Website owner: James Miller
Bad actions and conduct begin with wrong, bad thoughts
Bad actions and conduct usually begin with wrong, bad thoughts. The thought simply never occurs to an honest, upright man to cheat someone. The thought never occurs to him to not pay an honest debt. The thought just never crosses his mind to steal something. The thought doesn’t occur to him to lie. The thought would never cross his mind to kill someone. These are things he would just never do, never think of doing. The ideas would never occur to his mind. The first step in low, bad conduct is entertaining bad, low thoughts. First comes the bad thoughts, then comes the actions. If you live by principle, the principles guide your mind and thoughts. If you live by the principle of never acting maliciously toward anyone for any reason, the thought of doing that never occurs to your mind. If you live by the principle of never talking maliciously about another person, the thought never occurs to you to do it. If you live by the principle of avoiding argument and strife, it becomes a habit and you just do it naturally. If you establish the habit of never using any bad language, the thought never occurs to you to use any. If you establish the habit of total abstinence from alcohol, you are never tempted to use it.
Why is it that it doesn’t occur to an honest, upright man to kill or steal or lie? Because his beliefs, outlooks, attitudes, and values prevent it. It all comes down to one’s beliefs, outlooks, attitudes, and values. The upright man knows what is right and wrong and his mind limits the options he considers to actions that he views as morally permissible. He has a healthy conscience that limits his mind as to what options it will consider. The bad man by going against conscience and doing wrong destroys his conscience. By destroying conscience, the range of actions that one can take increases greatly. Thus the range of options that a bad man considers in the way of conduct is much broader than the range that a good man considers. Consequently, bad people might think that they are much smarter than good people because they consider all kinds of conduct, tricks and devices that good people wouldn’t consider.
Most sins start as a thought, impulse or desire to do something that is wrong. For example in our lust oriented society a person might be suddenly taken with an impish impulse to make some flirting remark. Then one thing leads to another and he is involved in serious sin.
Thus we see the function of the conscience: it acts as a censor on the mind. It acts as a kind of gate that blocks bad thoughts and allows only good thoughts to pass. Modern western society’s war on sexual inhibitions. What is it? It is an effort to destroy conscience, to render it null.
Dec 2018
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life