What is Innocence & How Do You Define It?

by dh 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  dh

  I've heard the word 'innocent' used quite a lot in things on the board, and I wondered what everyones view was on it was.

  We speak of innocence in so many different ways, children are innocent, victims of crime are 'innocent', civillian casulaties in a war are innocent victims.

  We speak of child abuse as stealing innocence, does anyone care to expand on that definition of the word?

  At what point does a regular person cease to be innocent?

  Does our innocence cease when we become adults and able to make our own decisions?

  The word can mean so many things, how would you define it?

  By all means you can have more than one definition because the context can be so varied.
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  Englishman

  Not deserving of unpleasant consequences?

  Englishman.
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  Undaunted Danny

  My favorite topic;"Happy are the 'pure in heart'. WHO???? Matthew 19
  14 But He said, Leave the children alone! Allow the little ones to come to Me, and do not forbid or restrain or hinder them, for of such [as these] is the kingdom of heaven composed

  More on 'theory of mind' ( childhood innocence) with small children.We all have witnessed this but may have never grasped the concept.

  [ I find it absolutely fascinating ]

  Illustration:If we play a variation of the 'shell game' with 3y.o.,Sally,Danny and auntie Kathie.

  We 3 are in the room we put uncle Danny's candy under one of 4 cups.

  Danny leaves the room,and auntie Kathie spins the cups and changes the spot for Danny's candy.

  Danny returns,the child is asked;"now where should uncle Danny look for his candy.

  The child will point to the last spot when i was last in the room before the switch.

  Three year old Sally doesn't grasp the concept that we all have independent and separate minds.

  She thinks that all people in the world think with one mind(her's).

  Because of this she doesn't know that she can manipulate others,because she hasn't developed "theory of mind" yet.Usually they don't grasp this until about 4 years of age.

  Sad to say,at this point they now can "sin" by manipulating others.

  This may be what Jesus meant by;"becoming like young children" in the sense of innocence and unpretentious and not putting on airs.

  I have always prayed to be able to emulate this attribute.In fact I am brutally honest,but it's more of me not giving a hoot about pleasing people and then taking any credit for goodie two shoes self-righteousness.

  Luke 6:45
  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Christ's Apostle Nathaniel, whose guileless heart sought out Christ the Light. He was led to Christ by Philip his friend, and straightway rejoiced to recognize his God and Saviour. Wherefore he is praised in company with the Twelve. Matthew 5:8:Matthew 5 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
  
  
  You hit a nerve dh.As i said i am no saintly goodie two shoes,i am usually brutally honest cause i just don't give a f**k.
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  Been there

  I think of Innocence as the absence of knowing (knowledge).
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  seeitallclearlynow

  I think in terms of absence of malice.