Reading about sexual explicit material, mortal sin?

[thememphisman]

the other day i was about to watch a movie on netflix and out of my diligence to avoid the sins of pornography i went to kids-in-mind.com to see if the movie had any sexually explicit material. turns out it did. but what happend is that i looked up more movies on the website and continued to read the sexual material. the site gives a textual description of what happens in the movie. i read it out of curiosity “oh i wonder what that movie had in it that made it so bad.” but then i think i began to read it almost to fantasize about it… when i realized this is what i was doing. i stopped reading the site and moved on to other things. but i still cant help feeling guilty about it.

any help here would be really appreciated.
mortal sin, venial sin? i dont know

 

[smichhertz]

when i realized this is what i was doing. i stopped reading the site and moved on to other things.

I think venial because this says that you weren’t fully conscious of your actions.

In order for lustful thoughts to be mortal you have to willfully participate with full knowledge and you have to do it for an extended period of time. A priest told me in confession that we are talking like a full 60 seconds.

I highly doubt the sin was mortal, but only YOU can determine that for sure. I will be sure to say a prayer for you!

 

[runningdude]

Christ is merciful! Trusting in His forgiveness will help you avoid these temptations in the future.

 

[thememphisman]

What if I was on the website reading for several minutes and was definitely picturing these images in my mind. But then didn’t realize I was perphaps lusting until later…

 

[Robertanthony]

You were caught off guard so to speak, you regret doing what you did, and you’re resolute to avoid that sin or that occasion of sin in the future? If such is the case, why is it important for you to absolutely determine if it’s a venial or mortal sin? You simply confess it and God literally forgets about it.

 

[smichhertz]

But then didn’t realize I was perphaps lusting until later…

Again, even though you did it for a long amount of time, you weren’t fully conscious you were lusting, so I’d say not mortal.

Now, if you realized you were lusting, and then continued to do it for a considerable amount of time. NOW you might be committing a mortal sin.

 

[Loml]

You were caught off guard so to speak, you regret doing what you did, and you’re resolute to avoid that sin or that occasion of sin in the future? If such is the case, why is it important for you to absolutely determine if it’s a venial or mortal sin? You simply confess it and God literally forgets about it.

God doesn’t forget things.

 

[Robertanthony]

I’ve always thought that Scriptures like “I will remember their transgressions no more.” meant just that. I’ve always thought it was mysterious and odd really that God could/would do that. I stand corrected, and thanks for correcting me.

 

[zz912]

the other day i was about to watch a movie on netflix and out of my diligence to avoid the sins of pornography i went to kids-in-mind.com to see if the movie had any sexually explicit material. turns out it did. but what happend is that i looked up more movies on the website and continued to read the sexual material. the site gives a textual description of what happens in the movie. i read it out of curiosity “oh i wonder what that movie had in it that made it so bad.” but then i think i began to read it almost to fantasize about it… when i realized this is what i was doing. i stopped reading the site and moved on to other things. but i still cant help feeling guilty about it.

any help here would be really appreciated.
mortal sin, venial sin? i dont know

What you described is a venial sin at most.

 

[JAW642]

the other day i was about to watch a movie on netflix and out of my diligence to avoid the sins of pornography i went to kids-in-mind.com to see if the movie had any sexually explicit material. turns out it did. but what happend is that i looked up more movies on the website and continued to read the sexual material. the site gives a textual description of what happens in the movie. i read it out of curiosity “oh i wonder what that movie had in it that made it so bad.” but then i think i began to read it almost to fantasize about it… when i realized this is what i was doing. i stopped reading the site and moved on to other things. but i still cant help feeling guilty about it.

any help here would be really appreciated.
mortal sin, venial sin? i dont know

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TO: thememphisman

From JAW642 on 02/08/2011

How are you doing?

Thememphisman,

It is so hard for me to believe that at almost 21 years old, you are still so scrupulous in your thinking. It seems like you FEAR God, more than you LOVE Him. It seems like you are more concerned about ‘the Letter of the Law’ rather than ‘the Spirit of His Law’. God does not expect you to be perfect. How can you still believe that God will put you in hell for all of eternity, simply for reading some sexually explicit movie descriptions? It is simply absurd. Even if the descriptions ended up creating sexual images and fantasies in your own mind, and even probably got your penis hard. At your age, you should realize that you are allowed to read sexually explicit movie descriptions, even realizing that they will automatically produce sexual thought. When you finish reading about all the movies that have sexual material in them, you should simply move on to something else, which you did.

Do you think that God expects you to NEVER have a sexual thought in your mind? Do you think He will separate Himself from you for being a normal young sexual male? I do not believe so.

I don’t know how you could ever consider merely Reading and Visualizing sexually explicit movie descriptions as mortally sinful. It sounds like you were entertaining some sexual thoughts as you were reading, (which is quite understandable ), but I would not consider that as at the same level as actual Lusting, which is at a much higher level.

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Thememphisman, are you still seeing your girlfriend of three years?

Are you still having a good relationship with your girlfriend?

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I would still like to hear from you, either by Private Message PM, or by sending your response to my e-mail at : JAW642@cfl.rr.com

Also, would you be willing to include and to give me your own E-mail account, rather than using the CAF Private Message PM function.

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From JAW642 on 02/08/2011

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[jegow]

If ever in doubt, go to the sacraments, confession in this instance. This is why our Lord gave the sacraments to us. A forum can’t be the voice of your conscience - your conscience has its own voice. If you feel guilt for what you did, even though you pulled yourself away from it without reading more, the grace of God is moving your heart to the place where that guilt is forever removed - the confessional.

 

[Thinkclearly]

the other day i was about to watch a movie on netflix and out of my diligence to avoid the sins of pornography i went to kids-in-mind.com to see if the movie had any sexually explicit material. turns out it did. but what happend is that i looked up more movies on the website and continued to read the sexual material. the site gives a textual description of what happens in the movie. i read it out of curiosity “oh i wonder what that movie had in it that made it so bad.” but then i think i began to read it almost to fantasize about it… when i realized this is what i was doing. i stopped reading the site and moved on to other things. but i still cant help feeling guilty about it.

any help here would be really appreciated.
mortal sin, venial sin? i dont know

This is bonkers “Mortal sin, venial sin,” you guys are right off your rockers man. I’m parrousing the forum and this is stuff I find, wondering if it is a mortal sin or not to read text decriptions of a couple bad parts in 14A movies??? I feel so, so bad for your imprisoned minds. Wake up people!!!

 

[runwaymodel]

This is bonkers “Mortal sin, venial sin,” you guys are right off your rockers man. I’m parrousing the forum and this is stuff I find, wondering if it is a mortal sin or not to read text decriptions of a couple bad parts in 14A movies??? I feel so, so bad for your imprisoned minds. Wake up people!!!

May God bless you, dear. Truly. I hope you come to understand the meaning of faith and religion some day.

 

[Thinkclearly]

May God bless you, dear. Truly. I hope you come to understand the meaning of faith and religion some day.

I would bet I have put more effort/time and research into religion, “god” and the concept of faith than you ever will. Your assumtion that it is some lack of effort on my part that has led me to my conclusions is naked. My first encounter with most theists are usually the same, naked assumptions in spades. My personal spirituality and beliefs about the origins of ourselves and the universe are irrelevant to the fact the some of the stuff being discussed on this forum and in such threads is truly/evidently/demonstrable/ honestly bonkers.

Furthermore, what the heck does “faith in god” have to do with the issue at hand, which is the absurdity of discussion over whether reading text descriptions of 14A movies is wrong.

 

[smichhertz]

This is bonkers “Mortal sin, venial sin,” you guys are right off your rockers man. I’m parrousing the forum and this is stuff I find, wondering if it is a mortal sin or not to read text decriptions of a couple bad parts in 14A movies??? I feel so, so bad for your imprisoned minds. Wake up people!!!

Take it easy. The OP asked if it was a mortal or venial sin, and we answered.

And it has nothing to do with the movies themselves, just the fact that the OP started fantasizing.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I think everyone is making a big deal out of nothing. It amazes me how some people on CAF get their panties all in a bunch over the silliest of matters (I farted when I was in line for Communion. Did I commit a mortal sin?)

Folks, you’re missing the forest for the trees. Faith-building should be focused on the Big Picture and not by agonizing over the details.

If the O.P. worries that he committed a sin, then the place to take it to is Confession; not to an Internet forum where you will get 100 different (and possibly misguided) opinions.

My 2-cents.

 

[Thinkclearly]

I think everyone is making a big deal out of nothing. It amazes me how some people on CAF get their panties all in a bunch over the silliest of matters (I farted when I was in line for Communion. Did I commit a mortal sin?)

Folks, you’re missing the forest for the trees. Faith-building should be focused on the Big Picture and not by agonizing over the details.

If the O.P. worries that he committed a sin, then the place to take it to is Confession; not to an Internet forum where you will get 100 different (and possibly misguided) opinions.

My 2-cents.

I have to say, this is probably the most/only reasonable post I have come accross in my delightfully humourous parrousal of this site over the last week. GOOD JOB!!! So you have a brain I see, what exactly do you make of the people you describe above? Be honest! It’s theists like you who remind there are some stright thinking theists out their, sadly they seem to be about 1 in a million.