Nudity in Movies

  • Thread starter Thread starter Significatif
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Significatif

Guest
I recently watched a movie that had nudity in it. I didn’t know that it had nudity in it when I started watching it. It showed womens breasts and I looked away but ended up looking back. I’m not sure if I lusted after one of them.

I have scruples so I don’t know if that is why this is bothering me.

I read in a pamphlet about scruples that if you are not sure it is a mortal sin then it isn’t.

Even though I know this I still worry that it is a mortal sin.

What do you think?:confused:
 
Viewing a nude body is not always an occasion for sin. It would depend on the context in the film – was it gratuitous or was it appropriate for the plot?

What would you do if you went to the Sistine Chapel (or a museum, for example) and saw nudity?

Of course, the issue here is whether or not you lusted after what you saw. Only you can answer that question. If you aren’t sure whether or not you lusted after them, how can we know what’s in your heart? I’d consult your priest or spiritual director.
 
I would like to ask a priest but the priest at my local parish will probably think i’m crazy because I have called him a whole lot lately.
 
Significatif said:
I would like to ask a priest but the priest at my local parish will probably think i’m crazy because I have called him a whole lot lately.
Click to expand...
You mentioned in another thread — that you suffer from scrupulosity. You may benefit from having a good spiritual advisor — so check with your priest – to see if he can recommend someone.
 
Significatif said:
I would like to ask a priest but the priest at my local parish will probably think i’m crazy because I have called him a whole lot lately.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you need a spiritual director or someone else you can discuss this matter in private? A public forum isn’t the best place to deal with this, especially if you are scrupulous.
 
Significatif said:
I recently watched a movie that had nudity in it. I didn’t know that it had nudity in it when I started watching it. It showed womens breasts and I looked away but ended up looking back. I’m not sure if I lusted after one of them.

I have scruples so I don’t know if that is why this is bothering me.

I read in a pamphlet about scruples that if you are not sure it is a mortal sin then it isn’t.

Even though I know this I still worry that it is a mortal sin.

What do you think?:confused:
Click to expand...
I think that TV, is gone to far, they only think of getting hight rateings, but we have the free will not to watch,I too turn away when they show to much,because it corrupts our mine I watch old movies,or I put EWTN on.and I don,t like TV commecials,they also show to much.
 
Before I watch a movie, I usually go to the website called “Kids In Mind” because it will tell you exactly what objectionable material is in a movie and rate it. I would recommend downloading a free Adblock Plus program before you go there because they have heavy advertising there. Another thing we invested in was a Clearplay DVD player. Basically you plug a flashdrive into your computer to get a filter for whatever movie you’re going to watch. Then you plug the flash drive into the Clearplay DVD player, and it takes out all of stuff you don’t want to see.
 
I_Thirst said:
Viewing a nude body is not always an occasion for sin. It would depend on the context in the film – was it gratuitous or was it appropriate for the plot?

What would you do if you went to the Sistine Chapel (or a museum, for example) and saw nudity?

Of course, the issue here is whether or not you lusted after what you saw. Only you can answer that question. If you aren’t sure whether or not you lusted after them, how can we know what’s in your heart? I’d consult your priest or spiritual director.
Click to expand...
Could you please explain to me what the purpose of having a “nude body” in a film would be? I was watching a video in a graduate level class that was all about nothing to do with the human body, and there it was…10 minutes of full-frontal nudity. What great use of art!

The human body is a natural thing, but it is meant to be enjoyed as part of the marital embrace, not in movies that devalue it. Regarding art, I suppose that’s another matter, but viewing a painting that is meant to have religious value versus a movie…quite different things.
 
noellesdad said:
Could you please explain to me what the purpose of having a “nude body” in a film would be? I was watching a video in a graduate level class that was all about nothing to do with the human body, and there it was…10 minutes of full-frontal nudity. What great use of art!

The human body is a natural thing, but it is meant to be enjoyed as part of the marital embrace, not in movies that devalue it. Regarding art, I suppose that’s another matter, but viewing a painting that is meant to have religious value versus a movie…quite different things.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure what I can tell you that won’t offend your sensibilities. You don’t even mention the offending film in the graduate class – what the film is, and what the context of the nudity is, or even why it was shown in class. I’m sure it wasn’t shown to upset you.

You say that it is never acceptable in a film, yet it could be acceptable in a painting. I’m not sure I follow why you allow one and not the other. Not all film is art, but it is commonly accepted as being within visual arts.

If nudity is unacceptable in art, why is there nudity in the Sistine Chapel? Why did JPII have the fig leaves removed during its restoration thereby reversing the Fig Leaf Campaign of the past?
 
Sensibilities? Ok. The movie was a French film about the bad effects of divorce, especially on the kids. The nudity was completely unexpected, and added nothing to the film. The discussion afterward revolved around the fact that nudity is much more liberal in Europe. Great! Let’s be more like Europe. Let’s take the kneelers out of our churches as well.

I don’t know how to explain to you what nudity has done to the film industry without doing the same to you. Playboy Club, Glee, Jersey Shore…need I go on? Can you honestly say that decades of increased tolerance of minute nudity has numbed us? A non-moving statue is much less likely to arouse than a movie is. Not to mention the anatomical differences often represented in paintings and sculptures.
 
These are old questions. All I can say for certain is that there has been more sexuality in TV and movies over the last 40 years.

As a professional who works in the media, I can honestly say that what began as showing a little skin simply led to showing more. Europe was often portrayed as being somehow more enlightened than America about such things.

God knows our hearts. When NYPD Blue announced “partial nudity” on TV for the first time, my first thought was, Why? Why do I need to see a lot of bare butts?

The problem, and I’m sure movie and TV producers are aware of this, is that what was meant to be private is now public. That is generally a bad thing.

References to the Sistine Chapel or classical sculpture have no actual bearing on the sometimes graphic and shameful conduct of men and women on TV and in the movies. Who decided on creating Californication?

Most of my friends are artists and writers. Lines have been crossed. Human dignity, especially the dignity of the human body, requires rules of conduct.

Peace,
Ed
 
noellesdad said:
Sensibilities? Ok. The movie was a French film about the bad effects of divorce, especially on the kids. The nudity was completely unexpected, and added nothing to the film. The discussion afterward revolved around the fact that nudity is much more liberal in Europe. Great! Let’s be more like Europe. Let’s take the kneelers out of our churches as well.

I don’t know how to explain to you what nudity has done to the film industry without doing the same to you. Playboy Club, Glee, Jersey Shore…need I go on? Can you honestly say that decades of increased tolerance of minute nudity has numbed us? A non-moving statue is much less likely to arouse than a movie is. Not to mention the anatomical differences often represented in paintings and sculptures.
Click to expand...
I hear ya. I’ve been in classes like that (and seen movies like that). And you know that when they bring up Europe the conversation is over. But in the spirit of charity I’ll concede your point – nudity isn’t done tastefully in most films. Most of the time, it’s a ratings/box office ploy.

I love Churches without kneelers! What I can’t stand is when they move the tabernacle down the hall or somewhere outside the sanctuary.
 
Nakedness, in and of itself, is neutral, it all depends on the context - the situation and the culture.

As far as this instance, since you didn’t realize there would be nudity, you have no culpability for that, even if it was inappropriate.

Feeling attraction for someone, even lust, as a kind of idea that enters your mind, is not in itself a sin. Nor is it a sin to notice that someone is attractive. What would be a sin would be to consent or decide to entertain such thoughts, using the person as a object for your own pleasure. If you aren’t sure, you probably didn’t do that.
 
My suggestion is that you check websites like IMDB, kids in mind, USCCB, dove.org and do a movie search on there for whatever movie your thinking of watching. If it has nudity, any kind of profanity, or excessive violence, practice self-denial and don’t watch it. I use to watch so may movies before my conversion, my husband and I owned over a thousand dvd’s and about 90% of them were immoral. Now I pretty much have limited myself to watching only Catholic movies because everything else is just junk, even PG movies today have sexual innuendo in it. I would listen to the talks on movies under multimedia by Father Ripperger who is a priest of FSSP.

sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html

Also most people would have a hard time looking away when a nude image abruptly appears, I don’t think you committed a mortal sin but its always good to confess these situations anyways to grow in virtue. There is a lot of people who will defend nudity in movies so long as its done under the context of “documentary” or the way in which nudity is exposed, but I assure you, all forms of immodesty in movies no matter which context they are done in are an occasion of sin for about 99.9% of society. Again listen to the talks about movies by Father Ripperger to help give more insight. God Bless.
 
Roxygirl1488 said:
My suggestion is that you check websites like IMDB, kids in mind, USCCB, dove.org and do a movie search on there for whatever movie your thinking of watching. If it has nudity, any kind of profanity, or excessive violence, practice self-denial and don’t watch it. I use to watch so may movies before my conversion, my husband and I owned over a thousand dvd’s and about 90% of them were immoral. Now I pretty much have limited myself to watching only Catholic movies because everything else is just junk, even PG movies today have sexual innuendo in it. I would listen to the talks on movies under multimedia by Father Ripperger who is a priest of FSSP.

sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html

Also most people would have a hard time looking away when a nude image abruptly appears, I don’t think you committed a mortal sin but its always good to confess these situations anyways to grow in virtue. There is a lot of people who will defend nudity in movies so long as its done under the context of “documentary” or the way in which nudity is exposed, but I assure you, all forms of immodesty in movies no matter which context they are done in are an occasion of sin for about 99.9% of society. Again listen to the talks about movies by Father Ripperger to help give more insight. God Bless.
Click to expand...
I,am glad to here , that you also disagree about to much nudity. I to had movies that were Immoral and xxx rated books,but after 1997 I was touch,by OUR LADY,and since than,I watch old movies from brfore,I also Watch EWTN,Bibi cal moves.Thank God their are people, out their that know that God doesn,t like when we look At TV, that were they show to much,which can lead to Incorupted our mines.
 
If you are indeed suffering from scrupulosity, then you probably want to keep this question between you and a counselor. You may find feedback here which is not conducive to your situation.

I will pray for you
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top