Giving an everyday scenario: Say I’m walking down the sidewalk and I see a girl who is modestly dressed, and is making no attempt to seduce me, but I become “turned on” regardless. Should I look away? I’ve been told that I should try to have pure thought but to continue to look. But reading the following article has caused me to have second thoughts. Say, for example, the prostitute in the story was just a morally well-dressed girl. Does that change the scenario? Maybe I should look away?
In the scenario you propose, the young woman is both properly dressed and not in any way attempting to engage your attention. If you cannot look at her and control an impure reaction to her, then you should hurry on your own way and leave her in peace. If it helps you to regain control of your own thoughts, you might also offer up a prayer for her that God protect her dignity and purity.
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