Where does "dwelling on a thought" start?

[Kathrin]

Often somebody will say that an impure thought only becomes a sin if you start dwelling on it.
Now, where does dwelling start? E.g. you see something on TV, and it stirs up an imagination, very quickly, without you wanting it. Ok, I would say, unwanted, no sin, right? You try to get rid of the thought - no sin. But what if another part of your brain goes back to it again quickly, and you’re not really sure if you wanted it or not? How long do you have to think about something for it to become a sin? Can a few seconds already be a sin?
And: Are impure thoughts, if deliberate, always a MORTAL sin?

Kathrin

 

[VivienneJ]

Kathrin, I’m not an apologist by any means and am still learning the fullness of this wonderful Catholic faith, but I would say that “dwelling on a thought” means just that. “To dwell” means “to live” not “to visit”. Those thoughts that pop into your thoughts, from a book, the TV, something you see or hear are “visiting”; but when you think about whatever it is and that thought occupies your whole mind and thinking for hours at a time, those thoughts are now “living” in your mind.

I’ll be interested to hear what those with more experience have to say.

(PS, I have noted from other posts of yours that you suffer from scrupulosity, I have a friend who does too, so I have an idea of how this becomes a source of anxiety for you, that is why I say if that unwanted thought is in your mind for hours, you are probaby dwelling on it. Be kind to yourself.)

 

[geofflucey]

Hi Kathrin
We can never stop thoughts comming into our mind and it usually takes more then a few seconds to catch yourself dwelling on them. If you honestly try to put them out of your mind as soon as you can then there is no sin God knows our hearts and all he asks us is to try and if we do fail pick ourselves up again. Often the more we dwell on not having the thought the more it comes back. I often tell myself I cannot stop this thought but I can try to think of something else. Cheers best of God’s blessings in your quest for holiness

 

[megsdad]

How long do you have to think about something for it to become a sin? Can a few seconds already be a sin? Kathrin

A priest once told me in reference to a similar, though not exact, situation that it’s not possible to sin without an act of the will. That made sense to me. Thoughts happen. They just do. And we have to deal with them. I tend slightly toward scrupulosity, and I have made peace with the idea that a thought can enter into my head and it is not a sin unless and until I: (1) separate myself from the thought; (2) recognize its sinful nature; and (3) proceed with the thought knowingly. This could be after a fraction of a second or, when I am tired or distracted, a minute or longer.

In other words, the duration of the thought prior to becoming aware of it is not as important to me as what I choose to do once I am aware of my thinking. When that happens, I try to think: “No. I reject that thought”. If it returns, I pray for the thought to stop. That’s just what I do. Your mileage may vary.

And: Are impure thoughts, if deliberate, always a MORTAL sin?
Kathrin

“Always” is a difficult word. But, to my mind, the answer is yes. If I deliberately proceed with an impure thought knowing it offends God, I consider that a mortal sin.

Edited to add:

It might be helpful to analogize a thought that enters your mind to a temptation, which you are free to accept or reject, just as you would have the free will to accept or reject an external temptation that you come across during your day. The sin is in the exercise of your free will in a way contrary to God not in the existence of a temptation.

 

[Kathrin]

Thank you for all the helpful replies.