Aug 17, 2009 1 comment so far
Images, Pornography, and Ministry
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Looking over google trends recently, i saw where the hottest trend was a search for Kari Ann Peniche. Apparently, she, a former beauty queen from Oregon, was in a drug-induced sex tape with Eric Dane and his wife Rebecca Gayheart. I did doctoral work in emerging brain research, particularly in the areas of neuroplasticity and unlearning behavioral patterns. Part of my research focused on the best way to communicate in order to facilitate behavioral change. When I saw this trend, I did a little research into the science behind pornography.
What I discovered was when the brain receives sensory inputs, it transforms them into images. In other words, the brain learns, adapts, and is literally re-wired through images. In fact, according to Judith Reisman, Ph.D., President of The Institute for Media Education, Scientific Advisor to the California Protective Parents Association and the Subcommittee on Junk Science for The American Legislative Exchange Council’s April 2004 report, “Brain scientists tell us that ‘in 3/10 of a second a visual image passes from the eye through the brain, and whether or not one wants to, the brain is structurally changed and memories are created’we literally ‘grow new brain’ with each visual experience.’” (1)
This brings us to the idea of pornography. Pornography is a series of images, whether just a series of pictures or a complete video, that literally transform the brain with each image seen. In addition, “sexually explicit images trigger another part of the brain, the pleasure centers. In them, pleasure and pain are experienced. This part of the brain is the most primitive part that is in both humans and animals, Weight said. It triggers an appetite for the necessary things of survival — such as food, anger and sex.” (2) As the images re-wire the brain, the pleasure centers of the brain reinforce that new wiring by strengthening the connection between the synapses. These pathways are the conductors for our behavior.
Since we are emotionally driven, this is of greater concern. The images produce memories that power emotions. Overcoming the emotional triggers, particularly of wired pleasure & pain paths is extremely difficult. Rewiring is a complex process.
So what does this do for ministry?
1. We need to warn our congregation of the dangers of images. We need to understand their image ont he brain and speak to those we minister to about how this works. It may seem boring to deal with synapses and neurons and neurotransmitters, but if people can learn how the brain works and how behavior is wired into our brain, people can be prepared.
2. We need to communicate in images. Whether it is video clips, or images in our sermon or verbal images, if we want to communicate for behavioral change, we need to communicate in images. This was a profound revelation for me in my doctoral work. It is important to realize that this is one reason (not to mention the Holy Spirit) that the Bible has such impact: it speaks in images. Whether its parables or poetry or stories, the majority of scripture is full of these. Consider using more imagery in your preaching.
(1) http://www.drjudithreisman.com/archives/2005/12/senate_subcommi.html
(2) http://nn.byu.edu/story.cfm/13911
Popularity: 11% [?]




















Recent Comments