Is this Dream A Sin

[RomanRyan1088]

Ok, last night, i had a dream about some “unpure” things lets just say. To tell you the truth, the people in my dream i didn’t even know. So is it a sin to dream about unpurE things. I honestly wouldn’t think so.

 

[raphaela]

You can’t control your dreams…so no, i wouldn’t think so.

 

[mikworld]

Sin requires your consent. I think the only way a dream could be considered sin is if you dwell on it. Best thing to do is forget about your dream.
God Bless,

Justin

 

[Edwin1961]

I pray at night before I go to sleep to be protected from ‘indecent dreams’.
I would not want the memories or thoughts of the night before to haunt me once I wake up, or be brought about durning my waking day.

It is good to be protected regardless.
You could see it an a ‘nighttime temptation’ but you physically can’t act them out when you are asleep.

If these type of dreams persist, start filling your mind with more Scripture and Catholic/Christian music. This has worked well for me.

go with God!
Edwin

 

[milimac]

Interesting question. I suppose it depends how much control you have over your dream. Based on my own experiences, I’m not so sure I agree that we have no control. I have woken myself up from indecent dreams before.

I wouldn’t too casually dismiss it as “it’s just a dream” either. There are certain sins that we still cling to that perhaps are made apparent during dreams, although we might rarely commit them while conscious. Through prayer and acts of penance, I would seek to reduce attraction to sin, specifically one that may occur from time to time in dreams. I would also plan what I would do next time if such a dream occurred.

 

[Antonio_B]

RomanRyan1088:

Ok, last night, i had a dream about some “unpure” things lets just say. To tell you the truth, the people in my dream i didn’t even know. So is it a sin to dream about unpurE things. I honestly wouldn’t think so.

I’m presuming you’re a Catholic, so, if you are, here is how the Church defines a sin.

Three things must be involved for a person to commit a sin, a) knowledge that something is wrong, b) “will” to do that which is wrong, c) the action itself.

Now, did you will to have that type of a dream? NO, therefore the will was not involved. During the dream were you aware that the dream was impure, no. After the dream, did you imitate the dream in real life. Hopefully NO, so how have you sinned?

Antonio

 

[milimac]

Antonio B:

I’m presuming you’re a Catholic, so, if you are, here is how the Church defines a sin.

Three things must be involved for a person to commit a sin, a) knowledge that something is wrong, b) “will” to do that which is wrong, c) the action itself.

Now, did you will to have that type of a dream? NO, therefore the will was not involved. During the dream were you aware that the dream was impure, no. After the dream, did you imitate the dream in real life. Hopefully NO, so how have you sinned?

Antonio

And the action itself (c) could be the lingering on lustful or impure thoughts and doing nothing to stop them, and thus a sin. Just because you didn’t want to be tempted doesn’t mean it’s not a sin if you succumb to the temptation and linger on them. The “action itself” doesn’t have to be physical. See Matthew 5:27-28:
"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
My concern would be getting into the habit of blowing it off because you didn’t think you had any control, even if you really did. I would liken it to picking a fight if you were drunk. It’s still a sin even though you were drunk and not as in control as if you were sober.

I would also suggest reading the following articles from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Battle For Purity (specifically 2520 and 2523), and The Morality of the Passions (this is the start page for the article which ecompasses paragraphs 1762-1775 – you have to click the “next” link a few times to read the entire article).

 

[mikworld]

Milimac,
I gotta disagree with you here bro.
In my experience, I have had a range of impure dreams. I have a bit of a problem with dwelling on things, and I don’t just let go. Especially in the earliest days of my conversion, I would beat myself up for even having a dream that was impure, and it would circle in my mind.
Sure, the dream may manifest a particular sin that someone is dealing with, but remember this: we are sexual beings. As such, we have a natural desire to be sexual. Dreams can play out what the human person naturally wants to seek. Because the dream is not a state of full consent, it is difficult to say that any dream is sinful.
I once went to confession with an old, wise priest about a dream I had. The first thing out of his mouth was: “Did you take any action or dwell on it?”
He followed up by assuring me that the dream itself was not sinful.
This business about waking up when you are having a bad dream…
My roomate from last year was saying something about that. If you believe you can do it, then I believe that God has graced you with an extraordinary moral code that transends your conciousness. That’s a wonderful thing, but not all of us are capable of that. Sure, I have had dreams where I act morally, using my reason to not act impurely, but I was not acting with my natural will. I was only acting in the dream.
Lastly I will address the issue of control. One may be aware and not be culpable. Allow me to explain. You are experiencing a dream that causes a nocturnal emission. At first, you feel guilty because of the dream, and then you wonder if you are guilty of the sin of masturbation. You notice that you were aware, but you didn’t have control over it. Perhaps in your awareness, you even had the desire to stop it, but couldn’t. This goes back to the whole thing about being a sexual being.
Fact is, you are not held responsible for what you dream. The hurch doesn’t hold you responsible for it, becuase dreams are not reality, and you do not will the dream to happen. If you are desiring the dream and dwelling ont it, then maybe a visit with a priest is in order.
My suggestion to you: Go to confession, tell the priest your concerns, and hear what he tells you. When in doubt, mention it in confession…you can’t go wrong.
Before I leave this post, I want to re-iterate that dwelling on it will do you no good. The simple fact that you have posted it on this forum indicates that a level of tension exists due to this dream you had. Pray for purity, pray for pure dreams, but when impure dreams happen, let it go, don’t worry about it, and continue with life. You will find yourself much happier and more comforatable with the situation. Don’t trust me, find out.
God Bless,

Justin

 

[Antonio_B]

milimac:

And the action itself (c) could be the lingering on lustful or impure thoughts and doing nothing to stop them, and thus a sin. Just because you didn’t want to be tempted doesn’t mean it’s not a sin if you succumb to the temptation and linger on them. The “action itself” doesn’t have to be physical. See Matthew 5:27-28: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

My concern would be getting into the habit of blowing it off because you didn’t think you had any control, even if you really did. I would liken it to picking a fight if you were drunk. It’s still a sin even though you were drunk and not as in control as if you were sober.

I would also suggest reading the following articles from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Battle For Purity (specifically 2520 and 2523), and The Morality of the Passions (this is the start page for the article which ecompasses paragraphs 1762-1775 – you have to click the “next” link a few times to read the entire article).

Now, I hope your recommedations are for the person who asked the question, not for me for I am 100% sure that a dirty dream a sin does not make. Why? The “will” is not involved. To tell a young person otherwise, it to confuse him or her and fill their minds with scrupulosity.

Antonio

 

[milimac]

mikworld:

Milimac,
I gotta disagree with you here bro.
Because the dream is not a state of full consent, it is difficult to say that any dream is sinful.
I once went to confession with an old, wise priest about a dream I had. The first thing out of his mouth was: “Did you take any action or dwell on it?”
He followed up by assuring me that the dream itself was not sinful.

Fact is, you are not held responsible for what you dream. The Church doesn’t hold you responsible for it, becuase dreams are not reality, and you do not will the dream to happen. If you are desiring the dream and dwelling ont it, then maybe a visit with a priest is in order.

My suggestion to you: Go to confession, tell the priest your concerns, and hear what he tells you. When in doubt, mention it in confession…you can’t go wrong.

Before I leave this post, I want to re-iterate that dwelling on it will do you no good. The simple fact that you have posted it on this forum indicates that a level of tension exists due to this dream you had. Pray for purity, pray for pure dreams, but when impure dreams happen, let it go, don’t worry about it, and continue with life. You will find yourself much happier and more comforatable with the situation. Don’t trust me, find out.
God Bless,

Justin

Good advice. Perhaps I should’ve made it more clear by just saying “I don’t know”. My point really isn’t to say with certainty that it is or isn’t a sin, but not to dismiss it to easily either.

In the end, your properly guided conscience should tell you to what degree you had any control. In more sinful times I have purposely gotten up in the middle of the night and then gone back to sleep hoping to get back to a lustful dream. To me, that was sinful, even if it was just a dream. If you’re unsure, discuss it with your confessor.

If you have any references to some authoritative teachings on this matter, it would be helpful to post them. I have posted references to the Catechism in my last post, which I still don’t think definitely answer the question of culpability one way or the other when it comes to dreams.

 

[cybrscream]

Two things:

First, no one should dwell on dreams. Dwelling on a dream, or anything else for that matter, detracts you from what is important… Christ. I am the worst with this. I find that so often, I am more concerned with minor details regarding theology, than with major details of faith.

Second, as for the dreams specifically, I find John Milton’s description of Lucifers deceiving of Eve in the Garden of Eden to be the best way to put it. He says that Lucifer came to Eve’s side while she was asleep, and wispered the bad thoughts into her ear. So such dreams should be considered as such. He’s gonna be there to whisper in your ear whenever he gets the chance, it’s the choices that you make that determine whether you are righteous or not!