A new study shows that more than half of practicing Christians use pornography—and many of them are comfortable with it.
The study, Beyond the Porn Phenomenon, was published recently by Barna Group and Pure Desire Ministries. It examined 2023 survey results from nearly 3,500 Christians and non-Christians regarding their porn usage.
The study aims to challenge the way churches approach porn usage and called church leaders to better address the issue.
“Despite the Church’s stance against lust generally, it seems little progress has been made to deter many of those who fill the pews from pornography consumption,” researchers said. “The gap between professed beliefs and actual behavior raises questions about the efficacy of current approaches within faith communities.”
The study found that 54% of practicing Christians report viewing pornography at least occasionally, compared to around 68% for non-Christians. Nearly a quarter of practicing Christians said they view porn at least weekly.
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“Although practicing Christians consume pornography less frequently than non-Christians, the gap between these two groups is smaller than many might anticipate,” researchers wrote. “Christians are by no means immune to the pervasive influence of porn.”
One of the most troubling findings in the study is that 49% of practicing Christian porn users expressed that they are comfortable with their level of pornography use, said Nick Stumbo, Pure Desire Ministries executive director. Only 21% expressed a wish to completely stop using porn.
“The average Christian is not experiencing freedom in this area,” Stumbo wrote in the study. “What may be more troubling is that well over half of Christians who use porn say they are comfortable with their porn use.”
Gen Z, individuals born between 1999 and 2015, were the least likely age group to express that they were comfortable using pornography.
‘Pornography does not discriminate’
The study also pointed out that while men use porn more than women — both genders still struggle with it. Around 75% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women reported consuming porn on some level.
Crystal Renaud Day, a founder of a Christian counseling organization, noted in the study that “Pornography does not discriminate.”
“It does not care if you are a man, a woman, a child, a Christian or an atheist,” she said. “I was a 10-year-old girl raised in a Christian home when I was exposed to pornography for the first time.”
Additionally, the study found that amongst pastors, porn usage is a “widespread reality.” Around 67% of pastors have a personal history of porn use, with almost 18% reporting that it is a current struggle.
Reasons for porn usage varied between Christians and non-Christians.
Outside of using porn for personal arousal, Christians “sometimes have a more relational intent for using pornography,” the study said. For instance, Christians expressed using porn to set a mood with a romantic partner.
Both Christians and non-Christians are “just as likely to chalk up their porn use to being curious, looking for sex tips or relieving stress and anxiety,” the study found.
More than half of practicing Christians said they believe a person can regularly view pornography and live a sexually healthy life, according to the study.
Majority of Christians want churches to address porn
For Christians who struggle with porn use, many feel like they are alone, the study reported.
“When asked, ‘Who is helping you with your struggle with pornography,’ 82% of Christians say ‘no one,’” Stumbo said. “Isolation is the enemy’s playground.”
Additionally, a majority of Christian porn users reported that no one knows about their consumption.
Stumbo urged that the church needs to be a place to help people get free from this habit.
“No organization on earth is more fit to be a place of healing than the church,” Stumbo said. “But in order to become this kind of place, we must be willing to face reality, evaluate the needs of our local church and city, and then construct an effective plan for true change.”
The study suggested that church leaders should partner with experts, prioritize education and awareness, and “create safe spaces for people to get real.”
“Ultimately, the Church is meant to be a source of hope for people facing all sorts of challenges in life, including struggles with pornography,” researchers said. “By addressing this issue head-on with care, understanding and practical support, churches can fulfill their role as places of healing and restoration.”
Many congregants desire for their churches to address pornography — 58% said it’s important to them that their church does this. Only 10% reported that their church offers programs to help those struggling with pornography.
The study said churches are missing an opportunity.
Many pastors, 81%, said that they feel like their churches aren’t doing enough to address the issue of porn.
However, 75% of pastors said they are individually ministering to people who struggle with porn. About 51% of those the pastors are helping are married men.
Sam Black, an author and expert in pornography recovery, noted in the study that, “Most churches fail to recognize that pornography undermines every ministry of the local church.”
“Today, the local church has choices. It can largely ignore the problems of pornography because they are too unseemly. It can chastise, rebuke and cast out, which will send more people into hiding,” he continued. “My hope is for the Church to lean into our deepest struggles to provide a safe place and a safe process that leads to healing and repentance.”
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.
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23 Responses
“Many pastors, 81%, said that they feel like their churches aren’t doing enough to address the issue of porn.”
Are the pastors blaming the church, or themselves? Start teaching the 10 Commandments, Adultery is covered, and Jesus had some words on this matter.
Matthew 5:28
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
The fruits of preaching paul over Jesus are really starting to show. Between women blaming abortion on the growing baby their womb for not having consent to be in their body, and church leaders living as hypocrites, this outcome is not a surprise.
This is more than disappointing. Wow. No wonder there are so many churches imploding.
On the other hand, another recent Barna study about elections made me question his methodology or those running the models. It seems a bit unbelievable. So, grain of salt for now.
Porn bad but owning McMansions and planes and cars and supporting the utter destruction of Gaza saying god wants me to have these blessings and isreal can do no wrong is good. Got it.
Willam,
Seems like there is considerable discrepancy these days between Christian beliefs and Christian behavior.
More so as you suggest when people who claim to be Christian – disciples of the Prince of Peace – who are indifferent to suffering and ill treatment directed towards the men, woman, and children residing in Gaza and the West Bank.
Ian I wonder if Willam knows who started the war in the first place and who has been fireing missels into the jewish homeland for decades..and what about the hostages? it seems some people..cant even remember . what happened in the past..or maybe they dont want to
I can only assume that William is privy to the long history of the terrible situation in the Middle East like many educated and compassionate people of Jewish and Christian faith heritage are.
Oct 7 to say the least was a horrific moment and I’m only thankful that my daughter was not attending the concert held that day.
But to be willyfully ignorant or indifferent of the plight and treatment of the men, women, and children in Gaza and the Westbank – prior and post Oct 7 – will not make our world a better place, nor as some have argued, Israel safer.
After interviewing and analysing numerous war criminals at the completion of WW 2, the psychologist Gustave Gilbert, defined evil as the absence of empathy.
My prayers, for what they are worth, is that empathy for ALL people prevails.
Thank you Ian for understanding the bigger picture. Oh and mark if you are so for isreal what were you doing in October 1973? I know what I was doing. Along with most of the military in the USA, I was in the marines preparing to go to isreal to defend her. And your contribution to supporting isreal?
Hi Ian, many of us including myself are overwhelmed by the suffering in Gaza but as others have said they still hold hostages. The statement best sums it up for me is “ If the Arabs put there weapons down today then there would be peace in the Middle East tomorrow. If the Jews put their weapons down today, there would be a bloodbath tomorrow.”
The problem with simplistic statements is that more often than not, they make generalizations, especially about people, they never consider situations and events in context, and they are selective with morality.
And just in case some are not up to date with current events and factual statistics. The “bloodbath” – in the form of held Jewish hostages, imprisoned Palestinians, the depriving of basic living necessities to the residents in Gaza, and the actions of Tanks, Fighter Jets, and 2,000-pound bombs on and over tens of thousands of Palestinians – is happening now!
This was a very informative article. In my 28 years of working with Christian men who struggle with sex addiction, these statistics are not surprising. Please publish more articles that keep all of us on the alert — that sexual sin is in the church.
It is RAMPED in. ‘The Church’ ( which means ALL Churches).
Go through each of these websites. You will learn A LOT.
https://www.theresstillhope.org/product/porn-in-the-pew/
https://www.theresstillhope.org/recovery-minute/
https://www.theresstillhope.org/
https://www.covenanteyes.com/
https://www.bravehearts.org/
I cannot reccomend Pure Desire enough!! Their podcasts— their free resources online– their groups, all of it! It’s that wonderful blend of reality, theology, and neurochemical brain science. They do what they do well, and they have something for everyone: struggling men or women, betrayed spouses, of which I am one, and struggling singles, too.
It seems it’s just too difficult for many pastors and church leaders to preach a freedom they don’t have themselves. Especially when the best solution they’ve ever offered is to say “have more sex with your spouse.”
But it’s not about that. Porn is a dragon; it sinks its teeth into you and down down down you go until you’re swimming in the corrosive bile of the beast. There is no life there. Only the artificial high of self destruction.
But there is hope and freedom and a fuller more wonderful life in Christ. Nothing is too much for Him, to the glory of God!
Amen and amen and amen, Jenn.
I am a professional Christian counselor and regularly work with (mostly men) those seeking to deal with a porn compulsion or addiction. I have two bits of advice. One, don’t try to “manage” on your own. There are groups, including online groups, you can join and help one another forward towards freedom. The other is that shame, self-hatred, doubling-down on promises to quit, and hiding not only don’t help, they set you up to remain stuck. Humble yourself, be willing to get help, and join forces with others who will walk the path with you. A friend who is making strides himself with freedom from porn told me: “the cure for addiction is community”. Finally, I am not too surprised by these stats as cited. Porn use is epidemic in the church and, with an entire generation being raised on “screen time”, it will only become more insidious. Helping one another access God’s grace and power is more important than ever.
Instead of setting the place on fire with a criticism flame…you offer help and sound advice. Thank you Bill.
Like the “immodest dress” saga in the evangelical circles, who among us gets to clearly define what is and isn’t porn?
“Since everyone throughout most of human history was accustomed to bathing outdoors, it should come as no shock that the early church’s practice of nude baptism, which lasted for over four hundred years, was never regarded as extraordinary or indecent.”
Mychainsaregone.org
No surprise there. Only the living HOLY SPIRIT in a person can give a porn addict the strength to stop watching or looking at porn. I know. HE gives me the strength to overcome Satan’s temptations. Many small “c” christians do not have the HOLY SPIRIT living in them. Institutional religion does not make an attendee a true follower of LORD JESUS. HE is our SAVIOR, not a religion.
the bible plainly states,,that no greedy or IMMORAL , person shall have an inheritance..in the kingdom..these people are not saved…as an unsaved person..I was in to porn//as soon as I got saved I totally walked away from it forever..and I was really heavy into..it was a constant thing in my life..if someone..who had it as bad as I did..left it..any one else can..there is no excuse for it
Romans 3:23 states For all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Sad commentary on today’s Christians and our society in general. All will have to answer for it.
Jenn Jones. I am so sorry that you also have had to experience ALL of the pain and heartbreak which this, and other addictions cause. Please take care of you. Their actions, are ALL ON THEM. NOT YOU.
What people DO NOT UNDERSTAND is, that you are an addict, have triggers, will relapse, until you die. No matter if you have been in SERIOUS DAILY ( NOT WEEKLY ) RECOVERY AND MAINTENANCE, FOR YEARS. For EVERY RELAPSE, THE ADDICT HAS TO START OVER AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE RECOVERY STAGES.
The betrayed girlfriend/spouse, has to go through life in recovery and maintenance, dealing with triggers, feelings not being beautiful, or good enough. With each lie, denial, DRIZZLE DISCLOSURE, causes her to have to go back to the beginning of the healing process.
Also, any type of addict IS NOT TO HOLD ANY TYPE OF LEADERSHIP POSITION, OR BE IN THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH, UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS RECOVERY, FOR TWO YEARS. Yet, that DOESN’T HAPPEN.
In church flirting/affairs, social media, dating apps ( which are basically HOOK-UP apps. A majority of the people on them ARE MARRIED, LOOKING FOR HOOK-UPS ), males who spend their time with “the younger kids/young adults, ARE ALL RED FLAGS.
Men who work with kids are NOT automatically “red flags”.
That’s a real twisted thing to say.
Correlation or causation, more than 50% of white Christians are voting for trump. String overlap there I think. The real question is if they watch Donald trump themed porn?