Is it a sin not to Exercise?

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dizzy_dave

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Is it a sin not to exercise our bodies? If so what kind of sin. I find it very hard to find the time. I know we are to care for our bodies but it’s hard to exercise 15 - 30 or whatever in a day.
 
Sloth is a sin when we willfully shirk our work, but there is no obligation on the Christian to have a regular excercise program.

Scott
 
Scott_Waddell said:
Sloth is a sin when we willfully shirk our work, but there is no obligation on the Christian to have a regular excercise program.

Scott
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If you’re feeling guilty for not exercising would it then be sinful though?
 
My guess is that this would, if anywhere, fall under the Lord’s command not to kill. This is what the Catechism says on the subject:
excerpt of paragraph 2269 of the CCC:
Unintentional killing is not morally imputable. But one is not exonerated from grave offense if, without proportionate reasons, he has acted in a way that brings about someone’s death, even without the intention to do so.
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By not exercising you might be unintentionally killing yourself (although, funnily enough, the same argument could possibly be made for breathing), but this paragraph states that you would not be morally liable for having committed a sin. Such lack of exercise could still be a grave offense, as noted, but you would not necessarily be culpable.

Finally, if you felt, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Spirit is indeed calling you to exercise, especially if confirmed by human mediums such as your doctor, then perhaps you may have some moral culpability if you fail to follow the Spirit’s lead.

By the way, practicing the virtue of prudence on this matter should direct you to some amount of exercise given all the scientific data on the question, though the amount is undeterminable. If I were you, I would pray to have God’s will in this matter made more clearly known to you. You might want to take this question to confession, not so much as a sin, per se, but merely as an imperfection for which you seek spiritual assistance. May the Holy Spirit direct your discernment!
 
Is there really no way that you can build exercise into your daily routine? Maybe parking a mile from your work and walking the rest of the way? Maybe doing 10-20 sit-ups and press-ups in the morning or evening and offering them up as penance? Maybe taking the stairs instead of the lift? Maybe keeping a garden, if you have one, and planting things that need tending instead of just having a lawn? Maybe going for a walk instead of watching TV?

You don’t need to go mad in the gym to stay healthy, just have a more actove approach to your normal life 🙂
 
dizzy_dave said:
Is it a sin not to exercise our bodies? If so what kind of sin. I find it very hard to find the time. I know we are to care for our bodies but it’s hard to exercise 15 - 30 or whatever in a day.
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Everybody has at least some time to at least some exercise. It’s about priorities.

I can’t see it being a sin though.
 
DL82 said:
Is there really no way that you can build exercise into your daily routine? Maybe parking a mile from your work and walking the rest of the way? Maybe doing 10-20 sit-ups and press-ups in the morning or evening and offering them up as penance? Maybe taking the stairs instead of the lift? Maybe keeping a garden, if you have one, and planting things that need tending instead of just having a lawn? Maybe going for a walk instead of watching TV?

You don’t need to go mad in the gym to stay healthy, just have a more actove approach to your normal life 🙂
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Well said.
 
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