarpad4670]

It was the Rosary and Our Most Blessed Mother, Mary, most pure, who freed me from the snares of the temptations of the flesh, from pornography and self-abuse (masturbation)!

[@neliusjordaan6751]

The Yeah-nah had me smiling. Such an Aussie thing😂

[@carolinecorreia4375]

Thank you Matt! God bless you and your family

[@NathanOCollado-q7u]

Besides your sense of humor, I wish I could be as smart as you, Matt Fradd. Everyone in a while I find something to be offended by but 99.9 or 99.98 % of the time you are a voice of reason and faith. I think Aquinas would be proud. I hope to remember you in my prayers. You your family and your supporters. I'll try to be a little more involved in the comments.

[@dorriepruvenok8598]

Been sharing you around too!❤

[@Toodaloonumber2]

Morning Matt!

[@bucksfan77]

Hey I donate to Children of the Immaculate heart monthly! They're doing great work down there!

[@Greg-n]

Hey Matt, Something I've pondered is the problem of technology which creates this interconnected labyrinth of circumstances and intentions in the first place. The technology itself is the byproduct of a complex web of economic transactions which (according to catholic social teaching) are "ethical" exchanges between individuals (if you read the essay I, Pencil by Leonard E. Read you will see how complex this "exchange economy" is) - within those exchanges it becomes apparent that morally unjust intentions arise between market interactions, creating a morally ambiguous "chain" that in the end furnishes us with the "comforts" of technology. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

[@lilhomiebro7539]

Porn is similar to sugar. Look at how many people are obese nowadays compared to how many people were overweight/obese in the 1980s. Porn is destroying brains, it may not be visible like obesity, but it can be seen with how many males are demotivated and lack ambition. It’s part of the reason women are thriving in high education while males are falling behind.

[@KirklandRed100s]

It’s crazy how I have subscribed and rang the bell and I still didn’t get a notification on this video

[@chrisc7265]

"I'm not the expert on (pornography), I want to learn from you" Ouch Matt, it's too early for sick burns

[@Noah-cm6ek]

There is no such thing as a "non religious argument" when you are labeling something good or bad, right or wrong. Anytime we speak in these terms, we are talking about morality.

[@josephgonzales9649]

This video is an excellent example of how extremely challenging (and often frustrating) nuance is in conversation. Matt does an excellent job of adding that nuance. I’m hoping to become better at that skill as well!

[@kimberlymccoy2508]

Thank God for you, Matt! A voice crying in the wilderness… but God is using your to save souls 🙏🙏🙏

[@victoriafinebone6460]

Pornography - printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings. I see it that any explicit sexual video whether recorded by consent or without consent becomes porn for whoever gets to look at it especially if you're not, for example, a lawyer just trying to view evidence for a case maybe. Because an explicit sexual video can only do one thing - which is to stimulate erotic feelings. So whether or not it was intentionally made or looked it. It can become porn for you - it can illicit pleasure.

[@AthanaSus]

There is no link to Candace Owen's video😊

[@alexbraun1305]

Hi Matt! Great response. I totally agree and while listening to your hypotheticals near the end, I had another hypothetical: Say you have a married couple who deeply love each other but are struggling with sexual compatibility. They have moments of pleasure, but are having a hard time communicating what works and what doesn't to each other. They videotape the marital act with the intent of pausing to communicate what they liked or didn't like, and better understand each others' needs. Watching the video arouses them, and leads to another marital act, and they delete the video afterwards, their goal of understanding one another having been met. Was this pornography?

[@michaelmicek]

According to CCC 2354, there has to be an intent to display it to a third party. So my reading of that is no.

[@alexbraun1305]

@Michael Micek interesting. Not that i have need of this information lol I was just trying to think of the closest corner case you could get in the "not porn" category.

[@jdfox6884]

Extraordinarily clear moral analysis.

[@LilithinMerria]

I have got a question, is smoking cigar intrinsically evil?

[@sebastianofmilan]

Father Ripperger has a video on that.

[@rachelluna4010]

She brings up games, I'm a former gamer (just don't have much time these days.) Although I've played some pretty violent stuff, I don't really want to do those things in real life, I understand if I did I'd probably have PTSD or the like cause it's way different irl. I love taking care of animals and being kind to everyone as much as I can. Most of the time the plot revolves around war, zombie invasions or the like which the killing is justified, and 100 percent of the time when the game gives me an option to do a moral act or an immoral act my instinct was always the good act. Some games like Mass Effect even reward you for the good, you build good morale with your crew in a star trek like scenario, and you will more easily complete the mission, and your crew won't die. Some games you get a good ending if you make moral choices and a bad ending if you don't. I think it's also empowering, you can imagine the bad guys as your inner demons or whatnot, and in horror games you're often directly examining the human psyche. For example, Silent Hill 2 is exploring the inner world of a guy who killed his own wife when she was dying of cancer, and actually does a deep dive into how his lust caused him to act this way. I think it's a morally gray area in most cases so long as its not glorifying crime or having sexual content like Dead or Alive.

[@michaelmicek]

I'm not a gamer, but I would say that you don't even have to call it "gray" unless fiction in general is gray. I would say by default they are good, unless intended to encourage immoral fantasy, and then some fall into a gray area.

[@RealSeanithan]

An intrinsically evil act is so disordered that "the intention and circumstances cannot change the moral evil of that act." However, in the instance you put forth of killing grandma, it was the circumstances that made it evil: the act was killing grandma, and the circumstance was the method and context of the killing (euthanasia; towards the end of her natural life while she suffers). However, if we change the circumstance by changing the method and context (method: pistol, context: she's gone crazy and is forcefully strangling my child), it has the potential to be evil no longer. In those new circumstances, "killing grandma" is tragic and unfortunate, but not evil.

[@Adrianus1066]

Love from Flanders (Belgium)

[@an67481]

Luxembourg too!

[@lorettagundic2523]

Absolutely fantastic explanation of the wrongs of pornography, right to to core!! Thanks Matt!!!

[@angelalemos9811]

Great job Matt! Who's next? Klavan? Lol I know Matt and Michael are way to strong intellectually to agree with prager. I'm not sure how far Candace went though and can't really see her completely justifying this. I can't wait to see her video though.

[@lmmeg6575]

I disagree with the idea that playing video games is not internalized even if the viewer does not imagine themselves doing it. Even if it is Mario in a cartoon, for example. Psychological research does not bear that out. There is a distinction of course between that and more serious video games or if just viewing certain things. I am not referring to evil but simply to impact on the person. Maybe that is not what Candace is saying.

[@marleew6455]

Our first problem in our marriage was about porn. It created the divide that ended in much larger issues, but ultimately that we weren’t turning to one another-but to outside things.

[@jaaaa364]

God bless you I hope you find peace in Jesus

[@DigitalLogos]

Shooting demons in Doom is really no different than shooting targets at the range. I don’t have the desire to shoot people after playing Doom, just as I wouldn't have a desire to shoot people after going to the range. But the desire is entirely different with porn, because it damages my view of women and sexuality.

[@SenzaTempoCaneCorso]

I was really surprised by the fact that I disagreed with Dennis Prager so much during that discussion. He seemed very defensive. I think deep down he knows he is wrong. Seems like something he isn't ready to face yet.

[@realDonaldMcElvy]

When someone plays a shooter game, they don't shoot real bullets at the TV. When someone watches porn, well... they do shoot real bullets.

[@LM-jd1ww]

If you imagine yourself engaging in that act in porn, then it is evil. Because you are actually imagining yourself minimizing that woman in the act.

[@myriamc.]

Lol, because he got hit by a woman on an electric bike!!!😅 Your work is valuable, dear Matt Fradd!❤🎉🙏🏽

[@jovialhoneybee]

@PintsWithAquinas Hi! I was wondering if it's possible to speak on things people don't consider pornography but are...one of the arguments I find is concerning Hentai, Mature Manga, Fanfiction, Comics, Webtoons, and Romance Novels is that because the person isn't real that there is no real harm in consuming it. I obviously do believe there is harm...but it is a difficult case to argue.

[@batglide5484]

I would be interested in hearing a response to this as well! My instinct is to say that it is wrong to engage with that material because it still induces lust in the viewer, even if the characters are fictional and not performed by real humans. I would be interested to see a secular argument against this.

[@whaddup691]

With porn, I think the difference is between “seeing” and “viewing.” It’s not always wrong to see it. It’s wrong to view it. If that makes sense

[@MidwestArtMan]

You said a whole lot of words, but I think you got to a concise definition that I agree with at the end. I'm into art a lot and would like at least some porn to be illegal, but wonder how you could enforce that without banning Romantic Era art or films where sexual assault is core to the story. "Intent to sexually arouse" is the best I could come up with. It also accounts for weird kinks people have. An example could be women farting. There are people who are into that specifically and would likely be more aroused by it than by a more explicit video. However, that doesn't make all videos including a woman farting pornographic. It depends on the intent of the creator and viewer.

[@bluskyes524]

Farting.. seriously?? I didn't even know that was a thing.. 🤦‍♀️

[@vonClef]

I've been sharing your videos like crazy. Jason Evert's was awesome--I watched it four times! All views are from me and my friends. X-D If I was drinking a pint every time, I'd be wasted.

[@greypilgrim9967]

Thank you for this dialogue 👍

[@truthseeker8698]

Keep up the good fight, Matt.🙏🏽 No young person dreams of becoming a porn star. That lifestyle is a consequence of exploitation and abuse, so anyone viewing porn participates in the exploitation of that person. There are no excuses for porn. 💔

[@agricolaregs]

Very good discussion. I haven’t watched Candace. But you had a good discussion here.

[@phirephate]

If porn is bad because you are "reducing someone to sexual pleasure", then can't the same argument be made for just about any profession? Am I not reducing my cook to the pleasure of my taste buds? Am I not reducing my auto mechanic to just fixing my car?

[@mattharazin5578]

Matt is getting his arguments from the book love and responsibility. The point you make is addressed in there. This is what I remember from the book: there is a difference between working towards the common good with someone vs using someone and reducing them to a mere means to your own selfish ends. The former respects their dignity while the other doesn’t. The cook making you food to satisfy your taste buds can be good or bad depending on a variety of other factors (is the food poisoned, is the cook enslaved, etc.) It is not intrinsically evil, unlike porn. Porn by its nature reduces the value of the person to his or her sexual value. The cook making you food isn’t necessary being dehumanized, but could be

[@samiral-hayed1656]

I like watching these videos, especially watching Matt think as he talks.

[@blondekates]

A huge difference between violent video game play and pornography viewing is that a majority of young people are told that the sexual activity in pornography is not just acceptable but also normal. I feel fairly confident that if they lived in a world where they were given the same encouragement to shoot people up with guns, we would indeed have many more violent psychopaths in our midst.

[@AG-kr1my]

Thank you Matt! Great video! Praise God.

[@meredithc4735]

Good job Matt. Love your work. Keep up the good job!

[@agricolaregs]

One point. The police who watch porn to catch predators need psychological help during the process. It messes with them. They also need to be cycled away from porn. In order to diminish the effects of porn on themselves and their relationships with their spouses and children.

[@haghendowdy4750]

Interesting thought that I can't answer myself: Men tend to seek out sexual arousal in video format whereas women tend to read for a similar purpose. What makes the viewing of porn different from the reading of it and if there is a difference- is the reading of it still porn and intrinsically evil?

[@angelalemos9811]

Yes reading it is just as bad.

[@SakutoNoSAI]

Its actually easier to make a secular argument against Porn, but they both come from natural law (derived from divine law) and bodily freedom.

[@soniavadnjal7553]

Question for Candace. Why would people WANT to look at violence (video games) or porn? It does affect a person mentally, it does impact on the mind. The effect on the mind is as bad as if it was physical, on the body. The effects are negative, and harmful.

[@BlandinaMott]

Thank you, Matt. EXCELLENT job.

[@Wonderpattypatty]

Thanks for an amazing explanation! God bless you, your team and your ministry!! 🙏

[@EduardoRomero1965]

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. You're doing such a good job in turning me Catholic!

[@truelight8550]

All the links you mentioned adding to the Description are not in the Description...

[@bensolo7000]

There are scientific studies on media viewership and "engagement" that talk about the various levels of the degree to which we insert ourselves or see ourselves in the content we are engaging with. From that point of view Candace is over asserting her assumption. Different people will have different engagement levels with their videogame, movie, book, etc.

[@KanalPax]

Respected. I am a priest (Franciscan), and when I talk to young people, who struggle with pornography and addictions, I take an approach that is not moral (because it is a type of escape). I have no contact with Protestant denominations, but only with Catholics. It is clear to Catholics from the religious side why it is bad, and they still fall into it. The most that helped them (some) to understand was Billie Eilish (she doesn't have much "morality" in her songs) but she once said in a statement: "pornography destroyed my brain"

[@michaelmicek]

Check out the Theology of the Body Institute

[@CarliMichelle]

“Which is why I’ve always hated the English. At least since that point.” 😂😂🤣🤣

[@scottyskywalker5768]

Easy politicians (including pundits) are paid by industries, and that would probably include the sex industry as well. Sin isn't about flesh and blood, but institutions and principalities.