Student question

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Faithfinder1

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In a religion class I had a student ask if they wanted something material and say that they would “Give their soul to the devil for it.” Have they actually given their soul? They also wanted to know how to retreive their soul back if indeed they had given it. It is a HS class and this one had me stumped. Advice I can share with my students, please.
 
You’ll get mixed answers here.

It’s a terrible thing to ever say. Generally, I would say it could very well be a mortal sin.

It’s power to actually open a door for dark entities is possible.

A soul can never be definitively given over to unclean spirits in this life, however, but very harmful things could possibly come from such oaths, generally depending on how serious one is about pronouncing them. For most kids, it’s just a joke.
 
“Where did you hear about this?” can spark conversations about how things that are unsubstantiated or untrue enter into our hive mind.

I would challenge the students to spend a class session researching this. Give them access to online Scripture, the Catechism, the Catholic Encyclopedia and help them learn where to go for truth.
 
Not a bad idea in theory, but t it’s a murky topic with all sorts of ideas on the internet especially.
 
It is a mortal sin to try to sell your soul, but the devil won’t actually take over ownership of it.

 
I would tell them, don’t do it, don’t go there. The demonic is very real and not something to be taken for a joke.

You don’t have to say too much about it. But yes, the truth is that on this side of the veil, a soul can never be claimed by the devil irrevocably, but… that said…there are serious dangers in toying with the devil.
 
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Faithfinder1 said:
In a religion class I had a student ask if they wanted something material and say that they would “Give their soul to the devil for it.” Have they actually given their soul? They also wanted to know how to retreive their soul back if indeed they had given it. It is a HS class and this one had me stumped. Advice I can share with my students, please.
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It means to become a slave to the devil for worldly gains. Repentance is the way to reverse it.

Matthew 6
24 [a]“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

[a]6:24 Mammon: an Aramaic word meaning wealth or property.
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Hello.

Was this a theoretical answer to a theoretical question or did the student actually mean it? It’s not clear to me from your description.

I remember my religion classes in high school, long ago as they were, and the lack of knowledge about the faith and catechesis contributed seriously to a decline in my faith for many years. I’m glad you’re posting here, shows you are concerned about proper catechesis of your students. Some of the things you may be teaching may mean literally heaven or hell for some.

You are in my prayers.
 
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