Thoughtsins

[platzapS]

How can a thought be sinful?

On the Teen Guys forum, there are constant threads on "overcoming" lust. I feel sorry for all of thee guys torturing themselves over natural human thoughts. They think it's wrong to entertain certain ideas in your mind, even if you do not act on them. Sexual thoughts (particularly the ones discussed in those forums) don't harm anyone, yet they cause tremendous psychological damage to the poor victim of guilt.

The same goes for the "sin" of hate or greed. It is a biological instinct to want more than you have. As long as you don't steal or destroy friendships over it, why is wanting another's property or success wrong? Couldn't it even be a motivation to work harder?

To paraphrase the Simpsons:
FLANDERS' SON: Gee, I'm sure glad that we gave the homeless such great food.
FLANDERS: Careful, son, that's the sin of pride.
SON (ashamed): sorry, dad.
FLANDERS: Sin of regret!

 

[flicka]

It is a bit nuts isn't it?

But I've come to realize that many people, especially young people, often NEED to focus on something like this in order to feel like they are actively participating in their faith.

If they, as Christans, aren't fighting temptation then how do they differ from everyone else?

I believe it allows them to feel empowered at a point in their lives when they have very little real power.

 

[michabo]

The bible teaches us that knowledge is a sin (eating from the tree of knowledge has punished the entire human race), as are the wrong beliefs (atheists & those that don't believe in God go to Hell).

But hey, that's God for you.

 

[Ryal Kane]

MAny religions, especially sin based religions, work with this premise. By vilifying natural human desires the believer is faced with constant guilt, focing them to redouble their efforts on their faith.
It's not a conscious design of the faith. It just tends to evolve that way.

 

[DailyBlessings]

It is a bit nuts isn't it?

But I've come to realize that many people, especially young people, often NEED to focus on something like this in order to feel like they are actively participating in their faith.

If they, as Christans, aren't fighting temptation then how do they differ from everyone else?

I believe it allows them to feel empowered at a point in their lives when they have very little real power.

Empowered? By fighting unconcious thoughts? They are irrevocably doomed to fail in that endeavor, and the empowerment goes with it. If you want a youth to be powerful and productive in their faith, introduce them to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, don't give them psychological disorders!

 

[flicka]

Empowered? By fighting unconcious thoughts? They are irrevocably doomed to fail in that endeavor, and the empowerment goes with it. If you want a youth to be powerful and productive in their faith, introduce them to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, don't give them psychological disorders!

I don't disagree. It's the same process that causes some to develop anorexia. Unfortunately it seems to be pretty common.

 

[DailyBlessings]

I don't disagree. It's the same process that causes some to develop anorexia. Unfortunately it seems to be pretty common.

Not the same process, but similar. Society has an intrusive way about it. But I think Christianity does not have to be an agent in this particular muddle. In a way, it is also being forced into an untenable position by modern pressures.

 

[platzapS]

They get so absurd in avoiding "sin" that sometimes I want to look at pornography simply to spite them.

 

[platzapS]

But I've come to realize that many people, especially young people, often NEED to focus on something like this in order to feel like they are actively participating in their faith.

If they, as Christans, aren't fighting temptation then how do they differ from everyone else?

I believe it allows them to feel empowered at a point in their lives when they have very little real power.

That's interesting. I guess they live in a society open to or supportive of Christianity, so they find a new way to fulfill the persecution complex.

It's awful though, fighting with yourself about a problem that doesn't exist. I went to a fundamentalist school from age six to eight, and they scared the hell into me. I was mortified of going to hell. Now I realize that it's just a horrible psychological fear tactic.

 

[KarateCowboy]

The bible teaches us that knowledge is a sin (eating from the tree of knowledge has punished the entire human race), as are the wrong beliefs (atheists & those that don't believe in God go to Hell).

But hey, that's God for you.

The sin was not having knowledge, michabo. The sin was disobeying God.

 

[shinbits]

Imagine if I thought of your mom or your sister in sexual and perverse ways. Is it okay?

That's why "thought" sins are wrong.

 

[marblehead]

Imagine if I thought of your mom or your sister in sexual and perverse ways. Is it okay?

That's why "thought" sins are wrong.

If you don't act on it or it's just a passing thought, then sure it's okay.

The more you try to fight your human nature, the more psychological damage you can cause.

 

[NPH]

Imagine if I thought of your mom or your sister in sexual and perverse ways. Is it okay?

That's why "thought" sins are wrong.

If you were thinking of my mom in that way I'd just think "ick" lol. But it wouldn't bother me one bit.

As for my sister? Well, i'm sure her husband thinks of her in sexual ways and I like him just fine so i guess there's nothing wrong with those thoughts at all.

 

[Pinp]

The sin was not having knowledge, michabo. The sin was disobeying God.

But to draw out the analysis then:

If thinking about committing a sin is sin then the first sin wasn't disobeying God it was thinking about doing it.

 

[hernyaccent]

I never quite understood the idea of thoughts being sinful either.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

I feel guilty after thinking certain perverse thoughts, like gruesome or incestuous things, and I quickly try to clear them from my mind. Is this analogous? I think it may be a biological reaction, especially something like thinking about incest. It's gross and your whole constitution should be rejecting it, and so you in turn feel bad for even thinking about it.

 

[Faith In God]

What causes a person to steal something?

Wanting it.

What causes adultery/affairs?

Lust.

What causes murder?

A want to murder.

God wants sin to stop at the source. God isn't stupid.

 

[marblehead]

What causes a person to steal something?

Wanting it.

What causes adultery/affairs?

Lust.

What causes murder?

A want to murder.

God wants sin to stop at the source. God isn't stupid.

How about self-control, or is this another matter of belief in god being the only thing from keeping certain people from running around killing? Not that it has stopped people in the past.

 

[Faith In God]

How about self-control, or is this another matter of belief in god being the only thing from keeping certain people from running around killing? Not that it has stopped people in the past.

Burn!

That's fulfillment of prophecy, you know. People killing others in His name thinking they're doing Him a favor.

Sure, self-control. Has that stopped you from hating or lusting?

Sinning is not just an act.

 

[Rae]

Imagine if I thought of your mom or your sister in sexual and perverse ways. Is it okay?

Sure it's okay. The problem would be acting on those thoughts without their consent. If you had their consent, you could act on them as well.