Guest saintish Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 of·fend (-fnd)v. of·fend·ed, of·fend·ing, of·fends v.tr.1. To cause displeasure, anger, resentment, or wounded feelings in.2. To be displeasing or disagreeable to: Onions offend my sense of smell.3. a. To transgress; violate: offend all laws of humanity.b. To cause to sin.v.intr.1. To result in displeasure: Bad manners may offend.2. a. To violate a moral or divine law; sin.b. To violate a rule or law: offended against the curfew.offended - definition of offended by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.Why do we get offended? not just mormon in particular but people in general? Is it sinful to be offended? (by certian things or ever) Do we have a right to not be offended? It seems that in general we take offense when someone diliberatly causes us pain or harm, iss this the sort of thing that is right and natural or is it something we should work to eliminate (like the amish for example)? does taking offense offend G_d? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintmichaeldefendthem1 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Being offended starts from a position of pride. It's difficult to offend someone who is truly humble. You're right that there is an emerging mentality that we have a right not to be offended. Take down that Christmas tree because I'M OFFENDED by it, or if I'm not, then I'm sure that some Jew or Muslim is and I'm taking up their cause. What is especially alarming is the push for "hate speech" laws like they have in Canada and the UK where people are actually going to jail for offensive speech. This is yet more evidence of how much the American left hates freedom and the Constitution, but that's another issue, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennarator Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I know the naterual man is an enemy to God, but I think it's the natural man that gets offended. It's pride and a hint of compitition, too. We want to fit in and all, and if someone says or does something that is "offensive" we worry that is how people view us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintish Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Then can we not offend G_d? or does G_d follow a different definition of Offense probably much like the second definition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilac Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I get offended when general disrespect is just everywhere. I get offended (or maybe annoyed) when people try to walk all over things that are important or holy to me and others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 (edited) Why do we get offended? not just mormon in particular but people in general?We get offended when we feel someone or something disrespects us (sometimes we do this on behalf of another) in some fashion. Is it sinful to be offended? (by certian things or ever)Nope, at least not for always being sinful to be offended, though what you do with it easily could be. I don't think finding sin offensive (aka being offended by sin) is a sinful behavior (though if it was what delicious irony).Do we have a right to not be offended?No, certainly not in any political sense. If people treated everyone better (in the more nebulous use of right to mean behavior people should engage in) you'd probably have less offense but it wouldn't go away. Just think of the tourist who makes a gesture (an innocent one) from back home who offends the locals. No unchristlike behavior on his part (other than ignorance).It seems that in general we take offense when someone diliberatly causes us pain or harm, iss this the sort of thing that is right and natural or is it something we should work to eliminate (like the amish for example)?Well in some senses being offended is a good thing, such as finding sin offensive. In other senses it does probably show a degree of fault finding, lack of patience, and quite easily a lack of humility. And as always how we deal with offense makes a difference. Me finding pornography offensive, while that would be okay, doesn't mean it'd be okay for me to curse up a storm at Hugh Hefner if I caught him walking down the street or throw a brick through a business's storefront (though I suppose one could argue at that point it's he or the store I'm offended at, not just the pornography itself).does taking offense offend G_d?Well if you suppose God can get offended you pretty much short circuit a logical chain that being offended is inherently and always bad as you've just identified it something that can be Godly. Edit: For the record I think finding sin offensive is a Godly behavior, though not all reactions to finding it offensive are as in my above, admittedly flawed, example. Edited June 20, 2011 by Dravin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilac Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I'm not a theological scholar here. But Jesus had righteous anger and the money exchanges/buying/selling in the temple. I think "righteous anger" comes into this conversation somewhere. I'm in NYC area and there is always some discussion going on about what is art and what is offensive and repulsive. The cross in urine or Mary in cow dung kinda thing. yeah, that offends me. Spraying swastikas (can't spell that correctly) on a person's home, yes, that offends me. Righteous anger? Maybe? I don't know if I'm that holy to be righteous but I don't like things being disrepected. To me, it's a lack of respect for my (or other's beliefs) and they are directly being attacked. God is a God of law and order. So, He must be offended at some things or there wouldn't be sin. Everything would just be OK for Him and we know that it is not. Thinking aloud here...shouldn't we be offended by sin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrShorty Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Isn't "taking offense" somehow tied into our sense of right/wrong, just/unjust, fair/unfair? I don't think God wants us to have no sense of right and wrong. If someone puts up a billboard next to a school showing a naked woman selling beer to underaged kids, I think God would want us to be offended and to express our offense in a way to effect change. It seems to me that there's a certain social skill that needs to be developed to identify when it is appropriate to take offense, and when we should exercise tolerance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy740 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 I don't get offended. I just get TICKED OFF!!! :D(Ok, enough of the smilies.)Being offended is the sacrament meeting/general conference way of saying people got angry or annoyed.So, why do some of us just get "ticked off"?Way too many reasons to list.However, I will add this: the more easily provoked we are, the more we are living without the spirit in our lives.This is probably why new members (who might be "offended" easily) are always encouraged to come back, but it's much more difficult for that path, and very easy for them to become and stay "offended". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applepansy Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 My sister said some very hurtful things that caused tears and then threw out the quote ""He who takes offense when no offense is intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense is intended is a greater fool." attributed to Brigham Young, but apparently a Confucius quote. (Thank you to Connie and Pam) Who is at fault? The offended or the person deliberately being offensive and then throwing out quotes to blame the one offended? Sometimes we don't deliberately take offence, it just happens and its not always about pride. Our personal responsibility is to forgive. When we don't forgive the offense then we are as much at fault as the offender (whether deliberate or not). I believe that blame can be placed on both sides. It is not right to deliberately go around offending people. It is also not right to be offended when offense isn't intended. Whether the offense was intentional or not doesn't absolve us of the responsibility to forgive. The keys to all this is loving others as we love ourselves (enough to not give offense in the first place and/or apologizing quickly), repentance and forgiveness. Love. Repentance. Forgiveness. Important principles in the gospel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintmichaeldefendthem1 Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Applepansy, I think there is a difference between being hurt and being offended. Being quick to be offended comes from a position of pride, thinking more highly of one's self than they ought. Thinking that I am entitled to a certain amount of respect is a sure way of setting myself up for disrespect, like a chip on my shoulder. It's when I get my hackles raised that humility is in short supply and I start to think that I'm better than the person offending me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintish Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 It is interesting that (in my own case anyway) we are less offended when we hear something from someone we know is against us then someone close to us. For example, it seems we are less offended when an anti-mormon attacks our religion than when a relative "attacks" something about ourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 It takes a lot to offend me. Mainly because I can careless when someone tries to dig into me and I can just not give a hoot about numbskulls and their perceived spirituality, righteousness and/or intellectualism. 90% of them are just plain off their rocker. But what offends me is someone who is a full-on member of the church and doesn't take it seriously and/or someone who has a home, spouse and kids who are bored or the spouses don't get along because of stupid stuff. They are the ones that really turn me off. The ingratitude and complacency for those special things they have really chaps my hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backroads Posted June 20, 2011 Report Share Posted June 20, 2011 Sadly, offense on me often relies on my mood at the time. I TRY to keep in mind they probably don't really mean anything personal and that if they were really trying to offend me they had best make it clear in their words it's personal. Really, there's no point in being offended at someone just expression their thoughts and opinions unless it's obviously meant to offend you. But somedays, I think I almost WANT to be offended, to have some reason to be mad at someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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