Thinking about a sin

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Is it a sin when you are thinking about a “thought” sin (like the actual commandment), and then because you are thinking about it let me say it sort of causes you to think of “examples” . Does it mean that those “examples” are sins?
 
And not just that. Something I think about a sin (commandment) and it just “reminds” me of a sin, and I think about it.
 
Have you gotten a regular confessor or a spiritual director yet? I think you may have scruples and it would be a good idea to have someone who understands this and can guide you toward a proper formation of conscience.
 
Agree with Julianne…you really need a good - regular confessor - and possibly a spiritual director to help you sort through these things.

“Thought sins” are tricky things. As a rule of thumb “random thoughts” such as you describe above are not sinful…unless you consciously choose to dwell on them and derive some sort of satisfaction from them.
It’s like - someone knocks on the door and you open it…You cannot help but see who is there, but you can decide whether to invite them in or to close the door. Sin becomes a factor in whether you “invite the thought in”.

Peace
James
 
I dwell on them because I am worried about them. But I don’t want to commit sins. I don’t want to think about them, if you know what I mean.
 
KelseyBelsey said:
I dwell on them because I am worried about them. But I don’t want to commit sins. I don’t want to think about them, if you know what I mean.
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Like the others said, you should consider seeing a spiritual advisor. Having thoughts pop into your head is not a sin.

Like what Padre Pio said, don’t worry so much and move on. Keep yourself occupied. Do something fulfilling and be happy.
 
(from previous posts of mine)

Regarding unwanted thoughts

While Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…just cause some lustful thought or other like thought happens does not mean that one has sinned…

What should we do with* unwanted* sexual thoughts or other “bad thoughts”…thoughts against God etc? Those pesky temptations that can come …even though we are not seeking them or doing anything to bring them etc…

Are they mortal sins?

For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent.

A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: such can be a sign actually that you did not give any consent or do not give full consent.

B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it involuntarily —but rejected it and maybe even turned right to God : again a sign not full consent (if there was any).

C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin?: it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.

D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented!

Remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!

What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.

Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person stress about seeking to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them.

for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.

tick tock …

tick tock…

Ok what did you think of?

Most likely an apple.

So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing.

Simply do not consent and move on…

Another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. And just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.

They can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …

(Now difficulties with thoughts can happen to anyone…and has for centuries…nothing new!..but I will note too that “some” have a condition known as OCD (I knew someone with this once…it was a painful experience)…and thus should seek further professional help to work at overcoming it and to live a more peaceful life…Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers notes jimmyakin.com/2005/04/a_crown_of_thor.html but we are not permitted to get into giving advice or diognosing such etc here on the forum (see the rule on that) --one needs to see a doctor etc and not self-treat)

(also some suffer from scrupulosity and ought to have a* regular confessor*)
Another help…is the distinction of “first thoughts and emotions” (as Baur calls em) what they call the prima of the prima…“the first of the first” (as one of my Professors called em…he was a Dominican)…these are the first involuntary things that just come up…such are not deliberate sins…

How to deal with these? First of relax…don’t scruple…don’t fear them…to try to swat them all as the come…just simply turn to other things…or the thing you are doing…or to God…(of course do not consent)…but if you are too defensive against them…they may get worse actually…and confuse you more…instead turn to God or again other good things…accept that hey…somethings wild thoughts will come to you…

(and these can happen to all of us by the way…)
There is a story from the desert of the early Centuries of the Church where a younger hermit when to an older one with the problems of thoughts happening to him all the time…the older hermit told him to go outside open his cloak and catch the wind.

The younger hermit said such is not possible…

the older hermit replied basically–neither is it possible to stop all the thoughts that can come to you…your choice… is to consent or not…
 
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