J
Just_One_Touch
Guest
Is it sinful to look through books, such as medical textbooks, which may contain pictures of well, naked people, even if you cover up such pictures when you notice them?
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B
benidict
Guest
Its a medical text. There is nothing sinful about the human body. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Any Catholic Gynocologist among us? Read them in the context they were meant to be read, and you will be OK.
P
PatrickSebast
Guest
There are millions of Catholics working in the medical field that have had to do just that in order to get there degree. Nuns included.
F
foundmyfaith
Guest
The human body was created in His image. Unclothed human bodies in a textbook are not sinful. I have to look at ‘the real thing’ several times a day at work, and I promise there is zero lust involved. 
F
francisca
Guest
Phew, I’m glad that you testify this.
:extrahappy:
Some religious teaching say that human body is dangerous because it causes lust.
You are the testimony I have waited, cause I can’t bear thinking my doctor has lust as he checked me.
:extrahappy:
Some religious teaching say that human body is dangerous because it causes lust.
You are the testimony I have waited, cause I can’t bear thinking my doctor has lust as he checked me.
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wild_thing
Guest
No. It is for understanding the human body.
M
MedStudent
Guest
Good grief, of course its not a sin. We all have to learn some way! It is thinking such as this that compels others to think that the Church is somehow against knowledge or science. In fact I am a strong advocate of learning about sex in the context of a biological setting, such as from a textbook rather that some sex ed program sponsored by Planned Parenthood in an effort to sell sex.
1
1ke
Guest
It sounds like you may be scrupulous and you should talk to your priest for counseling.
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Beth_Cecilia
Guest
It can be sinful to look at pictures of naked people- even in a medical text. The key is, as benedict said in his post, to keep things in their context.
There are many Catholic doctors, all of whom have looked at pictures of the naked body during the course of their studies. And we thank God for them. There is nothing inherently sinful in looking at the human body.
If, however, the pictures arouse you and you are flipping through the medical textbook for that purpose, than yes, it is sinful. Context. What is not sinful for a medical student- or many others with a natural interest in the human body- may be sinful for a fourteen year old struggling with lust. While I tend to agree with most of the previous posts, I think it is worth noting that it could be sinful.
It does not seem to be the case as stated here though. If you are reading the medical texts for legitimate reasons- which can be any of many reasons, but not lust- there is no sin. In fact, there is no need to cover up the pictures as you read.
But as scripture tells us, if it causes you to sin than don’t do it. If looking at the pictures encourages lust rather than learning, than close the book. If there is a sin involved, it is not looking at the pictures, but dwelling lustfully on them. If you are filling you mind with knowledge of how the human body works, that is awesome. If you are filling your imagination with sexually arousing images, that is not. The book, in its context, is an awesome and necessary tool, but anything can be abused.
There are many Catholic doctors, all of whom have looked at pictures of the naked body during the course of their studies. And we thank God for them. There is nothing inherently sinful in looking at the human body.
If, however, the pictures arouse you and you are flipping through the medical textbook for that purpose, than yes, it is sinful. Context. What is not sinful for a medical student- or many others with a natural interest in the human body- may be sinful for a fourteen year old struggling with lust. While I tend to agree with most of the previous posts, I think it is worth noting that it could be sinful.
It does not seem to be the case as stated here though. If you are reading the medical texts for legitimate reasons- which can be any of many reasons, but not lust- there is no sin. In fact, there is no need to cover up the pictures as you read.
But as scripture tells us, if it causes you to sin than don’t do it. If looking at the pictures encourages lust rather than learning, than close the book. If there is a sin involved, it is not looking at the pictures, but dwelling lustfully on them. If you are filling you mind with knowledge of how the human body works, that is awesome. If you are filling your imagination with sexually arousing images, that is not. The book, in its context, is an awesome and necessary tool, but anything can be abused.
B
benidict
Guest
Very wise council. I did not take this into account. I guess if a person say…had an addiction to pornography they overcame, this Could possibly get them rehooked. Kind of like when an alchoholic, drinks a non alchoholic beer. Hmm. This gives us some points to ponder. Well done.
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