Is this a sin?

[John_of_Woking]

You feel arousal and there is ‘movement down below’. You don’t want it but you don’t try really hard to stop it you just let it happen. Is this not grave matter…? Should one throw one self on thorn bushes or wear a hair shirt in order to control the sensitive appetites. Or should you just allow it as part of the natural post-fall order of things

 

[Genesis315]

John of Woking:

You feel arousal and there is ‘movement down below’. You don’t want it but you don’t try really hard to stop it you just let it happen. Is this not grave matter…? Should one throw one self on thorn bushes or wear a hair shirt in order to control the sensitive appetites. Or should you just allow it as part of the natural post-fall order of things

Sometimes, I just figure that stuff kind of has a mind of it’s own. I’m not lusting or having impure thoughts so I’m not sinning. My body is just doing one of it’s natural actions. Sometimes, the more you try and think about making it stop, the worse it gets. So just ignore it and it’ll go away in a little bit :yawn:

 

[mosher]

Sexual arousal is not a sin in any way shape or form. What is a sin is turning that sexual arrousal into lust and entertaining sexual desire that objectifies the other person or it leads to some physical act of impurity. Sin requires a voluntary and free act of the will. In the instance of sexual arrousal there is usually not a directly willed behavior.

When speaking about the lower passions it is not a question of de-humanizing ourselves. We are called to order our passion under reason so that we can weed out all disorder in our lower and even some of our higher functions of the soul.

Practically what you have to be concerned about is not purposfully entertaining lustfull thoughts about the person in your mind.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

I think the bodily reaction you mention is no more sinful than a hiccup, or your stomach rumbling.

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag

 

[wcknight]

It brings back memories, some of which are really, really embarassing, downright mortifying !!!

… I remember some ‘uncomfortable’ moments when I was a kid - 5 or 6 year old, 7 at the most. I had no idea what was going on, I just knew ‘something’ was out of control.:bigyikes: … at one point wiggling my toes was the only solution I found that would work, and even then it took some time to get things back to normal. Sometimes a full bladder will bring it on, other times it happened completely on its own.

I had no concept of sex or arousal, or whatever I just knew it was embarassing… gals have it easy…except for the regular bleeding and stuff.

I used to think being a young kid again would be really wonderful… now I remember things were not always so perfect !!!

 

[John_of_Woking]

mosher:

Sexual arousal is not a sin in any way shape or form. What is a sin is turning that sexual arrousal into lust and entertaining sexual desire that objectifies the other person or it leads to some physical act of impurity. Sin requires a voluntary and free act of the will. In the instance of sexual arrousal there is usually not a directly willed behavior.

When speaking about the lower passions it is not a question of de-humanizing ourselves. We are called to order our passion under reason so that we can weed out all disorder in our lower and even some of our higher functions of the soul.

Practically what you have to be concerned about is not purposfully entertaining lustfull thoughts about the person in your mind.

Thanks for your perceptive answer. I often overanalyze things due to a hyper sensitive conscience. I must not give in to my scruples/obsessive compulsive disorder

 

[mosher]

John of Woking:

Thanks for your perceptive answer. I often overanalyze things due to a hyper sensitive conscience. I must not give in to my scruples/obsessive compulsive disorder

You ahve no idea how many people I meet that have that same problem. I am just glad to be of service. I would just remind you as I do with any directee that I have - meditate on the Incarnation of Christ and draw closer to His humanity and it will help things. Remeber that when Jesus became incarnate in the flesh he redeemed the flesh. Christ was a man just like us he went through puberty he was attracted to women, he had to shave, go to the bathroom. Don’t lose sight of the Humanity of Christ in perspective of the Divinity of Christ. It is a tendancy that us latins have in the Church.