17th Angel
לבעוט את התחת ולקחת שמות
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Right to the heart's point...I'm not sure that's the issue.
I think it might be that when we are unable to recognize the person as a soul and equate them them with their body, then we are losing touch with the Sacred. In other words, lust is an insult to the person and also to G-d's presence in our midst.
It is totally possible to enjoy a person's physical beauty as a manifestation of Divine Perfection.
Thanks for the replies!
I just find my eyes wander and tend to look towards women and certain areas... And It is real hard not to, it's like an auto pilot happens without thinking...I straight away look away but it happens...
lol depending on the "actively lusting" part...they might find themselves arrested, and embarrassed...I think you'll find it's a natural biological reaction to "notice" other people, especially of the gender you are most attracted to.
I would suggest it's a natural reaction in males at least - but there's a big difference between noticing and lusting.
If a woman were to walk through out small town high street wearing nothing but flimsy underwear, I'm sure most of the men would notice and look. However, whether any would stand there actively lusting - I don't think so.
2c.
I'm not sure that's the issue.
I think it might be that when we are unable to recognize the person as a soul and equate them them with their body, then we are losing touch with the Sacred. In other words, lust is an insult to the person and also to G-d's presence in our midst.
It is totally possible to enjoy a person's physical beauty as a manifestation of Divine Perfection.
path of one said:I suppose I'm wondering what the difference between lust and sexual attraction is, if it is for your spouse. Additionally, if lust is necessarily a physical thing for most people, because for me it is very much a response to my perceived sense of another person's energy... a sense of their spirit. This is how my husband and I know we'll find each other "physically" attractive long after we're not physically attractive anymore-- the attraction is stemming from the energy, the spirit of the other person, which is something each of us sense. But to me, that's a distinctive attraction from love and is a distinctly sexual attraction. Furthermore, it is not an aesthetic appreciation of this other person's beauty, but rather some sort of magnetism that pulled us together originally and keeps us coming back to each other...
So I wonder if what for some is lust is for others something else? Or where we all draw the line? Is it sex with people who you shouldn't have sex with (or thoughts of this)? Is it animalistic drives of being human? Or something else- that is the problem?
If God is in all things, including sex and procreation and all that... is sexual attraction bad and/or unspiritual or is it only a problem with misuse?
Agreed. Lust is "desire" out of balance within a marriage, and inappropriate desire outside a marriage.I think there is a fine line between sexual atrraction and lust, even in a marriage relationship. If it is obvious that my wife is not in the mood, yet I continue to make advances, I'm crossing over that line. It becomes lust, because I'm thinking purely for my own satisfaction. It's then time to stop. I mean, even if she consents, it's not the same, because it's out of obligation. There's a difference between making love and having sex. Oh sure, there is that verse that says the wife's body belongs to the husband and the husband's body belongs to the wife, yada yada, but the experience will lack that element of emotional and spiritual connection that elevates the experience to a higher level where each person is there for the other, and not just for themselves. When that happens: YOWZA!
Be not overmuch wicked.
That could be when people start to take each other for granted, which is not a good sign....it does seem that lust within marriage is considered fine.
Veneration of an empty shell is idolatry. See Colossians 3:5I'm not sure that's the issue.
I think it might be that when we are unable to recognize the person as a soul and equate them them with their body, then we are losing touch with the Sacred. In other words, lust is an insult to the person and also to G-d's presence in our midst.
It is totally possible to enjoy a person's physical beauty as a manifestation of Divine Perfection.
That's an interesting point, Netti. I think you're on to something, but it does seem that lust within marriage is considered fine. I'm not sure there is much difference between the sexual attraction to your spouse (which can be a very spiritual thing, and is recognized as such in some religions, though not so much in Christianity) and lust.
Drugs produced by the porn addict's own body, keep them locked in the viscious cycle. endorphines and dopamine...and it isn't the ending they look for but rather the continuation of the anticipation (thus more endorphines and dopamine flood the brain).
Colossians 3:5 refers to the need to overcome our "earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed." My reaction: G-d wants to see the fruition of his Creation in the world and needs our help to make it happen. From that standpoint, a preoccupation with our own attachments to the exclusion of G-d's directives is a problem if for no other reason than that the preoccupation is a distraction.Veneration of an empty shell is idolatry. See Colossians 3:5
My attempt to see things Buddhistically would suggest that this is part of the problem. There is also this aspect: wrong intention is a poison in my system that can affect my functioning in other ways - not just by causing me to think of ways to act in accordance with that wrong intention. For one thing, impurities can be a distraction that keep me from recognizing G-d's directives in various areas. I think the Buddhists would lump negative emotions in with various idolatries.Jesus recognized what modern psychology also recognizes- imagination is one step away from reality. The more we imagine something as possible, the closer we are to acting on it.
Well yes, they are distractions. They will also pass away and lose their power if you treat them as such.It may be helpful to see these "earthly nature" things as distractions rather than as being inherently "evil."
Well yes, they are distractions. They will also pass away and lose their power if you treat them as such.
Recognize it and know it for what it is. Watch it rise, watch it fade away. It is only temporary.Suggestions for how to do this?...
This sounds like a philosophy of human interaction of sorts. Can you cite some theorists who have published on the subject?It takes a whole lot of mutual love and trust to be able to push each others buttons, bringing out the worst in each other .... so that each can get a handle on their worst attributes and manage them so that the better attributes can shine through.
Thank you for that response, although I know I'm preaching to the choir!Netti-netti said:So it's ok to be a little bit wicked?