Sinning in dreams vs. reality

[LotusCarsLtd]

So I committed a sin recently.

The problem? I can’t tell if this sin was “committed” as a part of a highly realistic dream or while I was awake. I think it might have happened while awake but in one of those situations where you don’t fully consciously realize what you are doing until you are in the midst of it and stop. But then again there is reason for me to suspect that this was a part of a dream. It’s strange because this past night I had some delightful highly realistic dream.

So what now?

 

[TraderTif]

I’ve had this same experience, occasionally. If you’re really unsure, and it keeps bugging you, I say bring it to Confession and explain that you’re not entirely sure whether you were fully awake.

 

[vera_dicere]

Sins committed in dreams don’t count, if they did, I would be in serious trouble, I think a lot of us would be .

From what I’ve seen posted here by much wiser others its to do with the whole consent thing and how in dreams we’re not really giving conscent because we’re in a state of semi/un-consciousness.

But as mentioned already, if its really bugging you, head off to confession!

 

[DexUK]

If you really don’t know whether you were awake or not, then it is unlikely you’ve sinned, certainly mortally, seeing that the qualifications for mortal sins are knowledge of the grave matter, assent to doing the act and the act being actually that serious.

I usually know if I’m awake though and, in retrospect, I can usually tell the difference between being properly awake and being in that part awake, part dream fog. Even if you were in such a state, I would say that you couldn’t possibly be in full control of your actions and therefore no mortal sin would be possible.

Also, for the avoidance of doubt, it is worth saying that it is utterly impossible to sin whilst asleep, since dreams are completely unbidden.

I suppose it’s possible that if one is predisposed towards a dream of a certain type it might be possible due to the actions one carries out in advance of the dream to influence the type of dream one has, but never would it be possible to set down in advance the precise ‘scenes’ (for want of a better word) that play out in the dream.

If you are troubled by the after-effects of types of dreams you have regularly, perhaps try to keep a diary of the things you’d been doing the previous day and if a pattern emerges attempt to alter, if possible, your waking habits to see if it makes a difference. But rest assured that whatever happens within the dream doesn’t exist and has no sinful value, even if the memory of it is unsettling.