Pornography and religion may seem incompatible but watching adult video may actually boost faith.

People who watch porn more than once a week tend to become more religious, a researcher claims, while those who watch racy videos occasionally tend to drift away from religion.

While the reason for this is difficult to discern, the expert believes it may be to do with feeling guilty.

People who watch porn (stock image) more than once a week tend to become more religious, a researcher claims, while those who watch racy videos occasionally tend to become less religious

It is popularly thought religious groups' disapproval of porn makes devout followers less likely to view it, and it's also been argued that porn users are more likely to lose their faith.

'Recent research suggests that more frequent porn consumption, especially for religious persons, is associated with guilt and embarrassment, potentially diminishing one's interest in religious or spiritual activities while also potentially creating feelings of scrupulosity that may draw individuals away from religious community,' the study said.

Samuel Perry, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma, followed a group of 1,314 adults over six years between 2006 and 2012, by using the Portraits of American Life Study (Pals).

Pals is a nationally representative survey in which participants answered questions on topics including pornography and their religious life.

While the consumption of porn was largely linked to decreased religiousness, the study, published in the Journal of Sex Research, revealed people who used it more than once a week became slightly more spiritual. This graph shows predicted values of religious service attendance and prayer among porn users

It is popularly thought religious groups' disapproval of porn makes devout followers less likely to view it, and it's also been argued that porn users are more likely to lose their faith. This graph shows predicted value of religious doubts, showing they peak for porn users who indulge a few times a week

BIBLE BELT USES ADULT CONTENT The Bible Belt may have a hidden kinky side, according to a 2014 study that claims the more Christian you are, the more likely you are to watch porn. Compared to their liberal counterparts, those who are religious use more search terms on Google considered to be pornographic, according to the research. The study, by researchers at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, looked at two years of data from Google Trends from different states in the US, taking note of those identified as religiously conservative and those the politically conservative. The latter is more likely to look for sex specific terms, such as 'gay sex, free porn and xxx,' whereas those that consider themselves religious look for more generalised sex terms. Advertisement

It found 39 per cent of American adults have viewed some sort of pornographic material in the past 12 months, with three times as men viewing racy material compared to women.

It also revealed women tend to be more religious than men on each dimension of religiosity, except for religious doubts.

Further analysis revealed the relationship between pornography and religious is complex.

While the consumption of porn was largely linked to decreased religiousness, the study, published in the Journal of Sex Research revealed people who used it more than once a week became slightly more spiritual.

'On the whole, results support the notion that viewing pornography can reduce religiosity over time.

'Adults who reported viewing pornography at all… reported more frequent religious doubt, lower levels of religious salience, and lower frequency of prayer compared to persons who never viewed pornography,' the study said.

Dr Perry wrote: 'Findings suggest that viewing pornography may lead to declines in some dimensions of religiosity but at more extreme levels may actually stimulate, or at least be conducive to, greater religiosity along other dimensions.'

Dr Perry wrote: 'Findings suggest viewing pornography may lead to declines in some dimensions of religiosity but at more extreme levels may actually stimulate, or at least be conducive to, greater religiosity along other dimensions.' A stock image of a man praying is shown above

Dr Perry theorised the occasional use of porn may make religious people feel guilty, pushing them further away from their faith. This graph shows regular porn users pray more than less regular users - but not as much as devout people who said they never use pornographic material

Specifically he found people who viewed porn two to three times a month were the least interested in religion, but 'at higher frequencies of porn viewing however, the trend in religious salience later on appears to increase slightly.'

He also found religious and service attendance, and prayer both increased among regular porn users 'to the point where those who viewed pornography 'once a day or more' are almost back up to average levels of religious service attendance and prayer,' of those who said they never indulge.

The finding was similar for men and women.

Dr Perry theorised the occasional use of porn may make religious people feel guilty, pushing them further away from their faith.

But those that use it regularly, possibly find ways of justifying their behaviour to avoid feeling apart from their religion.

Regular use of porn may even make some people turn to God as means of allaying their guilt for using porn.

Dr Perry found people who viewed porn two to three times a month were the least interested in religion (shown above in a graph), but ' at higher frequencies of porn viewing however, the trend in religious salience later on appears to increase slightly'



