Why be good?

[Jenny A]

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One of the stupidest ideas attributed to Jesus in the gospels is the notion that even thinking about committing a sin is a sin.  When what we want people to do is resist temptation, should they be tempted.  And to reward that will power, not sentence them to walling in guilt for having bad thoughts.

It's quite simple, the example given was if one were to lust after a woman, then they were guilty of adultery, because adultery is in their heart. If an adult man was attracted to little kids, wouldn't you say pedophilia is in his heart?

I would not say such a man had pedophilia in his heart.  I'd say he had a sexual dysfunction and should he be able to control that attraction rather than exercise it on children, I would consider him to be good man.  I would hope he got treatment and limited his contact with children.  Condemning him in advance of his actions doesn't see likely to lead to that outcome. You see, it is actions that count.

Lust is not adultery and attraction to children is not pedophilia.  Wanting a triple banana split is not not gluttony, but eating one is. Condemn a man in advance of his actions and you behave immorally yourself, and ally yourself with Big Brother, Communist China, the Inquisition, and various other unsavory punishers of thought crimes.