Commiting theological mistakes unintentionally

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Is it a sin to commit an unintentional theologic mistake while discussing theology with someone?
And if so,how bad a sin is it?
 
Yurito3g said:
unintentional
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You answered your own question. You can’t sin unintentionally. Sin is a choice to turn from goodness towards the self. If you didn’t mean to make a mistake, then why would God hold you accountable for that? Why would you hold yourself accountable?

CCC Part 3, Section 1, Article 8:

"II. THE DEFINITION OF SIN

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods."

What failure of love is there in saying something untrue without knowing so? Lying is an offense against charity. Not knowing you didn’t tell the truth isn’t. If it were, everyone on Earth would be in a lot of trouble.

If it makes you feel better, though, it may be wise to qualify statements you aren’t sure about with “But I’m not entirely sure” or “But I may need to check that.” No harm in admitting you’re not an expert.
 
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Yurito3g said:
Is it a sin to commit an unintentional theologic mistake while discussing theology with someone?
And if so,how bad a sin is it?
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Committing a mortal sin is always deliberate. You cannot sin by accident.
 
Capta(name removed by moderator)rudeman said:
You can’t sin unintentionally.
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Montrose said:
You cannot sin by accident.
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This is not correct. At all. I really wish people would think twice about giving advice in morals… it can be really dangerous. I went to school for 9 years to learn this stuff, and I am still nervous to give advice.

OP - can you say what mistake you made, and in what context, and how well you have studied the Faith? It could range from nothing, to very serious.
 
kapp19 said:
This is not correct. At all. I really wish people would think twice about giving advice in morals… it can be really dangerous. I went to school for 9 years to learn this stuff, and I am still nervous to give advice.

OP - can you say what mistake you made, and in what context, and how well you have studied the Faith? It could range from nothing, to very serious.
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You CANNOT commit a mortal sin by accident. What you say is wrong.

The Church teaching:

CCC 1857 For a sin to be mortal , three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

CCC 1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent . It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.
 
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Hi there - first of all, the OP is not asking about mortal sin. Second of all, the CCC is very unhelpful on the definition of mortal sin. Third, one finds today the strange thought that “deliberation” must take place for there to be mortal sin - which, while plausible in some way, does not enjoy the support of St. Thomas.

-K
 
kapp19 said:
Hi there - first of all, the OP is not asking about mortal sin. Second of all, the CCC is very unhelpful on the definition of mortal sin. Third, one finds today the strange thought that “deliberation” must take place for there to be mortal sin - which, while plausible in some way, does not enjoy the support of St. Thomas.

-K
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Let me clarify then. You cannot commit any type of sin by accident.
The CCC defines mortal sin very clearly. Obviously you have trouble understanding if it has taken you 9 years and you still have the wrong understanding.
By the way, it is what the Church actually teaches that is the only thing that counts and not an opinion of any individual.

Let me simplify it. If a sin is of grave matter, and you know that but you still go ahead and do it anyway then that is a mortal sin. You do not have to sit for an hour deliberating on it before going ahead.
 
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Hi there - actually, the Church in Her kindness and mercy gave me the “official” pontifical degree in moral theology, so I am actually fully qualified to teach these things (and my grades were pretty okay too, for what it’s worth) - I don’t like to play that card, but please calm down. You don’t need to “simplify” anything to me, thanks.

The primary and fundamental subject of sin is the will - and if all you mean is that, then okay, fine. But that ignores the sense of the OP’s post.

-K
 
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Hi - unfortunately I think many people confuse the CCC with “the teaching of the Church,” which it is not. The CCC is an attempt at explaining that teaching. So unless you have a suggestion beyond “look at the Catechism,” I will rest on the greater tradition which helps to untie what the CCC is saying in the relevant paragraphs.

-K
 
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kapp19 said:
Hi - unfortunately I think many people confuse the CCC with “the teaching of the Church,” which it is not. The CCC is an attempt at explaining that teaching. So unless you have a suggestion beyond “look at the Catechism,” I will rest on the greater tradition which helps to untie what the CCC is saying in the relevant paragraphs.

-K
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Wrong again. Seems you disagree with Pope John Paul II.

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION
FIDEI DEPOSITUM

ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

PREPARED FOLLOWING THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

JOHN PAUL, BISHOP
SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD
FOR EVERLASTING MEMORY

3. The Doctrinal Value of the Text

The Catechism of the Catholic Church , which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion.
 
My friend - I thought you might quote this exact text to me. Please, accept the possibility that you may be misunderstanding it.

I won’t argue about this further.

-K
 
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Montrose said:
Let me clarify then. You cannot commit any type of sin by accident.
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You were closer when you wrote “you cannot commit mortal sin by accident.” That’s correct.

However, objective sin is objective sin.

I think what you’re trying to get at is that you are not culpable of sin committed ‘by accident’. This is all about subjective culpability, not objective sin.
Montrose said:
Obviously you have trouble understanding if it has taken you 9 years and you still have the wrong understanding.
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sigh. What that “by accident”, or merely a sin? “Raqa”, remember? 🤔
 
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Hello guys,I rhank ypu very much for participating in this thread.
I found Christ very recently and it has been a change that it brought me a lot of happiness but also a lot of difficulties(wich I thank,because they are a great help for me to change) that come from the recognition of sin in myself.

I am very eager to study and comprehend the faith but I do admit that my understanding is still direfully poor.
I sometimes argue with people about theology based on the little I know of the church’s teachings.
But I always feel very afraid of saying some heresy(and maybe have already said).

Yesterday I was discussing with my girfriend and I happened to say that God is everything(in maybe a very new age way) but i said it not with the intention or actual belief on that, it was more like a thinking process and after that I corrected myself(i think)

My whole point is: is it okay to discuss theology if you do not have a complete understanding of the faith(because if you don’t you will eventually say some heresy due to a lack of knowledge while forming ideas during the discussion)?

And the thing is, even saying a heresy I am not saying it knowing that is a heresy,because if I knew I would condemn it and would stick to the church’s truth.
 
Summarising: If in the middlle of the thought process I fall into some heresy and proclaim it but then think a little better and correct it or even deny it, have I commited grave sin or even sin at all?
 
And even if this correction/denailtakes quite sometime to take place (maybe I’m not even with the perosn anymore)
 
Theological mistakes? That is an oxymoron, since theology is academic. Perhaps you mean not adhering to Church dogmata?
 
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Montrose said:
You cannot commit any type of sin by accident.
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One cannot have full culpability for accidental sins. The sin is still sin.

Theological errors are not uncommon. What is important is to be open to correction and be big enough to admit mistakes
 
Yurito3g said:
Summarising: If in the middlle of the thought process I fall into some heresy and proclaim it but then think a little better and correct it or even deny it, have I commited grave sin or even sin at all?
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No, you haven’t. Heresy is the obstinate denial of something we are to believe. By your very definition, what you’re doing is the exact opposite of “obstinate denial”!!! 👍
 
You can relax a bit… but do be careful with making theological claims. Right now your job is primarily learning, not debating. Patient and humble perseverance in good introductory books should be your bread and butter for a good while.
 
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