If the thought as as serious as the deed

[_Roger Morrison]

What is so wrong with attempting to control your thoughts??

Could be we would experience a better self/society if folks weren't so inhibited that they suppress/control their thoughts to "step-out'a the box," write/sing their song, paint their picture. Think about the parable of the Good Samaritan and the thought processes of the characters in that tale. Only one spontaneously responded to the crisis. The others all thought their way out of taking action on their own. No body there to tell them what to do.

Jim Crotche wrote & sang a wonderful song about a teacher scolding a student who coloured his leaves with imagination, "...Green leaves are GREEN young man..." Very sad.

All part of maturing into a self actualizer. Consider all things, then step beyond the teacher...

Respectfully suggests, Roger

[_antishock8]

What is so wrong with attempting to control your thoughts??

There's nothing wrong with controlling one's own thoughts, if that's an internal process. However, if a cult is mandating it, and you take it seriously, that can cause a lot of psychological damage. For example, masturbation and sexual fantasy can be a healthy outlet for oneself. The Mormon church would have you believe if a married man fantasied about another women in order to achieve a masturbatory fantasy, that THAT act is akin to adultery.

Wow. Just... Wow. That's really controlling and unhealthy. The psychological damage can be profound where a little common sense is needed. The common sense in this case is "Don't have sex with someone else." That's all.

[_Danna]

Danna! Sell the bike! Or, buy yer own?? TBM heritage? Big problem. Make the best of it as you escape. Start Class-action of all conscripted-moms appealing for compensation from Church & Wall Street for Gender discrimination & Sexual exploitation.

I did a toonlet on just this topic a while back...



Imposing thought control is similar to encouraging needless guilt. With all the kids mum had, she had to work to help feed them. So she is wracked with guilt over that, and blames the mass apostasy of her offspring on not following the 'guidance' of the prophet.

[_ludwigm]

What is so wrong with attempting to control your thoughts??

Please make an experiment.

1. Switch off every media around You (TV, video, mp3player, radio, any effect of other people, sounds&lights if You can). Leave at sight only a clock.
2. Sit down.
3. Don't think about white elephants for five minute.
4. Evaluate Your activity during that five minute.
5. Share Your result with us (optional step).

Is there something wrong with attempting to control your thoughts?

Ps. It doesn't work as thought experiment, one can really execute it.
Ps+. please don't test this way any mandatory thought control. If You read "1984" from Orwell, You can learn, what the thought police is.

[_bcspace]

when thinking of sinful activities then why isn't the thought as good as doing the deed when thinking of good things? I know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and all that But, it is taught often that thinking of sinful deeds is as good as having done them.(without the fun of the real experience most of the time)
If so, why isn't thinking of doing something good just as rewarding as actually doing it? (at least on the heavenly reward/punishment level)

Does this have anything to do with the LDS Church? If so, how?

[_squawkeye]

Well BoyChickspace, it does have to do with LDS, inc. From Spencer Kimball on back(and probably the current iterations as well) the leaders have preached that the thought is as bad as the deed. Many times I heard this from the pulpit as well as in reading LDS publications and books.

If you are condemned for the thought of murdering your mother in law, shooting the neighbors cat, burying the neighbor kid alive or screwing the hot babe two doors down, why not exalted for the thought of something nice?

Seems to me you can't have it both ways. Thoughts and actions are different. Action can proceed from thoughts but it is not necessarily so. Why condemned for a thought when it is not followed by action on it?

[_bcspace]

CFR from doctrinal sources please.

[_cinepro]

I never considered the "thought is as bad as the deed" teaching to be distinctly LDS. After all, doesn't it stem from Matthew 5:28?

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

I think we can chalk that one up to christianity in general, and just thank the LDS Church leaders for carrying on the tradition.

[_bcspace]

I never considered the "thought is as bad as the deed" teaching to be distinctly LDS. After all, doesn't it stem from Matthew 5:28?

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

I think we can chalk that one up to christianity in general, and just thank the LDS Church leaders for carrying on the tradition.

Can you or anyone else come up with an official LDS (or even other Christian) teaching equating committing adultery in your heart with the actual deed? The following verses indicate causation instead.

[_Scottie]

Can you or anyone else come up with an official LDS (or even other Christian) teaching equating committing adultery in your heart with the actual deed? The following verses indicate causation instead.

Why do you need any more? Isn't that one enough?

I know I was taught it all throughout my young mens and seminary days.

The teaching caused me quite a bit of emotional damage.