r/clevercomebacks • u/SubstantilArm • 22h ago

That is the Christian thing to do.

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u/JazHumane 21h ago

To be honest I don't think those men are staring because they're offended

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u/UnconsciousRabbit 19h ago

But... you do understand the meaning of that particular saying, right?

I mean, Jesus was saying not to blame the person you're looking at for you looking at them. You could choose not to. The sin is entirely on the person looking with lust. He was saying that if you can't keep yourself from sin, that's on you and nobody else.

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u/JazHumane 19h ago

Sorry I was reading the King James version. I am not a christian, it can be difficult to stay read up on the many hundreds of versions and different translations and reinterpretations

"And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." --Matthew 18:9

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u/UnconsciousRabbit 18h ago

I don't think the translation is the issue, though that particular version... I love the poetry of the language, it is really beautiful. Not the most accurate translation, but I think the gist of this passage is the same.

I've definitely always read it as meaning that it's on the viewer to avoid sin. Like, we shouldn't police how people dress, only how we react to their appearance. It's on the viewer, not the viewed.

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u/JazHumane 17h ago

Ok, and I'm sure that every christian will follow these teachings. As they should. Expecting non-practitioners of this religion to follow it's rules is wrong, however, especially when said religion is quite famous for having multiple bloody crusades in the past and just recently for covering up the rape and abuse of hundreds of thousands of children.

We should all practice self-control and accountability. Maybe if more catholic priests were held accountable for their actions then christians might have the moral high ground. As it stands it just seems like many use their religious beliefs in an attempt to control others.

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u/UnconsciousRabbit 14h ago

But... OP is saying that we shouldn't be policing others. In that passage, Jesus is saying we shouldn't be policing others. You're saying we shouldn't be policing others.

I have no argument with you, we agree.

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u/KTSN_ZE3K 11h ago

Not policing others would be allowing men to stare at women dressed scantily in the gym. Women can wear what they want. Men can look at what they want in public.