Scandal and appearance of sin–some theory (no practical issue)

[chevalier]

I’m posting in Moral Theology due to the subject but this is not a practical advice thread.

As we now, there is such a thing as scandal, generally based on leading other people into evil (bad example).

However, there exist broad and extensive interpretations of scandal almost to the point that if anybody should be scandalised by objectively neutral or possibly even objectively good behaviour, that behaviour should be engaged in.

While I have no problem on the bad example level, the further-reaching interpretation that focuses on not scandalising people is one where I see trouble. Namely, what I am concerned about is giving in to unduly founded societal prejudices for the sake of avoidance of what is perceived as a scandal. Or giving in to societal imaginations that something is evil that in reality is not morally evil.

I have occasionally run into a piece of moral theology but I’m definitely not an expert, nor even an amateur, I guess. On the other hand, I know some of our posters here are well-versed and then some are exceptionally so. I wonder if the problem has been approached from this angle in moral theology and what were the positions of trustworthy theologians (i.e. not people who were known for their own scrupulosity or being unduly ready to suspect others of wrongdoing).

Fleeing appearance of evil, as per St. Paul, is something I’d like to weave in here. That is, what exactly is believed to be there: appearance to whom? How justified, how well-grounded the appearance? Including appearance that arises from wrong motives (e.g. undue suspiciousness, phobias, Puritan views on morality) or not?

I would prefer raw theory to examples since among ourselves we could easily disagree on specific examples due to cultural differences, different ubpringing etc. If examples do pop up, I’d ask that we try to avoid getting side-tracked as far as possible.

 

[bmullins]

The way I interpret the scripture you are referring to is when we know that someone is weak in their faith, we should avoid that which they are weak from. I don’t think it means you should constantly avoid everything because ‘someone’ might be offended.

I think it applies to situations like this one:

My friend Tim is an alcoholic. I know this, and I’ve known it for years. When we go out to eat together I do not order wine, because I know to him wine is a problem. I have no problem drinking wine with my other friends, or at home alone. When Tim is there though I don’t drink in front of him, because I know alcohol is his stumbling block.

In our current climate, we shouldn’t be trying to find ‘everything’ that could be perceived as offensive and avoiding all of them. We should be living our life by the standards Christ set. But we should take precautions around those that we know are clearly bothered by certain things. In order to keep them from stumbling into their sin. (If you were prescribed Vicodin for a tooth ache, you wouldn’t take it in front of someone you know is addicted to it, right? You wouldn’t even mention it, you would keep it to yourself that they might be pushed into a craving.)

It reminds me of this particular situation I ran into in college. One of my friends turned out to be from a really conservative church. She only wore dresses to her ankles, and long sleeve shirts. I never thought about it really. Then one day I asked her, do you always wear long dresses. She began to tell me about her faith. I then asked her, does it bother you when I wear shorts around you? She admitted it did. I began to wear pants when I knew she was around, not because I thought it was wrong for me to wear shorts, but because I ‘knew’ it bothered her.

 

[Joe_5859]

I’m also interested to see any resources that people bring to the table on this subject.

Sometimes I feel like those who tend towards scrupulosity (who are constantly “scandalized” by a great many things) actually provide scandal themselves by being so easily scandalized and leading others to assume ill will in the otherwise benign actions of other people.

But then, on the other hand, our society is also increasingly desensitized to thinking that immoral acts are, in fact, immoral.

I’d like to see a good, honest theological exploration of this topic from someone who knows what they’re talking about.