How Do You Define Lust

[Johnathanmc]

I was wondering, what is defined as lust? If I looked at a woman and thought she was attractive, is that lust? If I continued looking at her and enjoyed looking at her is it lust? If I looked at certain areas of her body usually assocciated with sex but didn’t entertain sexual thoughts in my mind is that lust? Or is lust imagining performing certain sexual actions with that person in your imagination?

 

[Lea101]

The catechism defines it well

 

[Johnathanmc]

How does the Cathechism define it?

 

[Maximilian75]

CCC 2351

Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.

 

[Axsenex]

1 obsolete
a : pleasure, delight
b : personal inclination : wish

2 : usually intense or unbridled sexual desire : lasciviousness He was motivated more by lust than by love.

3 a : an intense longing : craving a lust to succeed
b : enthusiasm, eagerness admired his lust for life

 

[Athanasiy]

It seems that an interesting discussion was conducted on this topic,

Definition of Lust? Moral Theology

When is lust considered adultery? Say a married person has an attraction to someone they are not married to and they find themselves periodically thinking of this person. Feelings of missing that person, wondering what they are doing, wanting to be with that person, etc. Is that lust? I’ve always understood lust as involving wanting to have sex with someone you’re not married to. However, I heard lust recently described as not having to be “physically” wanting someone else but also yearning for …

 

[Maximilian75]

Wow, how exceptionally mature that is.

 

[BlackFriar]

Not as the Church defines it.
Lust, as a sin, is an act of the mind not a passion or sensation in the bodily organs.

Obviously there is a linkage between the two and that is where discernment is needed.
Considerations are what you chose to do before the passion arose.
What you chose to do when the passion arose.
There can be grave lust even without immediate bodily motion.

 

[BlackFriar]

If I looked at certain areas of her body usually assocciated with sex but didn’t entertain sexual thoughts in my mind is that lust?

This is the inexperience of a young person.
If you cannot control yourself then remove yourself from the situation if possible.
We all know where the trajectory will go over time regardless of whether or not you have conscious thoughts. You are clearly having unconscious sexual “thoughts” - that is why you want to keep looking. Its inbuilt into males.