in 1st Corinthians, Paul is all across the board on whether it’s okay for a Christian to eat food offered to Pagan god

[Multicolored Lemur]

I agree with you that they use tradition to justify priests staying single, but it's a shame that they don't revisit that issue.

The Catholic Church has made major steps forward in reporting sexual abuse, and not covering it up.

In fact, at this point I think other large organizations can probably learn from the Catholic reforms.

————

Okay, most people who abuse children were themselves abused as children. This is pretty well known and accepted as pretty standard.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the abuse of teenagers is somewhat different, because teenagers are attractive and the adult needs to tell himself, for God’s sake, don’t act on it. (more rarely, tell herself. But most abuse is committed by men, not women.)

I’m 62 years old. If I’m dating a woman about my age and she has a 15-year-old granddaughter, I might just tell my lady friend the grandmother, “Hey, she’s a real hottie. If I was that age again, I’d probably be very interested in her. She’s almost as good-looking as her grandmother!” And in this way, I detoxify the thought. Just a thought. I’m certainly not committed to act on it.

Evangelical Christians sometimes think the mere thought is where the line is crossed. Absolutely not. But that’s where the Christian can tie himself into a knot. And if you try to push the thought out of your mind, you’re just giving it more power.

I’d recommend to such a person, hey man, please, just draw a few simple lessons from zen.

 

[Scooter]

Just because you were incorrectly taught doesn’t mean there is a flaw in the faith.

The minister sometimes used the phrase, “obedience to the known will of God.”

God’s will is for everyone to repent, be saved and live a holy life. That’s what the Bible teaches. Sometimes, people insist that their personal beliefs and convictions are God’s will. We are not required to follow man’s beliefs and interpretations.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

which current famous Americans have either married late or never married?

Notable Americans who have never married

• Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham: They have been in a committed partnership since 1986 but have chosen not to marry.
• Al Pacino: The legendary actor, now in his 80s, has four children with three different partners but has never been married.
• Diane Keaton: The Academy Award-winning actress, who is now in her late 70s, has had high-profile romances but has never married.

==============

with ministers, priests, and everyone else, I want them to feel like they have a choice.

Instead of being told one way is “better” and therefore they should do it, and be pressured to a greater or lesser extent.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 9 - Revised Standard Version

The Rights of an Apostle - Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do...

www.biblegateway.com

chapter 9 —
“5 Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife [a], as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”

[a] = in Greek, “a sister as wife“

Cephas = Peter

I think Cephas is the Aramaic word meaning “rock,” and Petros the Greek word.

And yes, I think footnote [a] changes things, because it sounds much more like a platonic relationship.

—————

But all the same, maybe Catholics should take note of this verse and “unbend” on the topic of priests being married! Especially since they view Peter as the first Pope.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Evangelical Christians sometimes think the mere thought is where the line is crossed. Absolutely not. But that’s where the Christian can tie himself into a knot. And if you try to push the thought out of your mind, you’re just giving it more power.

From my understanding, the desiring (or wanting) is when it becomes a problem and not just a mere thought. The desire comes from the heart All that probably involves intent, thoughts, and sometimes feelings.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

it's the desiring (or wanting) it is when it becomes a problem and not just a mere thought

I think I’d still say don’t make a big deal of it.

Talk to someone. For example, I’d say your regular doctor is probably under-utilized for quick life advice.

Or your bartender.

Hopefully, he’d say— Man, if you do something like that, I’m going to kick your butt. Just telling you in advance. Now, you’re a bigger guy, so I’d probably lose that fight. But I’d be proud to lose a fight for that reason. Maybe a bigger friend sees that I have a shiner, asks me for the story behind it, and he wants a piece of you. Seriously, man, don’t do it.

A desire counts as a feeling.

And a feeling’s just a feeling.

It rises and falls like an ocean wave.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Continuing with non-religious ethics . . .

I’d say, this is fine. It’s easily a B+ standard.

Of course, we humans seem to immediately jump to the exceptions, such as, “saying ‘always be moderate’ is itself a non-moderate statement.” Yep, you’ve got us there! So, we’ll make it … most situations most of the time.

This ability to find exceptions is similar to the visual ability to find edges. And this maybe helped us scanning tall grass looking for tigers.

In any case, ethics are easy to find as long as your standards are not impossibly high.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

I think I’d still say don’t make a big deal of it.

Talk to someone. For example, I’d say your regular doctor is probably under-utilized for quick life advice.

Or your bartender.

Hopefully, he’d say— Man, if you do something like that, I’m going to kick your butt. Just telling you in advance. Now, you’re a bigger guy, so I’d probably lose that fight. But I’d be proud to lose a fight for that reason. Maybe a bigger friend sees that I have a shiner, asks me for the story behind it, and he wants a piece of you. Seriously, man, don’t do it.

A desire counts as a feeling.

And a feeling’s just a feeling.

It rises and falls like an ocean wave.

I agree with the response, but not entirely with the last part.

If a dirty thought pops into your head, I'm with you, it's not the end of the world.

And if you try to push the thought out of your mind, you’re just giving it more power.

I'd imagine that not following this is probably one of things that made 'conversion therapy' (therapy for gays to go straight) dangerous and reckless, esp. for gay teens.

The only disagreement I have is with desire. It's more than just a feeling from my experience. It can also drive behavior. And this could also vary based on the person if some are triggered more by feeling (someone w/ an anger problem) than others.


Started a related discussion here:

Featured Thread 'Thought Crimes'

Oct 13, 2025

Jesus said this in Matthew 5:27-28:
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

For Discussion:
1. Is just the thought of something considered a sin?
2. If not, what did Jesus mean? Two responses are below but I welcome anyone else to chime in.

Evangelical Christians sometimes think the mere thought is where the line is crossed. Absolutely not.

From my understanding, the desiring (or wanting) is when it becomes a problem and not...

• AgnosticBoy
• Replies: 19
• Forum: Christianity (section 1)