It’s official. Over 10% of internet searches are for adult entertainment. The global overseer of the internet – an organisation known as Icann has made this known. A year ago it also approved the new .xxx domain for porn-only websites. Because unscrupulous people might use the names of others to attract customers to .xxx internet sites it’s possible to apply for one’s own name to be blocked from being used.
Maybe www.syvret.xxx should be blocked. Another worry for us all.
There are mixed feelings about having .xxx domain names. They will become easier to exclude from the eyes of children – but will promote access in general and access has consequences.........
Take a look at the two sentences in bold above. They’re very clear about one highly pertinent fact: the source of all “desire” is in ourselves. Desire is our own invention. It doesn’t come from outside us. In particular it does not come from Almighty God our creator.
This man “James” wrote the above sentences as part of a general letter that he sent to all followers of Jesus Christ around AD 45. This was about 10 years after the death by crucifixion – and resurrection – of Jesus in Jerusalem in AD 33. James was the brother of Jesus Christ because he was a son of Mary and Joseph. Je led Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem.
So.... Our “desires” are our own. The looters in the riots in UK cities a few weeks ago were following their own desires. The Westminster MPs who fiddled their expenses were following their own desires. Maybe Jersey politicians follow their own desires. Certainly a huge number of Jersey folk follow their own desires in our search for happiness through things and through experiences – not least on the internet. And this week the desires of the Gaddafi family have become very clear as they have followed them through to the bitter end.
But these desires have consequences.......
The most ancient written record of desire within is the book of Genesis written by Moses around 1350 BC. Genesis records the story of Adam and Eve in paradise, in a wonderfully created world where God the creator has looked at his work and said, “It’s very good.” And where God the creator gave it all to them to enjoy – all except the fruit of one particular tree.
But Moses records that “desire” took over. “So when the woman saw that it was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate ...”
Britain’s greatest epic poet, ranking alongside Shakespeare, was John Milton. In 1667 he published “Paradise Lost”, a remarkably insightful book.
Here is Milton’s assessment of the consequences of “desire” on the way that we think. Having disobeyed God they (Adam and Eve) need to cover-up (just as we need to delete all records of our “desirable” internet viewings). They do cover it up and Milton writes –
Thus shielded, and as they thought, their shame in part covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, they sat them down to weep. Not only tears rained from their eyes, but worse - high winds within began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, mistrust, suspicion, discord. These shook sore their inward state of mind, calm region once and full of peace, now tossed and turbulent. Understanding no longer ruled, and the will no longer heard the law that governed it. Both understanding and will were in subjection now to sensual appetite [“desire”], which from beneath claimed superior sway, usurping sovereign reason.
Yes, our desires are our own – and they win against our understanding and our rational thinking. Worse, they win against our will, and we then actually do the things we don’t (deep down) really want to do. Paradise Lost indeed. And yet more will be lost through the .xxx domain. But that’s not the end of the story. |
