A Question about sinful thoughts

[phoenixrrt62]

How old are you? You might want to tell your parents about your thoughts and how much they bother you…
Sounds like OCD to me, but I’m no doctor, far from it. You are*** torturing*** yourself-DK why…even your user name on this forum speaks volumes…

 

[Ben_Sinner]

I’m over 20 years old and I don’t live with my parents anymore and I didn’t have this problem until about 2 days ago because before that I thought it was safe to have these thoughts because I thought as long as you didn’t take pleasure in them it wasn’t a sin, now that I’ve realized that is not true, now I worry that every thought that has some aspect of a sin in it is a sin to think about, for example, reflecting on a memory of seeing a person curse in the line at the grocery store

and Edward, that’s what I mean with the thoughts of me murdering someone, when I have that thought, I’m feeling on how awful that would be for me to commit a crime like that

 

[Edward_H]

I’m over 20 years old and I don’t live with my parents anymore and I didn’t have this problem until about 2 days ago because before that I thought it was safe to have these thoughts because I thought as long as you didn’t take pleasure in them it wasn’t a sin, now that I’ve realized that is not true, now I worry that every thought that has some aspect of a sin in it is a sin to think about, for example, reflecting on a memory of seeing a person curse in the line at the grocery store

and Edward, that’s what I mean with the thoughts of me murdering someone, when I have that thought, I’m feeling on how awful that would be for me to commit a crime like that

Ask God to help you convert those thoughts…“how can I help this person in line…oh…maybe they need a prayer…I pray for their soul, their parents, their work day, I pray they give themselves fully today…I pray for all souls that stand in this line this month. I pray for all expectant mothers who come into this store…may God protect their babies and may their fathers step up to the plate and live a most generous life full of hidden giving like St Joseph. And oh St Joseph…I ask for your intercession this afternoon - help me to do the work of man, without moaning and complaining, etc.”

 

[baltobetsy]

I think that the bolded section is a core issue.

Thinking about an apple is a core issue!

 

[Daegus]

This something I’ve wondered about for a long time myself and I appreciate this topic being here. I’ve learned some good things.

 

[houston1]

Ok, I can’t get to a priest until next week, so I’m still worried and confused about this…I don’t get why it’s a sin to dwell on a thought of me murdering somebody, I have no desire to go through with the action, don’t get pleasure from the thought, or would ever want to if I had the chance. It’s just a thought that’s in my head that I attach no emotion to, I’m just picturing what it would might be like if I was murdering somebody, kinda like having a thought of picturing myself on how I would look in 30 years. thats’ it. I’m not fantasizing about it or anything and I’m not planning it at all…I’m confused…for instance, tonight I was in a building and I saw an exit door that said “DO NOT USE, ALARM WILL GO OFF”, I just started picturing myself what it would be like if I did use that door, I had no intent of putting it to action and I took no pleasure from the thought, it was just a thought that occupied my head

This is a good thread. Thanks for asking your question. My opinion is that if you do, indeed, get **no **pleasure from the thought (e.g., of killing someone or pressing the alarm), then there is no sin. It sounds like you’re not dwelling on the thought for the purpose of sexual arousal nor dwelling on the thought with the purpose of carrying out the action (i.e., premediation with the intent to act or even “I would if I could” mentality). I do agree with the other poster who brought up temperance. All morally neutral things are okay in modertation (i.e., food, drink, watching sports on TV, etc. - the exception, of course, is dwelling on holy thoughts related to God, Mary, and the saints.). If your thoughts cause you to basically neglect the duties of your station in life, then you may be sinning via intemperance. Also, we have a duty as Christians to seek to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength. If these thoughts interfere with our love for the Lord, we should try to moderate them as much as possible.

Here is another consideration. Some persons because of their job have to “dwell” on thoughts like what you have mentioned. For example, a forensic investigator may need to dwell on the thought of killing someone for the purpose of protecting society from those who kill. The designers of the fire alarm probably had to consider the logistics of how setting off the alarm would take place. You should consider your motivation in keeping a thought in your mind if you allow it to stay intentionally (don’t worry about the thoughts you try to fight off - unintentional thoughts are not sins.) Also, please pray, pray, pray. The Lord WILL help you. Please be at peace. He loves you and understands fully what you are going through.

 

[Bookcat]

I have not followed the thread…so perhaps it has been said…

One can also sin by “approving” of someones sinful action or wanting to do it …

(I am not talking about enjoying a bank robbery movie!..one is not "approving of bank robbing here…)

 

[Neithan]

I have a question on an issue that has been bothering me for quite some time.

Is it a sin to intentionally have a thought with sinful material in it but not get any pleasure from it or want to commit the sin that is in the thought?

for example: I intentionally have a thought about killing somebody but I have no desire or wish to kill that person or even get pleasure from the thought of killing that person

is this a sin?

I’m kind of worried, because I hear people say the thought becomes a sin when you consent to it, but I worry when I have consented. Because when a bad thought comes into my head it usually doesnt go away so I just kinda roll along with it and hope it passes or if it’s nagging me I’ll bring the thought back again…plz help

There are three kinds of sinful thoughts:

-pleasure from imagining some sinful act
-pleasure from remembering a sin
-desiring a sinful act

So if you have a thought about something sinful, but you don’t deliberately take any pleasure from imagining or remembering it, or desire to do it, then it can’t be sinful.

EDIT: not to be alarmist, but demons can suggest sinful images to our minds in order to destroy our peace. If a particular sinful thought is harassing you, but you take no pleasure from it or desire it at all, it may not be coming from your subconscious. Consult a priest.

 

[Bookcat]

There are three kinds of sinful thoughts:

-pleasure from imagining some sinful act
-pleasure from remembering a sin
-desiring a sinful act

So if you have a thought about something sinful, but you don’t deliberately take any pleasure from imagining or remembering it, or desire to do it, then it can’t be sinful.

EDIT: not to be alarmist, but demons can suggest sinful images to our minds in order to destroy our peace. If a particular sinful thought is harassing you, but you take no pleasure from it or desire it at all, it may not be coming from your subconscious. Consult a priest.

More than that

For example forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=7267240&postcount=27