This is another of the questions that I see sometimes appearing in search engine terms for this blog, so I thought I’d address it here. For the quick answer, scroll to the bottom.
First, what is a sin? This is a big topic, but I’ll just write what I think the people asking this question want to know. There are two kinds of sin: mortal sin and venial sin.
There are three conditions that must be fulfilled before a person is considered to have committed a mortal sin:
1. Freedom of choice – a person must have been able to make the choice before an act is considered a sin. Coercion to make that choice lessens the seriousness of the sin.
2. Gravity of sin – the act must be a grave matter.
3. Fullness of knowledge – the act was committed with the sinner’s full knowledge of the gravity of the sin, and his or her deliberate consent.
Venial sin is sin whose object is a grave matter but committed without full knowledge of the gravity or without full consent. In other words, there is actually no sin that is not considered grave, but that’s beside the point here.
The point in this question is: do you have any choice at all about what you are dreaming? If your answer is “yes”, then you should be able to never have any nightmares at all. I mean, who would purposely want to have nightmares? Therefore, your answer would probably be “no”. If there is then no consent in your choice of dreams, then that means that having wet dreams is not a sin.
In fact, having wet dreams is nature’s way of “releasing sexual tension” in your body, of getting rid of excess sperm that is made by your body. For those battling the temptation of masturbation, wet dreams can even be seen as a sign of encouragement, because you only have wet dreams if you do not masturbate for a period of time.
Answer: No.
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- A great injustice to homosexuals
- How you can help to fight porn
- Question: Is it possible to overcome addiction to pornography and masturbation?
Filed under: Chastity, FAQs, General, Moral Theology, Sex
There is talk about having some control over your dreams, and perhaps its a sin?
I’ll give this example, when couples get married, but are not fully aware or conscious, and did not make the decision properly or normally, they can get knolled. There is something to be said about the part of being “fully aware”. Psychologically, in our dreams we are aware, maybe even in control of some things, but it is far from reality, and far from “fully aware” if we are going to get technical; I wouldn’t worry about it Amanda.
Hi,
My question isn’t about wet dreams, but rather spontaneous ejaculation.
I have recently begun to start weight lifting again, after about 2 years of having lost the habit. However, in the intervening period, I have stopped masturbating. I now find that when I do certain exercises, with direct or even rather indirect strain on my abdomen, it leads to sudden arousal and often ejaculation.
Is this sinful, if I am aware that it may happen, and undertake the exercises anyway? Otherwise, it effectively means I am unable to undertake the training regime, which I would otherwise like to.
God Bless
When I talk in tongues and am filled with the Holy Spirit I often get an erection. Last night while the Holy Spirit was all over my body from head to toe, I got a massive erection and ejaculated. I didn’t touch myself and while I was delirious in love with Jesus during the experience, I was fully conscious so I did not have a wet dream.
I know this is not a sin – it is beautiful.
What do you think?
Hi Newtaste,
I think you should talk it over with a priest who would be in a more appropriate position to tell you whether it is sinful or not.
God bless,
Catholic Writer