Is it possible that I have committed two mortal sins because of a novel?

[ZoonCorp]

I am reading a novel called “Stone of Tears” by Terry Goodkind. It is set in a fantasy world, where a demonic being, or equivalent to the devil tries break out from “hell” and in to the world of the living to create suffering there. I like the story itself, but It has some elements that are not very nice. And this is why I am worrying now. I would also like to say that I think I am a bit scrupulous.

I decided today that I wanted to read another chapter in the book. However, I suddenly remembered that the Harry Potter books weren’t very good to read as a catholic apparently because of magic and so forth. This is where I might have committed the first mortal sin. I though: “Maybe I shouldn’t read this after all, it actually contains occult magic after all”. After a while, I still decided to read because I though it is only fiction. Have I committed a mortal sin here, since I choose to read though I wasn’t sure if it was okay?

A bit in the chapter, about halfway, two of the people in the book sneaked up and spied on the servants of this demon or devil or whatever he is. They were doing some sort of sick pact with symbols on the ground and chanting of words in an unknown language. I won’t describe the following in detail, but they initiated some kind of twisted sex pact. I am ashamed to admit, but I got a bit sexually aroused there. I tried to suppress it, but I still felt aroused. I still continued to read so that I could see what would happen next. So I have sinned, right?

Even though I knew that was the time to put down the book, God could not be happy with me now, I still continued to read a bit more. I guess it was because I wanted to finish the chapter. Does this mean i have committed a mortal sin here as well, since I deliberately continued to read when I knew I could stop here?

I feel terrible now, and I regret I even read that book today. Can you please tell me if you think I have sinned as well?

 

[ahs]

You need to visit with a Priest about this, or at the very least confess it all just to be sure.

There are controversial topics in there that you are talking about…the onethat stands out the most to me is the arousal issue…you should have stopped there and didn’t. Mortal sin? I dunno…but a sin at the very least.

 

[JoArtist]

I would say there was an issue of lust here and that needs to be addressed in confession. I would say that reading fictional books that contain “magic” is not wrong. Most of these are NOTHING like real world occultic practices and are really just fantasy. Do we not read Lord of the Rings, all the books in the Narnia series, ect? Even scripture describes some occultic practices in it (they are all portrayed as negatively though). I think that is a little extreme. If a book is causing you to sin (lust, wanting to get into the occult due to it, or influencing you in other negative ways), then it is sinful to read them. I would just stop reading the book and if you are thinking of buying a book that may be questionable you should look up information on it to see if it has inappropriate material. I hope this helps.

 

[beth40n2]

I am reading a novel called “Stone of Tears” by Terry Goodkind. It is set in a fantasy world, where a demonic being, or equivalent to the devil tries break out from “hell” and in to the world of the living to create suffering there. I like the story itself, but It has some elements that are not very nice. And this is why I am worrying now. I would also like to say that I think I am a bit scrupulous.

Whether it is fiction or not, it is demonic and can open you up to spirits that you do not want. Satan is the father of lies and uses fiction to suck people in.

I decided today that I wanted to read another chapter in the book. However, I suddenly remembered that the Harry Potter books weren’t very good to read as a catholic apparently because of magic and so forth. This is where I might have committed the first mortal sin. I though: “Maybe I shouldn’t read this after all, it actually contains occult magic after all”. After a while, I still decided to read because I though it is only fiction. Have I committed a mortal sin here, since I choose to read though I wasn’t sure if it was okay?

If you are decerning that it contains occult material, it is time to stop.

A bit in the chapter, about halfway, two of the people in the book sneaked up and spied on the servants of this demon or devil or whatever he is. They were doing some sort of sick pact with symbols on the ground and chanting of words in an unknown language. I won’t describe the following in detail, but they initiated some kind of twisted sex pact. I am ashamed to admit, but I got a bit sexually aroused there. I tried to suppress it, but I still felt aroused. I still continued to read so that I could see what would happen next. So I have sinned, right?

If it is making you sexually arosed, definately get rid of the book.

Even though I knew that was the time to put down the book, God could not be happy with me now, I still continued to read a bit more. I guess it was because I wanted to finish the chapter. Does this mean i have committed a mortal sin here as well, since I deliberately continued to read when I knew I could stop here?

I feel terrible now, and I regret I even read that book today. Can you please tell me if you think I have sinned as well?

The fact that you feel guilty, then do it any way, is a good indication it may be mortal sin. Time for confession.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Don’t beat yourself up too much about the nature of the book - it as you say fiction. There’s good and bad fiction, but really only one way to tell the difference - reading it.

There might be a problem with lust, and there might be a problem with continuing to read after you have decided that you shouldn’t, though that probably depends on whether you continued to read being morally certain that you shouldn’t or whether you were unsure and still figuring it out. You can always discuss this with a priest, it certainly can’t hurt to talk to him about it.