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BlindSheep
Guest
What is an impure thought, and why? I’ve only been Catholic for four years, and I haven’t got a really clear understanding of this.
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BlindSheep
Guest
No one knows, or no one wants to say?
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asquared
Guest
the same thoughts you used to have before you became Catholic, about things, people or actions you are not supposed to be thinking about.
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BlindSheep
Guest
Well, that doesn’t help if I don’t know which “things, people and actions” I’m not supposed to think about!
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Struggling
Guest
“impure thoughts” is a misleading term. It should say “lustful thoughts”. It’s really more about which passions it stirs up. If it is simply for medical/artistic purposes etc…it’s fine. It’s more about things that cause misdirected arousal and lustful excitement.
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BlindSheep
Guest
What about, for instance, a crush? Just finding a man attractive (I’m a woman) or, for instance, renting videos (not porn, just regular movies)because I think the actor is good-looking?
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Struggling
Guest
We’ve discussed “infatuation” and how it relates to lust before on these boards.
No one is really sure.
Ultimately, infatuation is ordered towards sex, eventually. But it does not directly concern the sex act, and the feelings may be an attraction not of an “arousing” nature at first…still, it is obviously a gender-distinct attraction…
I’ve never gotten a good answer really about that. If your attraction starts more human, more aesthetic, or emotional…well, be cautious that it doesn’t become explicitly passionate and genital.
No one is really sure.
Ultimately, infatuation is ordered towards sex, eventually. But it does not directly concern the sex act, and the feelings may be an attraction not of an “arousing” nature at first…still, it is obviously a gender-distinct attraction…
I’ve never gotten a good answer really about that. If your attraction starts more human, more aesthetic, or emotional…well, be cautious that it doesn’t become explicitly passionate and genital.
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catsrus
Guest
Let your conscience be your guide.
If you question whether you should be thinking, museing over, doing, reading, viewing or whatever…then don’t.
If you question yourself, then it’s probably something to avoid.
If you question whether you should be thinking, museing over, doing, reading, viewing or whatever…then don’t.
If you question yourself, then it’s probably something to avoid.
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rayne89
Guest
Are you fantasizing about this person in a sexual way. Imagining them naked? That would be impure.
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CRW
Guest
Thinking the actor is good looking is not a sin; thinking about having sex with him would be. We all have emotions and feelings but when they turn to lust, pray a Hail Mary.
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roccoangelo
Guest
BlindSheep,
My understanding of impure thoughts is that they are rooted in lust. My understanding of lust is that it’s a sinful longing for someone. Here’s a definition from the New Catholic Dictionary:
**LUST:
The inordinate appetite for sexual gratification, one of the seven
deadly or capital vices. God has placed in the organs of generation a sensual pleasure in order to induce man to do what is necessary for the preservation of the race. To seek this pleasure, or consent to it, outside of matrimony, or contrary to the rules of married life, is siaful because it is contrary to the order established by God. Even to lust with the eyes, or heart, is already a sin, as Our Lord teaches in the sermon on the Mount.**
For example, I don’t think that it’d be sinful for me (a man) to
say to myself “that woman looks beautiful” because all I’m doing is observing the fact that God designed her with a natural feminine beauty, that as a man, I’m naturaly attracted to. However, where lust (and therefore sin) comes into play is if I where to have sexualy explicit thoughts about her. Observation that, through temptation, turns into lust is sinful.
I don’t think you having a crush on someone is realy all that bad
(though if you wher an older woman I’d say that it’s a sign of
immaturity). The fact that you find men attractive is natural because you’re a woman. I think that renting a movie just because the actors are good looking isn’t necessarily lustful, but just more of a superficial reason for renting a movie (as opposed to renting a movie because it has a meaningful plot and well developed characters (aka - having substance)).
I also don’t think that letting you’re concience be you’re guide
is a good idea (especialy in this day and age). The reason being is that some people’s conciences are not well formed and informed, while others are to the point of scrupulosity. I think that mentality is what can lead people into dissent from church teaching.
If you think you are struggling with issues of lust, pray the Rosary
as often and as much as you are able to. Our Blessed Mother is the Queen of purity and so she would be a very powerful intercessor. Also try praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, fasting and penance, all of which are very powerful weapons in our daily spiritual battle against satan and his temptations.
Dominus Vobiscum,
Rocco
My understanding of impure thoughts is that they are rooted in lust. My understanding of lust is that it’s a sinful longing for someone. Here’s a definition from the New Catholic Dictionary:
**LUST:
The inordinate appetite for sexual gratification, one of the seven
deadly or capital vices. God has placed in the organs of generation a sensual pleasure in order to induce man to do what is necessary for the preservation of the race. To seek this pleasure, or consent to it, outside of matrimony, or contrary to the rules of married life, is siaful because it is contrary to the order established by God. Even to lust with the eyes, or heart, is already a sin, as Our Lord teaches in the sermon on the Mount.**
For example, I don’t think that it’d be sinful for me (a man) to
say to myself “that woman looks beautiful” because all I’m doing is observing the fact that God designed her with a natural feminine beauty, that as a man, I’m naturaly attracted to. However, where lust (and therefore sin) comes into play is if I where to have sexualy explicit thoughts about her. Observation that, through temptation, turns into lust is sinful.
I don’t think you having a crush on someone is realy all that bad
(though if you wher an older woman I’d say that it’s a sign of
immaturity). The fact that you find men attractive is natural because you’re a woman. I think that renting a movie just because the actors are good looking isn’t necessarily lustful, but just more of a superficial reason for renting a movie (as opposed to renting a movie because it has a meaningful plot and well developed characters (aka - having substance)).
I also don’t think that letting you’re concience be you’re guide
is a good idea (especialy in this day and age). The reason being is that some people’s conciences are not well formed and informed, while others are to the point of scrupulosity. I think that mentality is what can lead people into dissent from church teaching.
If you think you are struggling with issues of lust, pray the Rosary
as often and as much as you are able to. Our Blessed Mother is the Queen of purity and so she would be a very powerful intercessor. Also try praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, fasting and penance, all of which are very powerful weapons in our daily spiritual battle against satan and his temptations.
Dominus Vobiscum,
Rocco
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rayne89
Guest
By the way don’t feel bad, I rent movies just because Jon Bon Jovi is in them and I’m 34
. Guess that makes me immature and superficial.
I can live with that. I certainly don’t have fantasies about him or anything like that.I’m very happily married (going on 16 years now) and adore my hubby. I find my husband extremely attractive but I can also appreciate the gifts God has bestowed on others.
Maybe people think it’s immature. That’s ok, I’m not ready to be an old lady yet.God Bless!
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Magicsilence
Guest
If you imagine that you were carrying out a thought in real life, would it be a sin?
If so, then its probably an impure thought.
Thats my rule of thumb
Although, I am sure that someone, somewhere will find an exception
Peace and God Bless.
If so, then its probably an impure thought.
Thats my rule of thumb
Although, I am sure that someone, somewhere will find an exception
Peace and God Bless.
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happy34
Guest
what i dont get is how thoughts r considered sins because i dont know about yall but i cant control my thoughts so also like envy and stuff if i want something i have sinned so many times because wow i am so jealous so y or how is this a sin becase im not allowed to go to any church at all and all the guidance i have is a bible and internet
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CRW
Guest
As Catholic’s we believe that we all sin and that the death on the cross of our Lord created a process for the forgiveness of our sins and for our salvation. Non-Catholics have different means for forgiveness of their sins. For Catholic’s, we go to confession before a priest (Jesus gave the authority to forgive or keep sins), we must be sorry for our sins, and truely seek to amend our lives to prevent re-occurrence of sins, to the best of our abilities.
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LeahInancsi
Guest
In the instances you mention, the fleeting though is not a sin, but dwelling on those thoughts becomes the sin. Once you realize your thoughts are headed in the wrong direction, you need to find a distraction to change your thoughts. It’s hard to do at times. Someone in a post above suggested saying a few Hail Marys to get your mind off of the impure thoughts.
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Ecat
Guest
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