FRISKY
11-30-2011, 05:40 PM
Pastor vs. porn star: Only one can be on top
A student with a giant "P" on his shirt walked into the Student Union ballroom followed by three other with letters, "O," "R" and "N."
The four students joined a crowd of 460 Tuesday night to see Ron Jeremy, star of more than 2,000 porn films, and Craig Gross, pastor and founder of xxxchurch.com, a site to help people with porn addictions, debate about porn's affect on society.
"I've been with 2,000 women, he's been with his wife 2,000 times. Same thing," claimed Jeremy, often referred to as the greatest porn star of all time.
Each person had an opening statement to address their opinions to the audience and talk about their work.
"What we wanted to do with the xxxchurch was not shut down the industry, not boycott, not picket, but actually help people," Gross said. "If you don't want help, then I can't help you. I'm not going to force help down your throat. Their industry does stuff like that."
Jeremy always chooses to address the audience second, since he feels like his industry is always being criticized so it is easier to refute the opponent's statements. "I never said porn is not offensive. Some people don't like it, and that's fine. Some people hate it, and that's fine too. Some people consider Playboy offensive. That's your choice," Jeremy said.
The crowd was then able to write down questions for the mediator, Martha Rosenthal, a professor in the department of biological sciences, to ask the two speakers.
Each person answered a few routine questions such as "what is porn?"
"The Supreme Court tried to figure that out, and it was a Supreme Court judge that said I can't define obscenity, I just know it when I see it," Jeremy said. Pornography is basically different in each person's mind.
The questions got tougher for the speakers as they touched on sensitive topics for each. When Rosenthal asked the question of which has caused more harm, porn or religion, Jeremy laughed and simply stated, "If you need any help, let me know," as he stepped aside and let the pastor answer that question.
The pastor, although not expecting that question, took a few seconds and delivered his answer.
"All I can say to answer that question is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry that there's been just as much harm if not more by religious folks than porn," Gross said. "It's saddening to hear that, but there's no way I'm going to come up here and defend all that stuff that they've done in God's name that is so far from his heart."
Jeremy did not get away easily. He was asked the question that probably every male porn star hates to hear:
"If you had a daughter…" Rosenthal attempted to ask before Jeremy shouted out, "Oh, come on."
"Just say ‘No,'" Gross chimed in. "No father wants his daughter to do porn."
Jeremy countered by saying, "I obviously wouldn't choose for her to do porn. Would it be my first choice? No. But would I accept my daughter if she did it? Of course. What would she say? ‘Well, dad, you did it.'"
Aside from the crowd of 460 in the ballroom, an additional 150 were in an additional room with a screen showing a live feed. Approximately 200 students were turned away.
The students that were in attendance were surprised at how the event turned out.
"I thought that I would be on Ron's side and that the pastor would be a crazy Jesus freak, but he ended up being a normal guy with valid points," said Ashley Lawrence, a senior public relations major.
The event also turned out to be more informative than students originally thought.
"It was an amazing event, and they both gave such vivid points that really made you think," said Corey Levine, a sophomore history major.
The two men have been traveling all across the country debating the topic of porn, and despite being on opposing sides, have actually grown to be friends.
"I know the relationship I have with God has shown me to love people for who they are, and that's why Ron and I are friends. I know we are opponents, but we've been doing this for five years. I care for this guy in spite of this," Gross said.
MORE: http://www.eaglenews.org/pastor-vs-porn-star-only-one-can-be-on-top-1.2677573#.TtZfiTCF-wx
A student with a giant "P" on his shirt walked into the Student Union ballroom followed by three other with letters, "O," "R" and "N."
The four students joined a crowd of 460 Tuesday night to see Ron Jeremy, star of more than 2,000 porn films, and Craig Gross, pastor and founder of xxxchurch.com, a site to help people with porn addictions, debate about porn's affect on society.
"I've been with 2,000 women, he's been with his wife 2,000 times. Same thing," claimed Jeremy, often referred to as the greatest porn star of all time.
Each person had an opening statement to address their opinions to the audience and talk about their work.
"What we wanted to do with the xxxchurch was not shut down the industry, not boycott, not picket, but actually help people," Gross said. "If you don't want help, then I can't help you. I'm not going to force help down your throat. Their industry does stuff like that."
Jeremy always chooses to address the audience second, since he feels like his industry is always being criticized so it is easier to refute the opponent's statements. "I never said porn is not offensive. Some people don't like it, and that's fine. Some people hate it, and that's fine too. Some people consider Playboy offensive. That's your choice," Jeremy said.
The crowd was then able to write down questions for the mediator, Martha Rosenthal, a professor in the department of biological sciences, to ask the two speakers.
Each person answered a few routine questions such as "what is porn?"
"The Supreme Court tried to figure that out, and it was a Supreme Court judge that said I can't define obscenity, I just know it when I see it," Jeremy said. Pornography is basically different in each person's mind.
The questions got tougher for the speakers as they touched on sensitive topics for each. When Rosenthal asked the question of which has caused more harm, porn or religion, Jeremy laughed and simply stated, "If you need any help, let me know," as he stepped aside and let the pastor answer that question.
The pastor, although not expecting that question, took a few seconds and delivered his answer.
"All I can say to answer that question is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry that there's been just as much harm if not more by religious folks than porn," Gross said. "It's saddening to hear that, but there's no way I'm going to come up here and defend all that stuff that they've done in God's name that is so far from his heart."
Jeremy did not get away easily. He was asked the question that probably every male porn star hates to hear:
"If you had a daughter…" Rosenthal attempted to ask before Jeremy shouted out, "Oh, come on."
"Just say ‘No,'" Gross chimed in. "No father wants his daughter to do porn."
Jeremy countered by saying, "I obviously wouldn't choose for her to do porn. Would it be my first choice? No. But would I accept my daughter if she did it? Of course. What would she say? ‘Well, dad, you did it.'"
Aside from the crowd of 460 in the ballroom, an additional 150 were in an additional room with a screen showing a live feed. Approximately 200 students were turned away.
The students that were in attendance were surprised at how the event turned out.
"I thought that I would be on Ron's side and that the pastor would be a crazy Jesus freak, but he ended up being a normal guy with valid points," said Ashley Lawrence, a senior public relations major.
The event also turned out to be more informative than students originally thought.
"It was an amazing event, and they both gave such vivid points that really made you think," said Corey Levine, a sophomore history major.
The two men have been traveling all across the country debating the topic of porn, and despite being on opposing sides, have actually grown to be friends.
"I know the relationship I have with God has shown me to love people for who they are, and that's why Ron and I are friends. I know we are opponents, but we've been doing this for five years. I care for this guy in spite of this," Gross said.
MORE: http://www.eaglenews.org/pastor-vs-porn-star-only-one-can-be-on-top-1.2677573#.TtZfiTCF-wx