What level of sin (if any) is it to watch movies with women in skimpy clothing (not naked)

[JMBNH]

Yesterday my (mostly protestant) housemates put on a film (Dead or Alive) with tons of scenes of women in skimpy clothing (bikinis, underwear etc.) and while I tried to not watch the unnecessary parts (why I didn’t stop watching entirely I don’t know) we got into a debate over whether it was sinful or not, and they said it wasn’t as they weren’t watching it to look at the women, but watching it just generally to watch the film. I said I thought it would probably be venially sinful (presumably watching it to lust over the women would be mortally sinful?) though I wasn’t sure. (Obviously they decide to effectively call St John a liar by refusing to accept the existance of mortal sin, but that is to be expected)

 

[PBP]

I suppose you would have to refer to your desire and actions.

 

[CarrieH]

IMHO, it depends upon your motive in watching. If you didn’t deliberately watch the movie with the intention of ogling and lusting after the women, it wouldn’t be mortally sinful, and perhaps not even venially sinful. If the scenes in question do not lead you to into lust, but you just observe them as part of the movie, I would say there is no sin there at all. But you are only human, so it might be wise to limit your viewing of such movies lest they become an occasion of sin. Good luck and God bless, and welcome to the forums!

 

[DaveBj]

It also depends on the person. It would be a sin for me, because the wrong kinds of thoughts are almost automatically aroused. So I look at something else when the Victoria’s Secret sale ads or the Fruit of the Loom ads are on.

DaveBj