Is it a mortal sin to have fun?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimmy
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Sarcelle said:
I thought the idea of fun being a sin was a Puritan idea, not a Catholic one. I wonder if the posters asking the “Is it a sin” question were primarily Americans. It seems like the Puritan influence has rubbed off on American Catholics.
Click to expand...
Sarcelle, it isn’t a Catholic one. A Catholic wedding reception, Christening, Confirmation, First Communion, or a good 'ol Irish wake are great examples of having “fun”. Occasions to celebrate.

When I got married, I told the priest we had a dilemma for our wedding reception. I told him we had many Baptist family members who do not drink. I offered to serve punch, tea and soft drinks, but some family members said they wouldn’t attend the reception anyway because there was alcohol present. Our priest said, I’ll tell you this, serve punch, put a sign on one table, “alcohol free” and on the “contains alcohol”. I have been to many such receptions, and at the end of the night, more Baptists were in the Catholic punch, than the Baptist punch.

My husband and I were rolling laughing. Also the dancing and music. The only thing I remember my mother saying to my uncle, “Well, if you don’t wish to attend, we’ll miss you.” 😃
 
jimmy said:
Is it a mortal sin to have fun? I have looked at several threads on the moral theology forum, and they seem to point in this direction. But none of them state it outright. They might say it is a sin to be a seat hopper at a baseball game, or to rub your belly because it feels good. They might say it is a sin to drink beer, or to smoke a cigarette. They might say it is a sin to eat an icecream cone. Some say that it is a sin to look at a beautiful woman, because, damn, she looks good. All of these threads imply that life should not be fun, and any attempt to have fun or enjoy life is a sin, and most likely mortal. So, is it a sin to have fun?
Click to expand...
Usually, but not always. Under certain very limited circumstances, it may be OK, but generally, you are best advised to avoid it.

You can have “fun” now if you want but it won’t be fun when you’re burning in hell.
 
jimmy said:
Is it a mortal sin to have fun? I have looked at several threads on the moral theology forum, and they seem to point in this direction. But none of them state it outright. They might say it is a sin to be a seat hopper at a baseball game, or to rub your belly because it feels good. They might say it is a sin to drink beer, or to smoke a cigarette. They might say it is a sin to eat an icecream cone. Some say that it is a sin to look at a beautiful woman, because, damn, she looks good. All of these threads imply that life should not be fun, and any attempt to have fun or enjoy life is a sin, and most likely mortal. So, is it a sin to have fun?
Click to expand...
No, not at all. You are allowed to have good, clean wholesome fun. Fun that is not sinful. Looking at a young woman because she is attractive is not wrong. But forming thoughts in your mind about having sex with her falls into the category of lust.

Eating ice cream or other food you like is not a sin, but being overweight can lead to health problems. Cigarettes have been shown to cause cancer. An occasional drink is not a problem, but getting “wasted” is, and could lead to alcohol dependence and liver damage.

Ed
 
If it is, then I’m in trouble! :dancing: :bounce: :bluelite:
 
VeritasLuxMea said:
Usually, but not always. Under certain very limited circumstances, it may be OK, but generally, you are best advised to avoid it.

You can have “fun” now if you want but it won’t be fun when you’re burning in hell.
Click to expand...
Wow. I hope you said that “tongue-in-cheek”. 🤷

I have fun playing with my kids in the park, or board games, or video games. Nothing sinful there.

I have fun talking to interesting people.

I have fun at work sometimes.

It’s all about mindset.

Now, if your definition of “fun” is debauchery, then Houston, we have a problem.

That kind of fun is normally the very definition of sin.

Fortunately, that isn’t the only kind of fun.
 
Skye_Ariel said:
LOL! Exactly! Why do people think so many things are a sin? I see a lot of threads where people ask if this or that is a sin, I don’t understand it either. 🤷 Is laughing a sin? Is setting an alarm clock a sin? Is it a sin to have a cat? Is it a sin to turn on air conditioner in the summer? LOL! Some seem to think the most normal things are a sin, I don’t get it.
Click to expand...
Neither do I. I think that so many people have asked the question to a person they trust if so and so is a sin and is told no, their scrupulously kicks in and comes here hoping to get the answer they are looking for.
 
The parking lot was icy today and I was going a little too fast. When I tried to stop, I accidentally spun my car around and did a doughnut. I didn’t mean to have fun, but I couldn’t help it. Am I going to hell?

My arm was itchy today so I scratched it and it felt good. How many rosaries do I have to say?

Today, someone said something funny and I laughed. How long do I have to spend in purgatory?
 
pollynova said:
The parking lot was icy today and I was going a little too fast. When I tried to stop, I accidentally spun my car around and did a doughnut. I didn’t mean to have fun, but I couldn’t help it. Am I going to hell?
Click to expand...
Yes :mad:
My arm was itchy today so I scratched it and it felt good. How many rosaries do I have to say?
Click to expand...
Rosaries :confused:

Time to break out the hair shirt and cilice.

:mad:

😛

Sarah x 🙂
 
Timothysis said:
Yes, especially when they are outside of my bedroom window waxing romantic at 3:00am!
Click to expand...
LOL! That’s why people should get their cats fixed. Oh wait a minute is fixing your pets a sin too? :D:p
pollynova said:
The parking lot was icy today and I was going a little too fast. When I tried to stop, I accidentally spun my car around and did a doughnut. I didn’t mean to have fun, but I couldn’t help it. Am I going to hell?

My arm was itchy today so I scratched it and it felt good. How many rosaries do I have to say?

Today, someone said something funny and I laughed. How long do I have to spend in purgatory?
Click to expand...
ROFL!! :rotfl:
 
If liking your tummy rubbed is a sin, my dog is so going to hell.
 
Ehh, this seems like a very gnostic train of thought which infected the common people at an early age in the Church. Even today, such an emphasis is placed on denying the mind and body that it seems like it approaches the gnostic view. The idea that everything physical is evil. It’s a dangerous road to go down. Just look at the Cathars; they took it so far that they embraced suicide.
 
I’ve actually heard some Christian arguments against fun along the lines that to gain gratification from something other than service to and glorification of our Creator is to deny him.
 
don’t we in some way glorify God whenever we rejoice in the beauties He gives us? Unless something is wrong or sinful, of course
 
I know this question can seem a bit silly, and I don’t want to distract from the ironic and tongue-in-cheek responses, but I’m going to give a more serious response.

I think that this question illustrates the underlying sentiments that those who suffer from scrupulosity – often subbconsciously – embrace: if it feels good, it must be wrong.

This is not – nor has it ever been – the Christian view! It is really a veiled form of the old gnosticism that says “spirit = good; body = evil”.

Yes, we can enjoy things. God does not want us to be curmedgeonly mopes. As the saying goes, there are no sour-faced saints.

I think sometimes scrupulosity can lead people to think that they must find joy in pain and sorrow in pleasure in order to be “really” holy. I think that’s one of the devil’s great cons. He can get you to feel miserable about feeling good and incapacitate you towards doing good. Win-win for him. Really, it leads one to feel miserable when they have fun, and also miserable when they feel miserable because they are not enjoying their misery (and they think they should be)!

Of course, none of us are exempt from suffering. And – since the Cross of Christ brings meaning to our suffering – we really can maintain our joy through that suffering. But we are not masochists.
 
cynic said:
I’ve actually heard some Christian arguments against fun along the lines that to gain gratification from something other than service to and glorification of our Creator is to deny him.
Click to expand...
That’s crazy. God made this life we have and He meant for us to enjoy it. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top