“It [pornography] immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world.” (CCC #2354.)
In this last of the series, I will examine use of the word “fantasy” as related in “The Catechism of the Catholic Church.” The origin of the word fantasy is derived from the Greek: “phantasia” – meaning “making visible;” from which we also get the word phantasm from the same root Greek term. Interestingly, this meaning also appears in the Latin “phantasma” denoting “an apparition, specter.” In the context of pornography, fantasy takes on a truly horrific sense as the term pornography is derived from the Greek word “porneia:” a word often used in Greek translations of The Bible – meaning “illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals…” Then, in reality, when we watch pornography, the fantasy becomes material; we are physically and substantially bringing evil and depravity into the world; into our homes; and into our minds. How does this happen?
It is my contention, that particular demonic entities are tied to pornography; and the attached sins of masturbation and sexual fantasy. When we look at pornography, we seek out that which we have been fantasizing about: a particular actress; a physical trait in the selected actress or actor; a certain sexual scenario. When found on the internet, the fantasy takes on a material shape. In the mind, the image on the screen and the memory of that image, encode themselves on the brain; they become a solid presence in the physical world. The demons attached to those images, like a computer virus hitching a ride on another program, also gets downloaded; and attached to the viewer. This phenomena happened to me in a very real and physical way: one ordinary day I was haunting the video booths in an adult movie arcade, when I noticed a large glory hole. I continued to watch the video that was endlessly looping on the glowing monitor of the television screen. Suddenly, a demonic apparition emerged from the glory hole; and, as a consequence, I was thoroughly and completely taken over by the satanic entity. As a pretext to this event, like many of my fellow porn addicts, I spent countless hours and sleepless nights worshiping the images in the magazine, video, or computer screen. It was a form of demonic hypnosis: the fantasy talking over the flesh and blood of the actual living person.
The only way to free ourselves of this obsession is through Our Lord Jesus Christ. In Catholicism, this freedom from sin is accomplished by partaking in the Sacraments: the first one must be Confession; second, a return to the Mass and the Eucharist; the reception of Extreme Unction, and possibly deliverance prayers or even the Rite of Exorcism. This process should ideally take place under the supervision of a stalwart and brave priest. During this time, the penitent must maintain an intense and dedicated prayer life, which includes daily meditation upon the Passion of Our Lord, recitation of the Rosary, and prayers for the intercession of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and St. Michael the Archangel.
Links to earlier blogs on The CCC and porn: