Sinning alone or with another

[sticknstring73]

I got into a conversation yesterday about sinning alone versus sinning with another person. The person I spoke to said both ways were bad, which I agreed with, but I told him that sinning alone might be the lesser of two evils because at least you are not becoming an occasion of sin for another (yes I still agree both ways are bad).

The guy seemed a little angry but I felt and said that perhaps sinning alone was the Holy Spirit’s way of protecting another soul. He just couldn’t understand it and so I apologized and said I must be mistaken but was I really that wrong?

 

[Crusaderbear]

Hmmmmmmm. Not being Mr catechism here, but any sin is a personal choice made by the sinner, even if you can convince someone else to sin along with you, they still made that choice on their own. So as far as points go, you get yours, the other gets his (or hers…), even sum game.

 

[Beryllos]

I got into a conversation yesterday about sinning alone versus sinning with another person…

Are you, by any chance, talking about masturbation vs. fornication? Both are grave matters (one of the three conditions for a sin to be mortal), so I am not sure it makes sense to argue which is worse, but I think St. Thomas Aquinas reasoned that masturbation is worse because the act itself is against nature (that is, contrary to the natural order and purpose of sex), whereas sexual intercourse would be natural and appropriate in the right context, namely marriage.

I see where Aquinas is coming from, but I also understand what you are saying, that there is something to be said for not leading another person into sin. Of course, it is not as if one must choose one sin or the other. It is also possible to reject both sins and choose to live in chastity.