For example, a pedophile...
From a christian perspective, we still need to show that person love. What does that mean exactly? How do you deal with that?
2007-01-08 07:18:06 · 5 answers · asked by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Vinslave... I welcome all perspectives.
Just because you give me the Buddhist perspective doesn't mean you're wrong about it.
2007-01-08 07:40:09 · update #1
Maybe a Buddhist perspective will annoy you, but may I pitch in? When you reflect that all the thoughts that pop into your head, your existence as a human, etc. are all due to causes and conditions and that everybody is different, and causes and conditions differ and are changing, no ONE person is ever inherently ANYTHING. "LOVE" is a mental construct that has a definition that differs depending on who you talk to.
"Love", as it is defined in the altruistic definition, is an absence of "hatred" and labeling someone (based on false perceptions) based off of your own perceptions of "morality" and so forth. You Christians often say "love the sinner, hate the sin"... this is a wee bit similar to what I'm getting across... you don't totally throw a person to wolves based on a perception that you might think is what they inherently are, because NOBODY is inherently ANYTHING.
IF someone's doing something that causes actual HARM to others then you can develop "compassion" (i.e. the altruistic "love" I'm referring to) for the person, while you don't tolerate the ACTION they have done to cause the harm. You reflect that their entire existence isn't pedophilia... there are other aspects of this person that can be labeled "worthwhile".
You are NOT inherently your skin, your sexuality, your religion... etc. When you sit down and look for what it is that is exactly YOU... you can't find it. I dare you to try. Are you your thoughts? Are you your actions? Are you your mitochondria? NO... these are causes and conditions and objects that arise due to causes and conditions. YOU are a CONGLOMERATION (if you will) of a bunch of STUFF (people's opinions, labels, your self-concept, atoms, bacteria, pus, blood, cells, air, etc.) and you are NOT any ONE of those things...
therefore... by all means, keep a pedophile away from children and children away from pedophiles, but don't demonize the entire person for their actions which may or may not be above and beyond their control and likely not be within YOUR control either.
Hope this helps a smidge.
_()_
2007-01-08 07:36:03 · answer #1 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, a pedophile has gone way beyond the law, and wlll not be forgiven, not now, or ever! They have sinned against the Holy Spirit. Anyone who forgives a pedophile, as far as I am concerned, is aiding, and abetting that person.
Organized religion is taking this "forgiveness thing, a way to far.
They think they are not like the Vatican, which aids and abetts its pedofiles. (Whatever you allow on earth) By turning a blind eye to these criminals, with all thier christian forgiveness and love, they are doing the same thing.
2007-01-08 07:36:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have to confess that I can not love some people. I used to thing otherwise. In their presence I feel like under a dark cloud. Why? Because I don't identify with they morals. I don't refer to your specific example.
2007-01-08 07:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by apicole 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once you fully realize and understand...
"forgive them Father, for they know not what they do"
You can unconditionally love anyone.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-01-08 07:25:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2007-01-08 07:36:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋