Penthouse Media Launches Christian Dating Site: BigChurch.com

Christian dating site BigChurch.com boasts nearly 500,000 members, a free basic membership, a Bible verse search and an online interactive magazine. Next to the site logo is the statement "bringing people together in love and faith." Posted above the Bible verse search is Genesis 2:24 which says, "A man will leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." With that kind of mission statement it may surprise some to know that BigChurch.com is owned and operated by Penthouse Media Group, Inc.

Penthouse, founded in 1965 by Bob Guccione, was acquired in 2004 by a group of investors headed by entrepreneur Marc Bell. Apparently, the enormous amount of free porn available on the Internet has lowered profits and as a result forced Penthouse to branch out into the social networking scene.

Last December, Penthouse purchased social network Various, Inc. for $500 million. Various' holdings include several online dating sites such as Bondage.com that have acquired over 250 million members combined since they were founded. They also have 1.2 million current subscribers who pay for content.

Various' biggest producer is AdultFriendFinder.com which claims to be "the world's largest adult sex and swingers site" and has more than 18 million members. Bell has said that in the coming months Penthouse Media Group, Inc. will be renamed FriendFinder Networks, Inc. The company plans to offer multiple sites serving daters and adult content consumers around the world.

So where does a Christian dating site fit in? "Penthouse is a worldwide trademark and we see opportunity in combining our brands," Bell says. Apparently sites like BigChurch.com, LikeMyNudePhoto.com, and the swinger network AdultFriendFinder.com, are simply a way for Penthouse Media Group to diversify their offerings to bring in more revenue.

Considering the fact that Penthouse owns BigChurch.com, it would be interesting to know how many members are aware of it and if the ownership of the site makes any difference to them.

Because of the type of sites that FriendFinder Networks, Inc. offers, it's hard to imagine any Christian feeling good about supporting this company financially or in any other way. We're not just talking about a little nudity here. Some of their sites promote bestiality, extreme and often dangerous fetishes, and even child pornography.

There are many Christian dating and social networks available that are solid, reputable companies that espouse Christian values. Christian or not, everyone should do their homework before joining any dating site. Know who is running the show and where the money is going.

With sites like BigChurch.com people may get a bit more than they bargained for.