This post will be “quote-heavy“……bear with me…..
“Undoubtedly, the series portrays BDSM in the context of an engaging, passionate, tender, romantic relationship that culminates in the characters falling in love, and the conflicted girl assuaging the billionaire’s troubled soul. But it doesn’t matter to me how the author sweetens it up. The tasty red Kool-Aid doesn’t offset the bitter poison. Smut is still smut.
I don’t have to read the book to know that it’s bad for women. Nor do I need to read it to tell you that I think it would be unwise for you to read it.” [source]
Fifty Shades of Grey is currently selling like crazy……in all formats……read the BBC news story here - it’s fast becoming a bit of a book phenomenon!
And, it’s filth! No, really…it’s filth!
I am certain that people in our Churches are reading these books and, along with all the other trash that we like to consume on television, in films, in magazines……..on the internet………how do we think we are being affected?
Because, this stuff affects us!
The following quotes are from an article in yesterdays Sunday Times…….an article that does not criticise the book per se (or pornography for that matter) but certainly does ask questions about how differently we view/judge/critique porn in the online & book worlds.
“Fifty Shades of Grey, as everyone not in a coma knows, is the publishing success story of the year…..”
“We are in a state of great confusion about pornography in this country. Everyone is frenetically reading Fifty Shades, while simultaneously being convulsed with anxiety at the existence of online porn and its potential effects on our families and relationships.”
“Online porn is brutish and ugly and for blokes; Fifty Shades is safe and nice and for women who like a pastel maxi, is the idea. Fifty Shades is Waitrose porn. And while much of online porn is indeed brutish and ugly, it is really just foolish to suppose that the scenarios contained in the Fifty Shades series are any more wholesome; they are just better marketed.”
“Porn is porn, and giving it a playful prefix alters nothing. It’s what you don’t like your husband looking at. Why not? You’re looking at it too.”
This stuff is everywhere ….. for example, the Daily Mail recently published an ‘Ultimate Guide to Mummy Porn‘. It’s becoming more & more acceptable……and mainstream!
“Here’s the deal. Women you know are reading this stuff. Women in your church are reading this stuff. They’re just not talking about it. They’re ashamed, and flying under the radar to avoid detection. Also. Your daughters are reading this stuff. Or their friends are at least telling them about it.” [source]
What then shall we say?
I must be one of those people in a coma (never heard of it). However, I’m glad you are addressing this topic and hope Christian folks think twice about buying this kind of soul destroying nonsense.
It seems you just can get away from these books. It’s been crazy the number of people on my Facebook friends list who say they’re reading it and seem to revel in it. Porn isn’t good for anyone. Thanks for raising it Ally!
Brilliant blog ally.I was in the airport yesterday & every women seemed to be reading a copy. But totall agree with what you’ve said…here here
thanks for commenting Chris
*angry*
As the first woman to comment on this… amen. Porn is porn, and I’m tired of the church talking about porn occasionally but prefacing it with ‘women, you don’t need to listen to this part…’
Years ago, I was sitting with a bunch of my (Christian) friends when they decided to watch American Pie. About 10 minutes in I was incredibly uncomfortable – we’re professing to follow Jesus and set our minds on ‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable’… and we’re watching American Pie? I left, but felt like my friends thought I was being some holier-than-thou.
It’s a silly example, and God knows I’ve failed a hundred times, but that night always stays with me when I think about the things we allow into our minds.
thanks Emma – good to hear a female perspective…….
I have found, as I grow in sanctification that many TV shows need to be turned off. Thanks for the write up.