Is innocence a quality that can be retained by adults, or is it lost or diminished in some way as we grow up?

That is a great question KeithWilson. I think innocence can be retained by adults, but not total innocence like you see in most young children. For example, I know that I have retained a lot of my child-like sentimentalism for Christmas, my pure joy when it comes to having childish fun during play, and my love for nature and animals. I call it the “child within me”. But most of my thought patterns, my emotions, and my behaviour are adult-governed now, and I’m sure society is grateful for that! Lol.

I believe that even mature adults can be open to taking a more innocent approach to some things if they are willing to do so. It is not the innocence of the young child, but it allows for suspension of disbelief that permits adults to enjoy fantasy and imagination.

I retain my connection with my childlike innocence and sense of wonder…to parody that famous biblical quoate about being childlike to enter unto the kingdom of heaven.
Meaning…it is the innocent, playful, resilient spirit that recognizes it’s cosmic connection that finds it’s heaven.

A state of mind, a way of being in the world, but not of it, not a destination in the clouds.

I think child-like innocence has to do with assuming that you will be taken care of and never have to think of it, that people are good and good will always surround you, that there is no concept of death. Gradually, these notions come up against reality, and the pure innocence of childhood doesn’t last. All this doesn’t mean that you can’t retain a child-like sense of joy in the world, but I think the true innocence of childhood abates as awareness of the real world grows.

No I don’t think adults can be innocent.

To me innocence implies two things.
1. Being without “sin”. I use that word outside a religious context.
2. Being ignorant of the pain and cruelty in the world.

If you know of hate crimes, genocide, nuclear bombs, animal mutilation, etc.. then you certainly are not ignorant of pain and cruelty in the world.

And as an adult we have all committed some act of sin. Well most of us anyhow.

The only exception I see are people who are incapable of remembering or fully understanding these concepts.

All in all to me innocence is feeling completely safe and loved. How many of us feel that way as adults?

I feel safe and I feel loved, by myself, by my knowingness of the eternal cosmic energies that I have been and will always be a part of till time immemorial.

I don’t substitute the word ‘sin’ for human error, mistakes, and I accept that there is pain and sadness in the world, always has been, always will be.

It is to go forth each and every day with a song in your heart, a smile on your face and an attitude of willingness to help in whatever ways you can.

It is the ability to be present and to actually SEE the butterfly, the tree, the sky, the stars, as they truly are, not filtered through worn out labels that can never capture the true essence of that creation.

It is about being in touch with your awareness, not simply slogging along the street, senses dulled and oblivious to all the myriad beauty and mystery that is right under your nose or above your face, if one would only look, really LOOK, as a child that sees the incredibleness in everything as it looks for the 1st time.

The world does not change, we change, sadly so.

Innocence is a state of mind, as is happiness.
It is a new way of seeing, reframing, ones thought’s, it is the ability to be ‘born again’ in each and every moment ( not in a religious context but in a mental, emotional, spiritual and psychological sense. )

@Coloma I fundamentally disagree that innocence is a state of mind. I think innocence is a state of purity. It is not having to “try” and find the good in each moment. I can look at my 3 month old daughter and believe in her innocence. You would have a hard time convincing me that you are innocent. I see what you are getting at but I wouldn’t call it innocence.

I think innocence and naivete have things in common . . . children (some, anyway; I know from experience they can be little turds) have both. Innocence is more a lack of self-awareness and a belief in the overall goodness of everything, whereas naivete is a kind of ignorance. Most grownups lose their naivete, but based on character they can retain their innocence, or the idea that the world is good. That’s how it is in my head, anyway.

@RedPowerLady

Sure it is…you can change from jaded to wide eyed innocent with wonder easily, we are constantly being reborn in every moment, and mistakes are not sins, they are mistakes. ( I am not talking about serial killers, just normal human error ) innocence can be retained and regained many times over in ones lifes.

‘Purity’ can be reclaimed at any time, being pure of heart, a transcendence of consciousness that re-purifies one spiritually…purity and innocence are not mutually exclusive, not by a long shot.

Just as we are all ‘virgins’ in the sense that each new sexual experience in relationship is a virginal experience on a psychic and emotional and even physical level between the two parties involved.

It has nothing to do with the physical beyond basic first contact, just as innocence has nothing to do with ones mistakes ( sins ) and taking leave of their infancy.

@Coloma I simply don’t think that one can forget about all the hate in the world once they know about it. And I fail to see how being aware of such hate one can maintain an iota of innocence.

@RedPowerLady

One doesn’t have to carry the burdens of the worlds ugliness on their shoulders. I choose, consciously, to focus on whats good and happy and joyful and sweet.

There need be no special circumstances for this to be true.

Should I not enjoy my dinner because there are starving people in the world?

No..I should enjoy it even MORE, because I am fortunate to have my cake and eat it too! :-)

If you harbor no hatred you are innocent, in the truest sense of the word.

@Coloma I think we will have to agree to disagree. You go on with your happy life and believe you are innocent, it is your life after all. in the meantime I’ll reserve innocence for those few who have never known hate.

@RedPowerLady

Of course as a human I have felt hate, everyone has, but, does this mean that if one transcends their emotional limitations of the past that they still can never claim innocence?

I have to say I am surprised, with your background and credentials that your posistion in this matter is so rigid and solidified.

Touche…and thanks for a good discussion.

I just think you are confusing innocence with some other quality. In all honesty it is quite clear we define the word differently

Gadzooks, I will not acquiesce to the notion that all children are innocent. There is a time when even a child knows what they is wrong, if they make attempts to hide their dee they know it was wrong. Children as a whole are not as devious adults or teens but they are not wholly innocent as people want to believe. People just don’t want to stomach that kids are capable of being devious, manipulative, greedy, cheaters and liars as adults maybe because they are cute and kind of awkward.