Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Purchasing stocks in a company that the religious right may consider "embarrassing"

I must report that in the past year, I owned and sold some stock in Playboy enterprises.   I will report to you that this company that does in fact produce semi-illicit imagery is not a sin to own.  It is in fact, a mitzvah to be an owner of Playboy stock.   Ownership of playboy magazines is not my hobby.   Of course, like any American, I am familiar with their content.  (of course, right?).  But that said, I do in fact feel for myself, owning materials of uncovered bodies is in fact, if not a small sin, embarrassing at a small level.  (Why would I own nude imagery if I was trying to lead a true life of Torah?).   I do believe that the act of viewing these images is not a greivous sin.  There is a level of sexual perversion that is likely present at some capacity, but if you are one to view this perhaps online or in a magazine form at some time during your year, I do not believe you to be a wanton sinner.   I do not believe that our Creator will actively punish you for your curiousity and perhaps some need of sexual gratification that is clearly a presense in western society.  That said, I would say that for those who are indeed spending their money on these types of pasttimes, it is clearly not the most sacrosanct activity to engage your mind upon.   I do however, endorse ownership of Playboy enterprises.  You are owning and receiving dividend from a company that allows freedom for the curious.   This is a basic freedom in our western society.   In fact, the dividends you acquire are a blessing in that you have taken the money of the curious out of their hands and put it in your own.  You did not create the curious.  You just made sure that the means are available to their interests.  This is not sinful.  It is a mitzvah becuase you have ensured that these people who may have even been driven to further depravity are permitted to acquire a low level visual experience and perhaps in some cases, knowledge.   It is clearly the religious "right" who are opposed to all such information being distributed.  Modern Islam especially has thrown a number of people my way in life who have expressed a hatred and contempt for this industry.  That said, it was the children of the Iraqi leader who had copious quantities of said imagery in their hands when discovered by Allied Forces in 2003.  So thus, I will remark here, I do not support exaggerated endeavors into viewing and consuming that which is considered pornographic. But as an American, I do believe those industries have their utility in a society which is in fact depraved in many ways from early childhood.  Perhaps our religious communities can do better, and I do indeed commend this dignity; but the industry of illicit imagery is not a social issue that destroys our souls and minds, only in as much as we let it.  I still find that X rated films are egregiously disgusting.   There are some images that really should not see the light of day.  But it does exist, and it is not our need to relinquish society of this content that indeed does in fact have its purpose in the human experience given that it does not permeate the soul, mind and being.

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