Are Adventure/Action stories sinful?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben_Sinner
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Ben_Sinner

Guest
I came across an Ask An Apologist question about somebody being concerned with a comment St. Teresa of Avila made on adventure books and how it was harmful to her…here was a statement from the apologist on that.

Given your follow-up concern about your younger sister, I think you may have a misunderstanding about the type of books St. Teresa was talking about. Only in the last forty years or so have novels labeled “romances” been exclusively about love stories between a man and a woman. In St. Teresa’s day and well into the 20th century, “romances” were adventure stories. Any swashbuckling tale of derring-do was considered a romance. This is why even St. Teresa’s contemporary, St. Ignatius of Loyola, was said to be a fan of “romances” before his conversion.

Why were these considered wrong by these two saints? Is it a sin to read/watch these stories like Lord of The Rings, Batman, Star Wars, etc.

below is the page I came across

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=450064
 
Despite the presumed reading tastes of those two saints mentioned, the Church does not officially teach, to my knowledge, that any particular genre of fiction is morally wrong. The most they do is caution with any work of fiction to make sure that one does not let anything in it that may be incorrect to lead them into the same lifestyle. But this does not make the book itself bad, or reading it bad, and certainly not the entire genre bad. I am not sure what exactly was the saints’ problem with the genre, so I can’t speak for them, but I know that novels such as The Lord of the Rings are not all immoral, especially since that particular book was written by a very devout Roman Catholic who specifically put Catholic morality and spirituality into his book. There have also been numerous Catholic adventure stories throughout history, such as Beowulf and the Canterbury Tales. And, not all non-Catholic adventure stories are wrong either. It is only wrong to read a fictional book if it leads you to sin. I believe that the saints mentioned here had, in their pasts, allowed the self-gratification and glory-hunger of adventurers in some novels to let them desire the same things. The books themselves were not the issue. God bless.
 
St. Theresa did not like them. St. Ignatius was a fan of them.

What does the above mean? That it was simply a preference, and a prudential matter for those particular individuals.

What does that mean to you? That it is a prudential matter for you.
 
I’m a bibliophile and read most everything!

St. Teresa’s writings are my favorite! Her spiritual teachings have deepened my relationship with God.

If I’m remembering correctly (please if I’m not, correct me!), St. Teresa looked back at the romances as something that diverted her attention from God. In and of themselves, the tales or reading them wasn’t sinful.

St. Teresa is known for her intensity and zeal, hallmark traits of Carmelite spirituality. Later in life, the intense love with which she sought to serve God governed her every moment! Her earlier reading of novellas was viewed as something that had come between her and God, something that drew her attention away from Him.

As one who spent most of my life with my nose in a book, I would say too much time reading harms the soul because it’s a means of trying to fill that God-shaped hole with things of this world.
 
A blanket answer is not possible. However, the following guidelines from the Catholic Writers Guild should prove helpful:

"Is the work libelous or slanderous?

"Does the work seek to foster hatred or conflict among individuals or groups, including racism, religious fanaticism, or anarchy?

"Does this work contain obscenity or promote anti-Catholic views of modesty, decency in language, actions, or basic morality?

"Does this work contain pornography?

"Does this work promote pre-marital, extra-marital, or nother non-marital sexual relationships?

"Does this work lack respect for the reasonable privacy of others?

"Does this work degrade the dignity of the person, including the promotion of euthanasia, abortion, homosexual actions or unions, child labor, or prostitution?

"Does this work promote the worship of false gods?

"Does this work attempt to draw others away from the orthodox teachings of the universal Catholic Church?

"Does this work use others’ proposals or ideas without credit or permission?

"Does this work present others’ work as the author’s own original ideas?

"Does this work violate any known laws?

"Does the author of this work belong to an association(s) or participate in activities that may compromise integrity, damage credibility, or cause scandal in the Guild’s sole determination that you are aware of? Examples include freemasonry, Catholics for a Free Choice, NAMBLA, a history of works opposed to the Guild’s values or ethics, excommication, etc. For example, these may be stated on the book jacket or may be from your prior knowledge of the author.

"Is this work so badly written or edited that granting the Seal of Approval would harm the reputation of the Catholic Writers Guild as a writers organization?

“Can you see this book in your local Catholic bookstore?”

The Church has been long concerned about any work of fiction that violates these standards, and lowers the moral sensitivities of its readers/viewers and that presents evil as good or acceptable, even in some small way.

As a published author, reader of fiction, and media researcher who specializes in the history of the media, it is mostly the case that action/adventure stories published before 1970 were generally acceptable, with notable exceptions that attempted to portray immoral behavior as good or right or necessary. Yes, immoral behavior is worth reading about but only in a documentary context or in history books, but only to the degree necessary to show the truth minus any graphic blood, gore or detailed descriptions of such immoral acts. Scholarly journals and books are the proper places to go into detail such as psychological factors, or specifics regarding immoral physical acts, including torture and death/killing for reasons other than for legitimate common defense.

Hope this helps,
Ed
 
Yes, they are. All worldly amusements are sinful, because they divert the soul from its proper duty of compunction and penance.🙂
 
Qoeleth said:
Yes, they are. All worldly amusements are sinful, because they divert the soul from its proper duty of compunction and penance.🙂
Click to expand...
I have never heard this taught officially by the Church, nor held by most devout Catholics. That which is good in this world, including artistic works of people, reflect the goodness and beauty of God and thus cannot be evil, especially if they help to lead people, whether directly or indirectly, to God.
 
scameter18 said:
I have never heard this taught officially by the Church, nor held by most devout Catholics. That which is good in this world, including artistic works of people, reflect the goodness and beauty of God and thus cannot be evil, especially if they help to lead people, whether directly or indirectly, to God.
Click to expand...
You are quite right, of course.
 
Ben_Sinner said:
I came across an Ask An Apologist question about somebody being concerned with a comment St. Teresa of Avila made on adventure books and how it was harmful to her…here was a statement from the apologist on that.

Given your follow-up concern about your younger sister, I think you may have a misunderstanding about the type of books St. Teresa was talking about. Only in the last forty years or so have novels labeled “romances” been exclusively about love stories between a man and a woman. In St. Teresa’s day and well into the 20th century, “romances” were adventure stories. Any swashbuckling tale of derring-do was considered a romance. This is why even St. Teresa’s contemporary, St. Ignatius of Loyola, was said to be a fan of “romances” before his conversion.

Why were these considered wrong by these two saints? Is it a sin to read/watch these stories like Lord of The Rings, Batman, Star Wars, etc.

below is the page I came across

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=450064
Click to expand...
It is only a sin to watch pornographic movies.
We are permitted to watch all other types of movies, although those with a weak faith would be advised to avoid some.
Nothing wrong with action/adventure movies.
 
thistle said:
It is only a sin to watch pornographic movies.
We are permitted to watch all other types of movies, although those with a weak faith would be advised to avoid some.
Nothing wrong with action/adventure movies.
Click to expand...
That is incorrect and has been addressed recently. Our weak faith has nothing to do with the objective realities of movies that consist of little more than fornication, adultery, prostitution and graphic, brutal, all over the screen blood and guts. Not to mention the profanity.

These things are wrong. We should avoid them.

Peace,
Ed
 
edwest2 said:
That is incorrect and has been addressed recently. Our weak faith has nothing to do with the objective realities of movies that consist of little more than fornication, adultery, prostitution and graphic, brutal, all over the screen blood and guts. Not to mention the profanity.

These things are wrong. We should avoid them.

Peace,
Ed
Click to expand...
No. You are wrong. We are only forbidden to watch pornographic movies. We may watch any other type of movie we want to!
 
Official Church documentation would be needed to substantiate edwest2’s view, which I’ve never seen him offer. The Church simply does not offer that kind of prohibition, only caution, as with books, music, and other entertainment. That doesn’t mean that we can’t denounce one of these, but when we do so, we are denouncing the artist, not the book itself which is fictitious and cannot be evil in itself. For example, a Katy Perry song may contain vulgarity and advocacy of sexual promiscuity, and while we are still free to listen to it, we are not free to agree with everything in it; we should be discerning, ignore the bad and enjoy the good (if we can/will), or simply avoid it as a matter of preference.
 
scameter18 said:
Official Church documentation would be needed to substantiate edwest2’s view, which I’ve never seen him offer. The Church simply does not offer that kind of prohibition, only caution, as with books, music, and other entertainment. That doesn’t mean that we can’t denounce one of these, but when we do so, we are denouncing the artist, not the book itself which is fictitious and cannot be evil in itself. For example, a Katy Perry song may contain vulgarity and advocacy of sexual promiscuity, and while we are still free to listen to it, we are not free to agree with everything in it; we should be discerning, ignore the bad and enjoy the good (if we can/will), or simply avoid it as a matter of preference.
Click to expand...
Sin is clearly defined. Preference is not a part of defining it.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_doc_07051989_pornography_en.html

Peace,
Ed
 
I cannot see where that article contradicts what I’ve said. It never says that adults sin when they view, read or listen to material that contains fictitious immoral scenes. It also never says that all fictitious violence and sexuality must be excluded from all media. Like I’ve said before, it says that gratuitous violence, as well as pornography, are immoral in media. It also says that the minds of young people, especially young children, are particularly vulnerable to the influence of these immoral things. This is what I have already said.
 
Qoeleth said:
Yes, they are. All worldly amusements are sinful, because they divert the soul from its proper duty of compunction and penance.🙂
Click to expand...
That is absolute nonsense and certainly NOT taught by the Church.
 
Ben_Sinner said:
I came across an Ask An Apologist question about somebody being concerned with a comment St. Teresa of Avila made on adventure books and how it was harmful to her…here was a statement from the apologist on that.

Given your follow-up concern about your younger sister, I think you may have a misunderstanding about the type of books St. Teresa was talking about. Only in the last forty years or so have novels labeled “romances” been exclusively about love stories between a man and a woman. In St. Teresa’s day and well into the 20th century, “romances” were adventure stories. Any swashbuckling tale of derring-do was considered a romance. This is why even St. Teresa’s contemporary, St. Ignatius of Loyola, was said to be a fan of “romances” before his conversion.

Why were these considered wrong by these two saints? Is it a sin to read/watch these stories like Lord of The Rings, Batman, Star Wars, etc.
Click to expand...
Reading this thread, it occurs to me that within a half-century or so of St. Teresa and St. Ignatius, we also have Cervantes’ publication of Don Quixote who is a bit soft in the head, so to speak, from reading so many “romances” or tales of swashbuckling and chivalry.

It makes me wonder if there was a common perception in 16th Century Spain that these adventure stories or romances were particularly trashy, or that reading them was particularly detrimental to one’s mental health or spiritual well-being. And maybe St Teresa’s comments should be taken in the context of the time and place she lived, and the content and popular perception of those stories.

It is probably not meant as a sweeping condemnation of all kinds of fanciful fiction at all times and all places. That’s something you’d expect from one of Garrison Keillor’s taciturn Lutheran characters… “I’m an author - I write fiction.” “People pay you to tell lies?” That kind of thing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top