Perhaps being scrupulous isn't so bad?

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I am by no means scrupulous, but I can understand why someone may be that way. If, after all, every venial sin wounds charity with Christ, wouldn’t it stand to reason that a person would want to exert a whole lot of energy trying not to commit even the smallest of sins?
 
I am extremely scrupulous, it is bad. I don’t think I sin any less by being scrupulous.
 
A priest told me in confession that I am scrupulous. It is awful. I feel guilty for the slightest thing. There is a social group here for people with scrupulosity.
 
It is bad. A scrupulous person often thinks everything they do is a sin, even after they’ve confessed it. They feel perpetually disconnected with God who they so much want to please. It’s a horrible situation to be in.
 
No, scrupulosity is not a good thing. My impression is that it usually involves obsessive compulsive type behavior in worrying that something is a sin which is not, going to confession when there is no need to, etc.

Being sanitary is a very good thing. But washing one’s hands compulsively dozens of times a day is not. Being safe is a very good thing. But compulsively checking the locks at night over and over is not. Avoiding all sin is a very good thing. But compulsively going to confession several times a week is not.
 
not everything is sinful.

Maybe this will make you feel better:

look at the pictures:

catholicworldreport.com/Item/1762/in_the_habit_a_history_of_catholicism_and_tobacco.aspx#.USLPD466cho

Read the part about Saint Padre Pio !!

firstthings.com/onthesquare/2011/04/what-would-jesus-drink

One of the commenters is having some fun here:

"Anyway, he argued in a sophisticated albeit probably intellectually tortured way that ostensible references to wine in the New Testament are actually references to some form of non-alcoholic grape beverage. Anyone else familiar with this tack? Does it have any philological or exegetical warrant whatsoever? "

Well, let’s replace non-alcoholic grape beverage for wine and see if it makes sense…

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a non-alcoholic grape beverage drinker!’”

"Everyone brings out the choice non-alcoholic grape beverage first and then the cheaper non-alcoholic grave beverage after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” - John 2:9-10

“Drink no longer water, but use a little non-alcoholic grape beverage for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” - 1 Timothy 5:23

“And be not drunk with non-alcoholic grape beverage.” - Ephesians 5:18

And finally, try a Google search using these criteria: beer biblical archeology

Lots of hits.

Including this one:

i-newswire.com/god-drank-beer-says-biblical-archaeology/60188
 
TheAdvocate said:
I am by no means scrupulous, but I can understand why someone may be that way. If, after all, every venial sin wounds charity with Christ, wouldn’t it stand to reason that a person would want to exert a whole lot of energy trying not to commit even the smallest of sins?
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The problem is that no matter how good they try to be, they can never feel the love of God in their souls, and eventually they just give up trying, because “being good” is just so difficult and thankless for them.
 
Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they …
bible.cc/matthew/11-19.htmKing James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans …

Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say …
bible.cc/luke/7-34.htmThe Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look! He’s a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ King James Bible …

[got timed out before I could post the scriptural references]
 
Being scrupulous requires a definition.

" 2. Very concerned to avoid doing wrong."

What did Jesus say?

bible.cc/matthew/5-48.htm

Or Peter?

bible.cc/1_peter/1-15.htm

No, we don not need to be obsessive-compulsives but the language of today is: “It’s all good! Don’t worry about it. What’s the big deal?”

And my least all-time favorite: “Hey man. If it feels good, do it.”

Holiness is being aware of sin and not doing/acting on it, and doing works of charity and mercy.

It would be very, very good if all of us had:
  1. An appropriate sense of shame.
  2. Of modesty and decency in dress and speech.
  3. A greater willingness to do what Jesus tells us to do - not the world.
Peace,
Ed
 
I suffered with this for 40 years, I kept praying for God to free me from these torturous feelings, about 2 years ago he did.
Jesus I love you
Jesus I need you
Jesus I thank you
 
edwest2 said:
Holiness is being aware of sin and not doing/acting on it, and doing works of charity and mercy.

It would be very, very good if all of us had:
  1. An appropriate sense of shame.
  2. Of modesty and decency in dress and speech.
  3. A greater willingness to do what Jesus tells us to do - not the world.
Peace,
Ed
Click to expand...
I agree.

I am hopeful that it is not necessary to acquire a mental illness in order to do the above. 🙂
 
TheAdvocate said:
I am by no means scrupulous, but I can understand why someone may be that way. If, after all, every venial sin wounds charity with Christ, wouldn’t it stand to reason that a person would want to exert a whole lot of energy trying not to commit even the smallest of sins?
Click to expand...
You do not want to wish scrupulosity on anyone. It’s a terrible condition; it robs the sufferer of all peace. It’s one thing to have a healthy fear of sin, but it’s quite another to twist into knots racking your soul questioning whether you committed sin or not.

Scrupulosity is not about avoiding sin. It’s needless suffering caused by a perception of sin where none exists.
 
Scrupulosity may be the most frequent topic of discussion here on CAF.

You can do a search here using the CAF search function.

In addition, there are some references you can use.

For example, each month I get in the mail the newsletter: “Scrupulous Anonymous”.

And there is at least one book on the subject.

Everyone needs to understand the difference between “grave matter” and “mortal sin”.

And that there are THREE conditions that MUST be met before something that is “grave matter” is a mortal sin.

AND, to make matters “worse”, … today we are burdened by the “factors” of political correctness and political incorrectness.

Something that is politically correct MAY be mortally sinful.

And something that is politically incorrect may be no sin at all.

You need to know this stuff.

And that means reading.

Starting a reference library for yourself.

Daily prayer.

If possible, daily Mass and Holy Communion.

Read up on the Examination of Conscience.

Take a course on Bible study … so that you KNOW what it says and what it does not say.

[Matt Pinto’s “The Bible Timeline” is fabulous,]
 
The most insidious ploys of the enemy are those which are cloaked in piety. Scrupulosity is one of the subtler and most most damaging tactics the enemy uses to discourage the faithful. The enemy’s goal is to make us discouraged. The cure for it is to pray that it be removed and to pray for the virtue/grace of HOPE.
 
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