Immoral Thoughts ?

[Minnesota]

Can thoughts, in of themselves, be immoral. While it may be immoral to practice adultery, is imagining such a thing an immoral act?

[spiritmech]

Yes.
SM

[Piebald]

I think that actively entertaining unwholesome (or downright vile) thoughts is immoral. You can't say "I'm a moral person, I would never commit adultery!" .. while at the same time you take great pleasure in fantasizing about adultery. It might not be as bad as actually commiting the act -- but if you are a moral person, why do you pleasure yourself with thoughts of adultery?

I'll take something we can all agree is evil: Child molestation.

If I said: "I think child molestation is terrible, but I enjoy actively fantasizing about child molestation" what would you think of me? Your responses should preferably not include violence :teeth:

[jason]

Can thoughts, in of themselves, be immoral. While it may be immoral to practice adultery, is imagining such a thing an immoral act?
Of course.

But keep in mind also that by fantasising about something you will drive yourself in all likely hood to do this thing one one day.

One day fantasy will be insufficent and you will seek out what you fantasise about.

The example of child molestation hamster used was a good one.

If you spent all day dreaming about molesting littel kids, would you really be a morally upright individual ?

Jason

[Superbug]

Thoughts are not easily controlled. If you never have an immoral thought, being moral is too easy. Thoughts don't hurt anyone, as long as you are able to control your actions. If you are envious because your friend got something that you would like to have, go and congratulate him anyway.

[Mountain Man]

It depends on what one means by "thought". A random stream of consciousness that is quickly dismissed is not immoral. But to embrace that thought and actively fantasize about it is immoral, simply because you would most likely willingly live out that fantasy if you thought you could get away with it.

[Minnesota]

But to embrace that thought and actively fantasize about it is immoral, simply because you would most likely willingly live out that fantasy if you thought you could get away with it.
Would this still hold true for someone incarcerated for life, or who had been castrated, where the chance was zero?

[mossrose]

Not that you probably care what Jesus says about it, but here it is, from Matthew 5:


27"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

[Mountain Man]

Would this still hold true for someone incarcerated for life, or who had been castrated, where the chance was zero?
Presumbly, such a person would willingly act out their fantasy if they were able.

[spiritmech]

Thoughts are not easily controlled. If you never have an immoral thought, being moral is too easy. Thoughts don't hurt anyone, as long as you are able to control your actions. If you are envious because your friend got something that you would like to have, go and congratulate him anyway.

Thought control isn't wanted or preferable. But for Christians, the Holy Spirit helps one to think on pure things. Thoughts do hurt someone: yourself.
SM

[Superbug]

But it can't be helped. Thoughts just come.

[Mountain Man]

The difference is between a random immoral thought passing through your head and dwelling on it.

[LGM]

The difference is between a random immoral thought passing through your head and dwelling on it.

Yo! MM...

Care to explain what exactly a "random immoral thought passing through your head" is? And where do these "random" thoughts come from? Are they floating around the ether and you simply bump into them? And what is the exact amount of time you have to dismiss a “random” immoral thought, before it turns into the dreaded "dwelling immoral fantasy"? One that you are allegedly incapable of resisting, and will no doubt need to live out in real life or go insane?

An illustration...Say MM is watching the SuperBowl, when suddenly there appears on the screen a tight shot of a scantily clad, lovely, young buxom blonde cheerleader...

…coincidentally, just at that precise moment, a “random” thought enters MM’s “head”, that tells MM that he would certainly enjoy fornicating with a lovely young buxom blonde cheerleader…despite his marital status, and his fine upstanding Christian reputation in his local community and Tweb…Now while MM certainly has no real plan to actualize this “random” thought…there it is…bouncing around inside his head…for some "unexplained" reason... :ahem:

How long does MM have to completely expel this “random” thought from his head, before it becomes an official “fantasy” for which he will be judged an adulterer by his beloved Jesus? When does…”dang, look at the bod on that cheerleader” turn into the official “lust in the heart” adultery for which Mrs. MM may sue for divorce?

…are we talking milliseconds?...a few seconds…till the end of the game?...I would think this is an important theological doctrine for Christians to know and agree on. Because obviously if you are not expelling these “random” immoral thoughts within the allotted time, the next step is to gouge out your eyes, or cut off your hand, or god forbid shoot your TV or the cheerleader to save yourself from eternal damnation…

LGM
…always fascinated by the official, detailed rules of the Christian religion…

[Abigail]

'You cant stop the birds flying over you head but you can stop them nesting in your hair' - if you dwell on those immoral thoughts and entertain them then you are playing with fire

[LGM]

'You cant stop the birds flying over you head but you can stop them nesting in your hair'

...unless of course you're a quadraplegic...:ahem:

You can’t stop people from using wretched, superficial analogies on Tweb, but you can choose instead to be simply amused by them…

LGM
…I think I’m beginning to “dwell” on Tweb again…it feels like I’m playing with fire…:hrm:

[Abigail]

...unless of course you're a quadraplegic...:ahem:

You can’t stop people from using wretched, superficial analogies on Tweb, but you can choose instead to be simply amused by them…

LGM
…I think I’m beginning to “dwell” on Tweb again…it feels like I’m playing with fire…:hrm:
:fight: LGM one of my best friend's - Monty - grandad used that analogy and I have been waiting patiently this past year on TWeb to use it. If you as a quadraplegic cant get rid of birds THEN YOU ARE HAVING THE MOTOR ON YOUR WHEELCHAIR SERVICED TOO OFTEN

[learning]

I'm not sure if I have this little rhyme right, but it was one in children's readers, and it is true, I believe.

"Sow a thought, sow a deed.
Sow a deed, sow a habit.
Sow a habit, sow a character.
Sow a character, sow a life."

I think we all have thoughts we don't necessarily like, from being jealous of someone getting a new home, to whatever get's our attention. The thing is, that if we consciously realize, 'hey, this is not a nice thing to think' then we can, like Superbug says, consciously act in the right manner.

[LGM]

:fight: LGM one of my best friend's - Monty - grandad used that analogy and I have been waiting patiently this past year on TWeb to use it.

My dearest Abigail…

I apologize…I had no idea that this analogy was a cherished quip of your beloved Monty’s grandpa, nor that you had been patiently pining away all these years for the perfect opportunity to unveil it in all its majesty in a Tweb thread…my bad… Please forgive my callous treatment of your yearning to share this insightful illustration with us…
:sad:


If you as a quadraplegic cant get rid of birds THEN YOU ARE HAVING THE MOTOR ON YOUR WHEELCHAIR SERVICED TOO OFTEN
My family is too poor to afford a wheelchair, much less one with a motor, they just prop me up in the backyard all day along the fence…

LGM
…Usually in the spring a robin will appear and start to nest in my hair…I’ve gotten quite used to it really…and some days I think that perhaps god has put me here with my long, clumpy hair to provide a safe haven for his winged creations…please tell Monty's grandpa I don't mind...

[Kenny]

My family is too poor to afford a wheelchair, much less one with a motor, they just prop me up in the backyard all day along the fence…

They should consider some sort of wind propulsion device. I'm sure you could supply all the necessary hot air. :tongue:

[Mountain Man]

Oh, snap!

[learning]

I actually found the poem about the 'sow a' thing

"Sow an act,
and you reap a habit.
Sow a habit,
and you reap a character.
Sow a character,
and you reap a destiny."

by Charles Reade

[Tickle Me Goody]

You can’t stop people from using wretched, superficial analogies on Tweb, but you can choose instead to be simply amused by them…

LGM
…I think I’m beginning to “dwell” on Tweb again…it feels like I’m playing with fire…:hrm:
You can deel with it LGM:ahem:

I'm ceratin that you can

GG