What does 'pure of heart' mean to you?

There is no such thing as pure of heart...we are humans...humans are basically bastards!

I don't know...I think it can be interpreted any way you want, and it doesn't have just one meaning.

I think of it as someone who has good intentions, wants to help the world, etc.

Someone with peace & love in their heart.

I think someone who can love with all of his or her heart.
It's funny, I think actually there's not so much of a paradox between Selena and Gordon. She had been 'done over', as she says, by one of her mother's clients (her mother was a hooker), she was daily exposed to the disgusting mode of living that her grandfather and mother had and had been witness to a murder as a child. Her father came home and slashed up one of her ma's clients. Rose-ann, her mother, in turn threw acid on him but missed--it hit Selena's face instead and she went blind. Gordon had been around the block, but I think they both had suffered about the same, although in different ways. And I do believe he was just as 'pure of heart' as she. I found myself falling in love with his character...
Has anyone else read the book? It's really marvelous.

That is such a stupid chick book.
I think someone who sees more good in the world than not.

It means that you feel you have done nothing wrong in your heart.

To me it means that someone is good right to the core! Someone who has only good intentions, who seeks to be honest in all their dealings with people, and who tries to live with integrity and openness. It's a high honour.

I don't agree that pure of heart means innocent to the ways of the world, but that someone who is pure of heart fully understands the ways of the world, and fully understands what is right and what is wrong. I think Mother Teresa was pure of heart, and she certainly understood the ways of the world.

Good survey!

To me, pure of heart means uncorrupted by the rest of the world. Pure in the sense of untainted, not neccessarily untouched by the outside world but of having had experience of the present evil and still being able to live a good and gracious life.

That's not what Anne Frank said.

It's a state of mind - not actual chastity. People can be innocents after years of marriage even if they are quite worldly.

It's a nice way to say that someone is an idiot. Forrest Gump was "pure of heart."
(Well, the movie Forrest Gump. The book Forrest Gump slept with a lot women, swore, got drunk, and smoked.)

The person considered Pure of heart is nothing but goodness.

To me, that would be one doing nothing but the will of God. It should be this way with everyone, but unfortunately is not.

Pure of heart: to feel and response without selfishness or ulterior motives.

I recently made a substantial donation to my church. I prayed for a week for God to guide me to ensure I was doing so with a pure heart. He granted me that, and I am content.

Oops! You just ruined it! The bible you're not supposed to tell people when you do things like that.
Don't sound your alms... like a trumpet... like the hypocrites. Something like that.

Someone who has not given into tempation and not given up on their morals!

Not a clue.

I absolutely agreed with you until I remembered that Mother Theresa was extremely prejudiced against homosexuals. I don't know what your personal beliefs are on this, but I don't think a person who discriminates can be pure of heart.

One thing I've come to respect a great deal is someone who can be kind and loving and generous to people whom they don't like. If Mother Theresa was prejudiced against homosexuals, but still treated them/us with the same greatness of heart with which she treated anyone else, that would speak very well of her to me- I would not begrudge her the prejudice. Sometimes you cannot help the feeling that you have, but you can rise above them in your actions. If your intention to love is greater than some petty dislike you might have- I think that's more important than whether or not you have that dislike.

So Mother Teresa was not perfect? So what? She was human too.
Mandy is right that no human can be perfectly pure of heart, but I think we have many examples of people who are pretty close. I would rather celebrate the amazing work that Mother Teresa did than pick on the things I don't like about her theology. Overall, she did much more good than harm.

There are a few observations on her behavior--her actions and her words that I've read concerning gays that left a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm glad she did the good things that she did, and I'm certainly not going to spit on her grave or anything...it's just sad that people aren't always open-minded.

Of course, positive versus negative should always win out. I didn't mean to spoil stuff, I just pointed out something that not a lot of people are aware of. Please forgive this poor little confetti bird

Hey, no problems! I didn't know that she was prejudiced against homosexuals, but I'm not surprised. It seems that this issue has got more attention in more developed countries. In India where they are worried about basic survival, there is less importance placed on recognising the love that gay people have for each other. One step at a time, huh?

Only good intentions. Lacking in any selfish motives.

no...it's what I said!

Anyway...I don't think she was allowed to swear....

Yeah, it is sad. I agree with you. In a way, too, it's a little comforting. I try to be open and loving to all beings, but it just doesn't always work. I find myself getting angry at some petty stupid little thing, and I start to give up, thinking I'm not such a good person after all. Then I remember that the best people to come down the pike still had their major faults, and I go a little easier on myself, and find the courage to keep trying to do my best. Anyway, that's how the inside of my head works.

You are correct. I was just sharing the dilemma I faced: How to do the right thing in the correct spirit. I will be the first to admit it is/was difficult not to feel self-satisfied. There is a Christian pleasure in giving. I need to go ask forgiveness for my big mouth.

I'm sorry, I just finished reading "My Goodness" by Joe Queenan, who tried to be "good," to farcical results. He's a really cranky man, and he decided to be more like Susan Sarandon, but the first chapter is regarding how much it irks him not that these privledged celebrities do good deeds, but how they toot their horns over it. Very funny book, if you like crotchety sarcastic people. And he's a friend of a friend, so, I'm biased.

I am crotchety sarcastic people!
You gotta problem with that!

No sir!!

Yes

I think you're a marvelous, hilarious clear-thinking person (sorry, I've been reading my boarding school books yet again) and I certainly wouldn't mind having you for my friend. The human in us is our imperfections; the human in us is our desire to love.

I think someone pure of heart has a heart full of love and compassion for their fellow man. They try to see the good in others without showing prejudice or being judgmental. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

I didn't read the book, but I saw the movie "A Patch Of Blue", and it was wonderful.

I'm glad you liked it. I think Poitier is one of the most wonderful actors of this past century.

I do, too! Have you ever read the book, "To Sir, With Love", or seen the movie? That movie also starred Sidney Poitier, and it was really good.

Untarnished by things of the world and cruel people.

I've read that book! Brilliant! I never saw the movie, my mum advised me not to - she didn't like it. Was the movie set in the UK (like the book) or America?

I really don't remember, because I saw it about thirty years ago.

Old film then Have you read the book recently? I found in the attic about 4 years ago and I've read it 2-3 times since then.

Yes! Some of his movies are corny, but he just lights up the screen

Sorry I got lame in responding to your email, by the way. I got stressed and overwhelmed for a while, but I'm getting over it.

It's okay. You self-proclaimed yourself as a non-punctual letter writer immediately, so you get some privileges...

Who wrote this book? It sounds like it might be good to read.

Actually, I haven't read the book in years, but after talking to you and confetti, I am thinking of reading both "A Patch Of Blue" and "To Sir, With Love".

Elizabeth Kata.

Go for it!

Someone with no hidden agenda.

cleanly douched

Kids- that's what I think of. The young ones, at least. There's nothing sweeter than a young child's smile and the level of trust they have.