Interesting to look at biographies of Marquis de Sade and Rasputin to see how they handled both demons and porn. They were consumed by both but not necessarily cause and effect, more that the demon caused the porn. Not the other way around. With Marquis de Sade and Rasputin there is another factor too. Both were heavily influenced by false teachings. Sade by his Atheism. Rasputin by the teaching of sinning to defeat sin. Both became teachers of their respective false teachings as well as disciples. Here is the gateway to the demon: discipleship of demonic false teachings. So teachers beware what you teach. You could be opening a demonic gateway. Mental illness could be a side effect of your teachings.
The real problem with de Sade and Rasputin was in how, for different reasons but the same weakness, they gave themselves fully over to porn and fornication. They both had a kind of madness about it, both alluding to a demonic aspect to this citing supernatural visitations which led them deeper into it. To my mind the lesson to learn is that while it is a natural property of being human to delight in sexual stimulation by other people, giving too much of ourselves to that delight is potentially mentally harmful and giving ourselves completely over to it is dangerous to not only our health but the health of society. So keep a lid on it. Restraint. Not suppressing but controlling, limiting: Since giving ourselves over to it completely can lead to us suffering both harm and threat of punishment and anger from those in power who seek to keep society healthy. Plus we ought to keep a clear conscience in living as best we can.
As a side note, I think it’s important to mention that baptism of the kind practiced by Baptists involves pledging to keep a clear conscience which in itself tends to lead the baptised believer into keeping a lid on the natural tendency to gravitate towards sexual stimulation of the porn kind. It does not eliminate the natural desire and delight but it teaches us to keep it controlled and not give ourselves fully over to it in a damaging way. So demonic teachings get less of a foothold. This is a saving grace of Christianity. It is not only about punishment by society and anger of God but about the individual conscience being kept clear by doing your best to live right. This does not mean other religions and non-religions do not also need to exercise these restraints and self-governing ways too. It is important for every individual. Yet baptism in Christ’s grace and Christ’s name helps a great deal.
The real problem with de Sade and Rasputin was in how, for different reasons but the same weakness, they gave themselves fully over to porn and fornication. They both had a kind of madness about it, both alluding to a demonic aspect to this citing supernatural visitations which led them deeper into it. To my mind the lesson to learn is that while it is a natural property of being human to delight in sexual stimulation by other people, giving too much of ourselves to that delight is potentially mentally harmful and giving ourselves completely over to it is dangerous to not only our health but the health of society. So keep a lid on it. Restraint. Not suppressing but controlling, limiting: Since giving ourselves over to it completely can lead to us suffering both harm and threat of punishment and anger from those in power who seek to keep society healthy. Plus we ought to keep a clear conscience in living as best we can.
As a side note, I think it’s important to mention that baptism of the kind practiced by Baptists involves pledging to keep a clear conscience which in itself tends to lead the baptised believer into keeping a lid on the natural tendency to gravitate towards sexual stimulation of the porn kind. It does not eliminate the natural desire and delight but it teaches us to keep it controlled and not give ourselves fully over to it in a damaging way. So demonic teachings get less of a foothold. This is a saving grace of Christianity. It is not only about punishment by society and anger of God but about the individual conscience being kept clear by doing your best to live right. This does not mean other religions and non-religions do not also need to exercise these restraints and self-governing ways too. It is important for every individual. Yet baptism in Christ’s grace and Christ’s name helps a great deal.
