It doesn't matter what the temptation is....say chocolate or cigarettes vs....stealing or slandering.
Regardless of how small or large the temptation....resistance is useless or not?
2007-06-20 17:00:34 · 11 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pray tell... where does this scrap of "wisdom" come from? What is the source of this "that which you resist persists" quotation? I have never heard this before.
And besides... just because someone says some bit of "wisdom" does not necessarily make it true, much less to justify basing yet another "slam" to the Judeo/Christian faith.
2007-06-20 17:44:35 · answer #1 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The more complete form of the quote is, "What you resist, persists. What you embrace, dissolves." What it refers to is judgment, anger, fear, etc, and not specifically desires/temptations.
However, since it is still valid for desires, that can be addressed. Desire fulfillment is often a double edged sword, and we could say this is always true for "temptations". Do you really desire to steal even though you risk getting caught and will likely feel guilty? Do you really desire sitting around all day eating bon-bons, knowing you'll get fat and sick? So, perhaps the desire is not really being resisted anyway.
If one is following a moral code defined by another (For example, that dancing is evil) then this may very well bring it's own conflict of desire with it, but that's a separate matter.
2007-06-21 02:53:55 · answer #2 · answered by philmeta11 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps an analogy will help. The Hoover Dam resists the water pressure on it. The water pressure persists as long as the dam resists. If the dam collapses, the water wins the battle. Now the water pressure on the dam no longer exists but all the damage done, all the people killed, all the towns lost, the damage is forever.
Evil persists. You either resist it or it wins. That is the struggle of life. Remember:
All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do....nothing!
.
2007-06-21 00:10:40 · answer #3 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The word temptation is synonymous with things that are bad for us. That being said then, of course, we should resist or just drown in the consequences of an unstructured, destructive, miserable life. It is happiness to overcome, reach goals, and avoid mistakes.
2007-06-21 00:05:39 · answer #4 · answered by Bubbles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you want to know God's point of view and it is also CHristians, who have victory against temptation, here's what's written:
James 4:7 Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, double-minded ones.
Added:
Remember, harming ourselves, is just as bad as harming others. You may not harm others, but what ever it is that may harm you, is just as evil in God's eye.
That's how we manage it and have victory over it!
2007-06-21 12:08:45 · answer #5 · answered by monfille 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the practice of Tantra (no it's not all sex), one of the practices is to saturate your temptations, until you stop judging yourself for them. The idea being exactly what you said - it you fight something, you are infusing it with judgment and so a power over you.
Eventually, they will fall away naturally - unless of course, it's chocolate.
2007-06-21 02:06:28 · answer #6 · answered by cosmicshaktifire? 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I can learn to resist
Anything but temptation
I can learn to coexist
With anything but pain
I can learn to compromise
Anything but my desires
I can learn to get along
With all the things I can't explain
I can learn to resist
Anything but frustration
I can learn to persist
With anything but aiming low
I can learn to close my eyes
To anything but injustice
I can learn to get along
With all the things I don't know
You can surrender
Without a prayer
But never really pray
Pray without surrender
You can fight
Without ever winning
But never ever win
Without a fight...
2007-06-21 21:18:12 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the best thing to do is to allow things to happen. A happy person doesn't need to steal, etc. because he/she no longer has the idea that things will "make" them happy. ~ : ) EDIT: Or to put it in different words just allow enlightenment to unfold. ~ : )
2007-06-21 01:52:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"an' it harm none, do as ye will." Why resist if no one will get hurt?
2007-06-21 00:05:36 · answer #9 · answered by MoonWater 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
" Dont lead me to temptation,
I can find it myself."
LOL
2007-06-21 00:03:38 · answer #10 · answered by Smart Ash 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋