About 500 people packed the Boston University George Sherman Union Metcalf Hall Thursday night to see "Porn Nation - The Naked Truth," to learn about sexual freedom in America.
Real Life Boston, the local affiliate of Campus Crusade for Christ, planned the presentation in conjunction with Bravehearts, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to helping people free themselves from sexual addiction and compulsion.
Mike Bost, Real Life campus minister for Massachusetts Institute for Technology and Northeastern University, said the event was held around Valentine's Day since sex is a relevant topic, but called the release of student sex magazine Boink during the same week of the event a "total coincidence."
Bravehearts founder Michael Leahy spoke to students about his former addiction to pornography.
"All of us are sexual creatures and this is what happens when you are immersed in this kind of exposure," he said. "More revenue is generated through porn than all pro-sports combined."
Leahy used these statistics to prove that America has become "one nation under porn."
Leahy focused on the slogan "what you feed grows and what you starve dies," stating his pornography addiction sustained him after his marriage and family life slowly faded.
"My life had taken a nasty turn by the time this all had been discovered," he said.
Aside from his own life story, Leahy showed video clips and interviews to demonstrate the presence of pornography in popular culture.
Students' reasons for attending the event varied.
Scott Ostler, a MIT sophomore, said he just came "for the ride."
Other students were more curious about the subject, which led to their attendance.
"I don't know many statistics," School of Education freshman Molly Moench said. "I want to learn what exactly [it has] done to our culture."
Leahy offered people the option to leave before he began the religious aspect of the presentation. Almost all of the people in attendance remained for the second segment. SED sophomore Caitlin Sullivan-Thompson said she was "surprised as to how many people came out and then stayed after despite the spiritual part."
Be the first to comment on this article!
Log in Log in to be able to post comments.