Did I Sin?

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Okay, so I also want to first state that I have OCD, so I overthink things and get anxiety. But, what I wanted to do was go and purchase Mortal Kombat and I’ve been saying to myself and thinking about how this type of video game is wrong because of all the violence and gore. So, I said to myself that I was going to purchase the game any way, even though I think that. The whole car ride there I was just thinking to myself that I may be doing something wrong. Now, I also want to say that my beliefs towards violent video games is probably a mix of my OCD and beliefs, but I’m thinking that maybe that it felt wrong but I went to go purchase it anyway.

I really wanted to get it because I love video games. They’re a simple way for me to relax but I’ve been stressing over games like this though I find them to be fun I guess.

Overall, I felt like maybe it was wrong to go get it but I did anyway and maybe at the time I was thinking screw it and wondering if part of it is my OCD…idk. My OCd (possibly) and my beliefs (possibly as well) is saying to me that if I get this game and keep it, that im going to Hell. To be honest, I don’t want to go there! 😛
 
Well - My personal opinion on these games is - don’t play them - But I guess that is neither here nor there…

I do think that your concern over whether to buy and play violent games is justified. Time spent paying such games re-enforces negative thought processes and takes away from time spent re-enforcing positive thought processes (prayer, service, works of charity etc.)
Whether the purchase was technically a sin, given your obvious concerns… 🤷…I don’t know.

No one here is qualified to give you an answer on this matter. You should discuss it with your confessor.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Well - My personal opinion on these games is - don’t play them - But I guess that is neither here nor there…

I do think that your concern over whether to buy and play violent games is justified. Time spent paying such games re-enforces negative thought processes and takes away from time spent re-enforcing positive thought processes (prayer, service, works of charity etc.)
Whether the purchase was technically a sin, given your obvious concerns… 🤷…I don’t know.

No one here is qualified to give you an answer on this matter. You should discuss it with your confessor.

Peace
James
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Well I mean the negative thoughts that I have currently from it is that I find it fun, I say it’s negative because hurting people isn’t fun, but it’s a game. So I find the game fun and I know the difference between fantasy and reality. I think it’s a positive thing that it’s fun, just the concept is a negative one I suppose.

I do get frustrated when I feel unable to do the things I enjoy so idk…not having the game may frustrate me but relieve a feeling but it may also give me the sense of not being able to do some things I enjoy.

Also, by these games do you mean violent ones or overall games?
 
I wouldn’t even consider Mortal Kombat to really be the violence and gore defining game anymore. It seems more like some tongue in cheek satire of violence and gore wrapped up in low-quality game. If a fellow Catholic told me they were going to get a new MK game my first reaction would be to make sure they knew the games haven’t been good for years rather than think to discourage them from purchasing it because of violence.

However, if you believe something to be wrong and do it anyway that is a sin, so in that sense you did sin.
 
Don’t worry about it.Concentrate more on the other sins in your life.You can worry about the video game later.
 
Could I please get some more (name removed by moderator)ut if possible, please. 🙂
 
JakeSim said:
Well I mean the negative thoughts that I have currently from it is that I find it fun, I say it’s negative because hurting people isn’t fun, but it’s a game. So I find the game fun and I know the difference between fantasy and reality. I think it’s a positive thing that it’s fun, just the concept is a negative one I suppose.
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Here is an old story about two wolves who live inside of us.
  1. “The Wolves Within”
A grandson told of his anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice. Grandfather said: “Let me tell you a story.” “I, too, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But, hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me: one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way. But the other wolf is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights with everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of then try to dominate my spirit.” The boy looked intently into his grandfather’s eyes and asked, “Which one wins, Grandfather?” The grandfather solemnly replied, “The one I feed.”

When it comes to these kinds of games, I have to ask myself, which wolf am I feeding?
I do get frustrated when I feel unable to do the things I enjoy so idk…not having the game may frustrate me but relieve a feeling but it may also give me the sense of not being able to do some things I enjoy.
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You just need to discover other things that you enjoy.
Also, by these games do you mean violent ones or overall games?
Click to expand...
Violent games.

Peace
James
 
If you have OCD, I would really second James’ advice that you talk this over with your Confessor or a priest you trust. Navigating the sinfulness of given actions for people who suffer from OCD and/or scrupulosity is not something any of us here at CAF are qualified to do, especially anonymously over the internet.

If you’re looking for some general commentary, I would say that the Church typically cautions us from viewing media that portrays violence for the sake of glorifying it. So, for example, a movie like “Passion of the Christ”, or “Schindler’s List” portrays violence with a purpose, not to glorify it. Some run-of-the-mill action/horror movie might be different, though.

It’s tricky, though. I also love video games and I played a lot of Mortal Kombat 1, 2, & 3 back in the day (but, much more frequently, I played Goldeneye :p). It never made me think for even a moment that violence was acceptable (I remain - as I’ve always been - a pretty mellow, passive person). So I have a tough time thinking that it’s a mortal sin to play such a game. But then, maybe that’s just my own biases creating a moral blindspot for me. I don’t discount that possibility.
 
I would mention this to a priest in confession. Like other posters have said, none of us are really qualified to give you advice. The reason? It is a personal decision between you and God. What may not be sin for other people may be a sin for you, and vice versa. Maybe it’s your OCD nagging you when you were going to buy that game and maybe it was the Holy Spirit. We don’t know. God may be gently asking you to sacrifice your love of video games for Him. He may be calling you to a higher level of perfection. But that is something that has to be discerned by prayer, the Sacraments, and listening.
 
Are you planning to go out with a gun and shoot up Kroger’s? I would guess the answer uis no. It is natural for a boy to be excited by violence, killing, blood, and war things. Our culture revels in it. Our heroes are as violent as can be. This is however, all fantasy. As long as you remember that enjoy your gore all you want! Why certain Saints could have been actors in Mortal Kombat themselves!
 
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