All temptations begin as unholy thoughts and feelings. It is impossible for a thought to cross our mind devoid of feeling. We're simply not wired to have thoughts without feelings.

Not everyone is wired the same (Autism, to give just one example).

If the temptation comes and you think that you would like to use the darts, but manage to refrain from doing so because this will bring bad consequences to you and to others, this feeling/desire is, in itself, a sin, because you can only use the darts to kill people. Please notice that in the case of temptations based on legitimate desires, the desire isn't in itself a sin, but in the case of temptations based on illegitimate desires (which is always the case when sinful tendencies are involved), the desire itself is a sin.

Tom, is autism the only example of people who have been seriously altered as a consequence of 6,000 years of sin?

I'm not sure how your observations answer my questions. To clarify, I have in mind people who refuse to use their poisonous darts to kill people because they believe it is morally wrong to do so.

BTW, I like how you differentiated between legitimate and illegitimate needs/desires so far as it relates to sin, guilt, and condemnation. When is a temptation based on a legitimate need/desire and not considered a sin in and of itself?

My point is, if you were full of love you wouldn't carry poisonous darts around, the only purpose of which is to kill people. And you wouldn't feel the desire to use the darts. So, if you experience a temptation like "It would be nice if you used this dart to kill such and such person" and you consider that this possibility is an attractive one, you may refrain from doing so because it's morally wrong, because it will bring bad consequences, or whatever, but the fact that you've found the thought of killing someone attractive is in itself a sin (although obviously not such a grave sin as giving in to the temptation and really killing someone).


Sometimes I'm tempted to eat between meals because I have the impression I'm hungry. Finding food attractive is not a sin in itself. Someone may be offered a good job with a good salary but he/she will have to work on the Sabbath. Finding the idea of a good job with a good salary attractive is not a sin in itself. Or someone may be tempted to not follow Christ in order not to upset his/her parents. Wishing to honor one's parents and not wishing to lose their love is not sinful in itself. These are some examples that could be cited.

What? Why are you asking this? Where do questions like this come from?

My point was that not everyone is wired the same. I didn't say anything about "seriously altered," but responded to your comment, which spoke of how we are wired.

Also I wrote, "to give just one example," which implies more than one example could be given, right?

Anyway, the point is that we're not all wired the same.

Chill out. Try to be more patient and understanding. Remember, we're not all wired the same. Some of us have feelings. Tread lightly. Thank you.

So, it sounds like you are questioning whether or not it is true all temptations begin as unholy thoughts and feelings because not everyone is wired in way that feelings always accompany thoughts.

I'm sorry if I came across as impatient and not understanding. My feelings were more appalled and confused as to why you would ask the question you asked. I was trying to see what led you to ask your question. Unfortunately, you didn't answer my question. That is, I still have no idea why you asked the question you did. Please enlighten me.



No, I am questioning just exactly what I said, which is your comment that we are wired the same. You said:



I responded that we're not all wired the same. It is the last sentence (the one that speaks of how we are wired) that I questioned. I gave the example of autism.

Tom, I can't remember why I asked the question in question. It does seem unwarranted. Thank you for drawing my attention to it.

Do you agree with me that all temptations, so far as normal people are concerned (autism is an abnormal condition), begin as unholy thoughts accompanied by unholy feelings?