Codex Perductum

There are an amazing number of passages in the Bible devoted to prostitutes. Warnings against hiring them, Jesus healing them in a variety of ways, metaphors likening God's people to them, etc.

As one who works deeply with technology I am daily confronted with pornography in various forms. I dare say there is no new technology that comes about anymore that isn't tainted by hints of pornography just around the corner. YouTube, Second Life, BitTorrent, are all potential gateways to getting it. I find it's pervasiveness depressing and exploitative. It is a flimsy paper replica of what God has blessed me with in my marriage, but is still something that I have to daily resist. I choose to resist it because I think it is poison to real life.

Anyway as I was musing on this on the bus ride in this morning it occured to me the way the term "adult film star" has come into common parlance. And as I thought about the teachings and actions of Jesus and reflected on technology and pornography I also came to the realization that "adult film star" is a pleasant sounding euphemism for prositute, "a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment". When you frame pornography as prosititution and chasing after it as chasing after a prostitute, it brings the teachings of the Bible and modern life together in a somewhat stark way.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adult film star drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not. (paraphrased from Proverbs)