Full consent

[Christ_Conquers]

JMJ

Hi Everyone,
I know that if a sinful thought pops into your head it becomes a sin when you dwell/entertain it.

But what if you choose to start thinking a sinful thought but then stop yourself and don’t dwell/entertain it.

Would choosing to think it be full consent? or would part of full consent be dwelling/entertaining it?

 

[ahs]

I think there is a lot of “it depends” in answering your question. Best advice is to ask your Confessor/Priest.

My personal take: if you purposefully started thinking about something you should not have, and you were fully aware, etc…you are guilty of initiating the thought. But if you chose then to stop thinking about it, realizing the sin and not wanting to continue, you are not guilty of entertaining the thought…depending on how long you went before realizing this. At the very least, this puts you guilty of putting yourself in the near occasion of sin, which can be a serious sin in itself, depending on several factors. Take it to your Priest and let him guide you.

 

[wmw]

There is some sins of entertaining bad thoughts, but largely the emphasis is on doing or not doing. We are to be those that do the commandments and beatitudes.

 

[Cryptic1]

JMJ

Hi Everyone,
I know that if a sinful thought pops into your head it becomes a sin when you dwell/entertain it.

But what if you choose to start thinking a sinful thought but then stop yourself and don’t dwell/entertain it.

Would choosing to think it be full consent? or would part of full consent be dwelling/entertaining it?

Choosing to start thinking a sinful thought is like playing with fire and will probably lead you down a path you wish you hadn’t ventured in the first place. We have a fallen nature with a predisposition to sin, so putting yourself in that situation, while not sinful in itself, may eventually put you there.

It’s interesting to note that most sins that we commit begin as a single thought.

Something to think about.

God Bless

 

[Bookcat]

Depends on what is meant.