Don't know if I am deceiving myself into thinking something is a mortal sin

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Okay, so I picked up the Watchmen graphic novel because I like superhero stories (or any fantasy sci-fi for that matter). I was told it was pretty violent/had some offensive material, but decided to read it anyways.

Well I got about 5 pages into it and I started to feel uneasy reading it because it was more offensive then I thought it was going to be. I finally stopped reading it after a certain scene that was pretty bad. I don’t necessarily like over the top violence ( I do like action, but not ridiculous stuff) and the scene involved a rape. I did vaguely recall someone mentioning this after I had read that part.

Anyways, now I don’t know whether or not reading this is considered grave matter. I definately can tell you that I knew the book had some offensive material, but I guess I didn’t really think too hard about it until I actually started reading. What do you think? I plan on getting to confession before Easter, but if I don’t make it should I go ahead and receive Communion since I am unsure (I’m told you should still receive Holy Communion unless you’re absolutely sure you committed a mortal sin)?

Any feedback is appreciated. I can’t tell if I’m just being too hard on myself or if I really screwed up.

Thanks,
George
 
Why not just go to Confession and set your mind at ease?

Anyway doesn’t mortal sin involve grave matter AND prior consent? Correct me if I’m wrong.
 
Yeah I plan on going to confession, but not sure if I will make it (going back home for confession and don’t know if there is any services over Tridium).

And I guess my point is is that I knew that the book had some bad stuff in it, but not quite as bad as I expected. So wouldn’t that still fullfill prior consent? I’m assuming it does, which then leaves me with the question if it is a serious enough matter to constitute grave matter.

I was not setting out to do anything wrong, but my conscience did tug at me before I bought the book. That’s why I’m questioning whether or not it is mortal sin.
 
gs013564 said:
Yeah I plan on going to confession, but not sure if I will make it (going back home for confession and don’t know if there is any services over Tridium).

And I guess my point is is that I knew that the book had some bad stuff in it, but not quite as bad as I expected. So wouldn’t that still fullfill prior consent? I’m assuming it does, which then leaves me with the question if it is a serious enough matter to constitute grave matter.

I was not setting out to do anything wrong, but my conscience did tug at me before I bought the book. That’s why I’m questioning whether or not it is mortal sin.
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How does not knowing it was going to be that bad constitute prior consent? Personally I’m not sure reading that kind of thing would continue grave mater unless you were enjoying it in a very discorded type of way. The fact it made you so uncomfortable you quit reading it, I’d think your fine.
 
Principle taught to me by an old and very wise priest. Unless you know for certain its a mortal sin it is likely not. However once the uncertainty arises one would be required to check things out before repeating the action or omission. If the question arises before actually acting or not acting one would be bound to check before proceeding for the first time.
 
I agree! The unesy feeling you had was probably your guardian angel trying to get your attention to put down the book.
 
Next time, if you feel uneasy, just put it down. Why give yourself the anxiety? You can offer it up as an act of love to God, and instead do something else with your time.

That said, I really don’t think you comitted a mortal sin in looking at that book. But you can say an act of contrition and perform some small act of penance, and mention it in your next confession.

By the way, I was… well, it’s a long story, but basically misled into watching the movie version of that book. What a piece of garbage! Stay away from that movie. It’s not even enjoyable.
 
Funny, that’s what I heard from some other people who saw the film.
 
How on earth can we confront evil head-on if we don’t know what it is? Reading a section out of a book, or even the whole book, can hardly be counted as sinful if you’re genuinely trying to find out how sick some people can be. I realise you set out to enjoy the book, but then put it down out of your uneasy feeling about it. More credit to you.
Going beyond the actions of the original poster now, it just irks me a little when some Christians want to shelter themselves from the world and not have any exposure to anything unpleasant.
Was Christ a sinner for being in the actual presence of the devil in the desert? Of course not–he listened to the empty promises, he let the devil offer him everything, and asserted himself calmly and by degrees. Would any of us recognise the devil if he stood before us?
This, to me, is the mark of a strong Christian: to actually get out into the world, stare the beast in the face and say, “Enough is enough,” or even “Get behind me.”
How will we combat pornography, incest, rape, murder, idolatry (insert your choice of sin here) if we do not know what goes on? I’m not advocating participation in those activities, but merely having a mind that understands evil (to some extent) and seeks to destroy it.

Sorry if this goes a little off topic.
 
The matter is grave. I don’t know what your intention and thought was, but the matter is grave.

You should’ve known better, and if there’s one lesson you should take away from this is that if you habitually take risks like that you need to fix -that-, not just this single occasion but your comfortability with occasions of sin.

You probably like worldly entertainment too much. Just about everyone does!

If you’ve witnessed something carnal and feel dirtied by it (as you should), you should go to Confession before Communion.

Regardless of whether it was mortal or not. It was serious matter, and it was carnal, either of which definitely should be enough to prompt someone to Confession before Communion so he is clean enough for it.

[edit]

Looks like this is a bit of an old thread.
 
gs013564 said:
Okay, so I picked up the Watchmen graphic novel because I like superhero stories (or any fantasy sci-fi for that matter). I was told it was pretty violent/had some offensive material, but decided to read it anyways.

Well I got about 5 pages into it and I started to feel uneasy reading it because it was more offensive then I thought it was going to be. I finally stopped reading it after a certain scene that was pretty bad. I don’t necessarily like over the top violence ( I do like action, but not ridiculous stuff) and the scene involved a rape. I did vaguely recall someone mentioning this after I had read that part.

Anyways, now I don’t know whether or not reading this is considered grave matter. I definately can tell you that I knew the book had some offensive material, but I guess I didn’t really think too hard about it until I actually started reading. What do you think? I plan on getting to confession before Easter, but if I don’t make it should I go ahead and receive Communion since I am unsure (I’m told you should still receive Holy Communion unless you’re absolutely sure you committed a mortal sin)?

Any feedback is appreciated. I can’t tell if I’m just being too hard on myself or if I really screwed up.

Thanks,
George
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George,

I feel for you. I used to be a *real *movie buff. After growing in my faith to point where violence, graphics images, and innuendo began to make me physical sick, I began throwing out a whole slew of DVDs. I even had to throw out my old associations (old buddies, friends, and girlfriends). It’s too bad and a bit of shame really, and it means I have to rebuild my entire social network from the ground up. The fact is, we don’t need the distraction, or this type of entertainment and bad influence. As far the friends went, I took as far as I could, but who are we kidding — That’s the sacrifice of an aspiring Christian makes. As a result, I began reading more and better books, found more time for prayer and enobling work like gardening. I’ve even become quite the chef. All this makes me think that the Great Deceiver wants to keeps us in vegetative states in front of the idiot-box, or at a bar, or in some strange woman’s bed, or thumbing through magazines just so we don’t get anything productive done. The wisdom is when something does what it was created for, it gives glory to God. Trees and mountains do this by growing tall and being majestic. Lakes and streams do this by being cool and refreshing. And, cows do this by contributing a substantial portion to my mystery meatloaf.

*“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” *(Daniel 3,50-90)
 
Jimzz12 said:
George,

I feel for you. I used to be a *real *movie buff. After growing in my faith to point where violence, graphics images, and innuendo began to make me physical sick, I began throwing out a whole slew of DVDs. I even had to throw out my old associations (old buddies, friends, and girlfriends). It’s too bad and a bit of shame really, and it means I have to rebuild my entire social network from the ground up. The fact is, we don’t need the distraction, or this type of entertainment and bad influence. As far the friends went, I took as far as I could, but who are we kidding — That’s the sacrifice of an aspiring Christian makes. As a result, I began reading more and better books, found more time for prayer and enobling work like gardening. I’ve even become quite the chef. All this makes me think that the Great Deceiver wants to keeps us in vegetative states in front of the idiot-box, or at a bar, or in some strange woman’s bed, or thumbing through magazines just so we don’t get anything productive done. The wisdom is when something does what it was created for, it gives glory to God. Trees and mountains do this by growing tall and being majestic. Lakes and streams do this by being cool and refreshing. And, cows do this by contributing a substantial portion to my mystery meatloaf.

*“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” *(Daniel 3,50-90)
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Well done my friend in Christ! 🙂 I love a good example to counter the bad! There but for the grace of God!
 
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