[27] "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.'
[28] But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[29] If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
[30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Not to mention that “adultery in his heart” is essentially thought-crime, which I personally find rather unchill and not based.
it can be helpful to consider the thought as bad as the action for the purpose of weeding that behaviour out of our lives. Not that the thought is as bad as the action, because clearly it isn’t.
Considering how many (ex)Christian folks struggle with guilt for having “impure thoughts”, that appears to be a flawed approach. You can’t control what kinds of thoughts spontaneously appear in your mind. Imo you should simply be aware that these thoughts are separate from your intentions and actions towards that person, and don’t guide those actions.
Keep in mind that the Bible treats adultery as property crime against the father or husband of that particular woman. If you try to apply Jesus’ teachings to infidelity specifically, you must wrestle with a bunch of historical and cultural baggage. Nothing wrong with treating a story as inspirational, but again, be aware that you’re making Jesus more cool and progressive than he probably deserves.
Discussions on christianity that comprehend that there is nuance to a 2k year old religion and respect it as a set of outdated moral guidelines? Damn, I didn’t know 196 was chill like that
Thoughtcrime requires crime, which is when punishment is in the control of cops. Jesus says that righteousness should only be self-enforced or God-enforced
Damn I didn’t know Jesus was chill like that
Counter point: literally the next two verses
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.Not to mention that “adultery in his heart” is essentially thought-crime, which I personally find rather unchill and not based.
Removed by mod
Considering how many (ex)Christian folks struggle with guilt for having “impure thoughts”, that appears to be a flawed approach. You can’t control what kinds of thoughts spontaneously appear in your mind. Imo you should simply be aware that these thoughts are separate from your intentions and actions towards that person, and don’t guide those actions.
Keep in mind that the Bible treats adultery as property crime against the father or husband of that particular woman. If you try to apply Jesus’ teachings to infidelity specifically, you must wrestle with a bunch of historical and cultural baggage. Nothing wrong with treating a story as inspirational, but again, be aware that you’re making Jesus more cool and progressive than he probably deserves.
Yeah, Jesus is prone to hyperbole, agree on that.
Discussions on christianity that comprehend that there is nuance to a 2k year old religion and respect it as a set of outdated moral guidelines? Damn, I didn’t know 196 was chill like that
Isn’t it fascinating how you can talk honestly about religious texts when you’re not bound by dogma? Fundamentalists hate this one simple trick.
Thoughtcrime requires crime, which is when punishment is in the control of cops. Jesus says that righteousness should only be self-enforced or God-enforced