3 reasons you must not see Fifty Shades of Grey

For many months, now, I have been receiving a daily posting from a Dr Jim Denison.  I have found each of them - even those that referred to matters that were specific to the USoA - to be very interesting.   The following is a direct copy of the post that I received today, and I copy it here (permission granted) with an additional comment of my own.  Please read, and consider very carefully, what Dr Denison says.  I have neither seen the film (or even the 'trailers') nor read the book, but I have no doubt that Dr Denison has based his comments on very reliable evidence.

"Fifty Shades of Grey tells the story of Ana, a college student, and Christian, a successful entrepreneur.  The two engage in a sexual relationship that becomes increasingly abusive.  Tonight, the film version of the novel premieres in theaters, timed for the Valentine's Day weekend.

Please, do not see this movie.  And do all you can to encourage others not to see it.  Why is it so dangerous?  Consider three facts.

One: the movie is pornographic in the extreme.  It is a "terrible" movie, according to The New York Times, with bad writing and awkward dialogue (Us Weekly lists "50 Problems With the Raunchy Flick").  But far worse, it is a porn movie disguised as a romance.  According to The Atlantic, the film shows at least 20 full minutes of sex.

Two: the plague of pornography is an epidemic in our culture, and this movie will make things far worse.  GQ, a magazine not known for biblical morality, recently cited reasons readers should quit watching pornography immediately.  Among them:

• Porn damages the brain.  Scientists at Cambridge University recently determined that people addicted to pornography show similar brain activity to alcoholics or drug addicts.
• Porn motivates people to seek new sexual partners.  This is an example of the Coolidge Effect, or novelty-seeking behavior.
• Porn use escalates.  In one study, 64 percent of porn viewers reported that their tastes in porn had become more extreme or deviant.
• Pornography saps energy.  In the same study, 67 percent reported an increase in energy levels and productivity when they stopped viewing porn.

Fifty Shades of Grey will spread the plague of porn to even more people.  Don't be among them.

Three: the movie glamorizes and normalizes sexual abuse.  One study concluded that nearly every interaction between Ana and Christian was emotionally abusive, including stalking, intimidation, and isolation.  It also noted pervasive sexual violence, and that Ana exhibits classic signs of an abused woman.  A second study showed a correlation between those who read the novel and developing an eating disorder, having abusive romantic partners, engaging in binge drinking, and having five or more sexual partners before the age of 24.

The executive director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation calls the movie "a sensationalized lie, telling women that they can, and should, fix violent and controlling men by being obedient and devoted, and that, somehow, this is romantic.  It is no surprise that Hollywood is betting millions of dollars that now is the right time to offer sexual abuse and sexual violence against women as mainstream entertainment."

God tells us to "flee from sexual immorality" (I Corinthians 6:18).  The psalmist prayed, "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways" (Psalm 119:37).  Job said, "I have made a covenant with my eyes" to refuse sexual sin (Job 31:1).

Let's make the same covenant today.  Please, do not see this movie."
[Jim Denison, Ph.D., is founder of the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, a non-sectarian "think tank" designed to engage contemporary issues with biblical truth. For more information on the Denison Forum, visit www.denisonforum.org. To connect with Dr. Denison in social media, visit www.twitter.com/jimdenison or www.facebook.com/denisonforum.]

I know very little, other than the title of the original book when it was published, about 50 Shades.  However, what I also find to be of some concern is the revelation that the main character and, if I understand the situation correctly, the character responsible for the seduction, and for the instigation of the sexual abuse, is given a name which is, I would argue, not very common in English-language speaking countries - "Christian"!  I merely wonder if there is, in fact, a hidden agenda here that aims to bring into disrepute anything that connects with the Name that is above every name, even the Name of Jesus, the Christ, Whose followers were called "Christians", firstly in Antioch (Acts 9:26).

The law - is it only for breaking?

A number of years ago, I decided to stop shopping in Tesco because they had started to sell the "morning-after" pill - not a contraceptive; more of a DIY abortion - without prescription, and without any concern as to the age of the customer!  This meant that any girl, even if under the legal age for indulging in penetrative sexual intercourse, could ensure that no pregnancy would occur; and that neither a doctor, nor a parent, need know anything about her behaviour.  Now, of course I know that a male had to be involved, but it is always the female who is left, quite literally, "holding the baby"!

What I interpreted, then, as a lack of moral concern and a flaunting of the law (regarding under-age intercourse), has been shown once again, to be part and parcel of this company's basic policy.  The new legislation outlawing the sale of cheap alcohol in Scotland - and designed to combat the scourge of Scotland: alcohol abuse (aka binge drinking) - comes into force today.  However, it has been widely reported that Tesco is in the vanguard of companies working to circumvent the law in this situation.  They have, reportedly, targeted Scots with the information that cut-price deals may still be obtained by shopping online at the company's wine store.  Doing this will mean that the alcohol has to be transported across the Scots/English border - and this, apparently, means that it is exempt from the new Scottish law!   However, it may also be said to be an action that is totally contrary to the spirit (no pun intended!) of the law.

I am no supporter of the Liberal Democrats - either north or south of the border - but I agree totally with Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie who said: "Tesco is acting like modern day smugglers. ... If they were an ethical company with a social conscious, they would not be behaving in this irresponsible manner." (The Herald newspaper).

Such an attitude certainly won't encourage me to return to the Tesco fold.  I can only hope that others will join with me in my Tesco boycott!