Dave Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Before I begin, please know that this is JUST a hypothetical question about a hypothetical situation. I never participated in any of the activities described below, nor do I know anyone who ever has. I know that to seriously disfigure or mutilate yourself would be mortally sinful. In fact, that's basically how the late Fr. John Hardon defines mutilation -- an action that deprives someone of part of their body or seriously disfigures it. Ok, here's the situation ... suppose you and your friends decided to act crazy like the guys on "Jackass." Suppose you decided to give yourself a bloody nose or prick your finger with a needle or something. Would such things be mortally sinful? I mean, although it would be stupid to do them, it's not like y'all would be trying to destroy or seriously disfigure parts of your body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 what about people who don't do it do be like the guys on "Jackass"? what about those people who sincerely believe that they are releasing their emotional pain by cutting or scarring themselves? that they believe it's better than committing suicide? (speaking as a person who used to self-mutilate) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 In Lil Red's example, I think the self-mutilization is more an expression of an emotional or mental disorder than sin. Anyone experiencing the desire to self-mutilate should seek professional help. As someone who has suffered from depression as long as I can remember, there is no reason for anyone to go through this alone and there are people who can help. (Not directed to Lil Red as much as anyone who has this problem). As for Dave... Why anyone would want to emulate Jackass is beyond me. While it would obviously be incredibly stupid to purposely break ones nose, would it be mortally sinful? Well, since we can't judge intent or knowledge, the question would be is it grave matter. Pricking ones finger would probably not be grave matter, since little harm actually comes from it. If one put oneself in danger of serious injury or death out of pure stupidity and a desire for attention, I think it could constitute grave matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 23, 2004 Author Share Posted July 23, 2004 [quote name='p0lar_bear' date='Jul 23 2004, 12:14 PM'] In Lil Red's example, I think the self-mutilization is more an expression of an emotional or mental disorder than sin. Anyone experiencing the desire to self-mutilate should seek professional help. As someone who has suffered from depression as long as I can remember, there is no reason for anyone to go through this alone and there are people who can help. (Not directed to Lil Red as much as anyone who has this problem). As for Dave... Why anyone would want to emulate Jackass is beyond me. While it would obviously be incredibly stupid to purposely break ones nose, would it be mortally sinful? Well, since we can't judge intent or knowledge, the question would be is it grave matter. Pricking ones finger would probably not be grave matter, since little harm actually comes from it. If one put oneself in danger of serious injury or death out of pure stupidity and a desire for attention, I think it could constitute grave matter. [/quote] No, I didn't say deliberately breaking your nose. If you deliberately broke a bone in your body, I'd say that's serious matter. The example I cited was just giving yourself a nosebleed and nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmmerf Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I think aiming to draw blood would be where I drew the line. So getting a buddy to punch your shoulder is one thing - but a bloody nose is too much (besides, that can go wrong, you know.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I'm still trying to figure out why someone would [i]want[/i] to give himself a bloody nose... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 23, 2004 Author Share Posted July 23, 2004 Like I said earlier, it's just hypothetical. But then again, maybe I just think too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacobus Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Not sure why anyone would want to hurt themselves. I have never gone through anything like that and can't claim to understand it. But damaging the body would be sinful. And preposly doing it like picking the nose with a needle would be sinful in my mind. However if someone wants to hurt them selves I would say that it is less a sin than a mental disorder which needs real help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Zewe Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 From the Bible - A butchered quote: "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelFilo Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Chris, I think we've been through this a couple of times now, but I guess I'll give it one more go. Not everything in the Bible is literal, not everything in the Bible is a hyperbole, not everything in the Bible is a symbol. The Bible is made up of all these things. That quote, is a hyperbole. God bless, Michael Filo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1337 k4th0l1x0r Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 One time in Biology class I pricked my finger to draw blood to look at the red blood cells under the microscope. My intention was not to cause myself pain (it did sting a little bit) or get some rush out of drawing blood (I grabbed a bandaid after I got the blood on the slide). In this case, the action was not done for a sinful purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Zewe Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Mike, I'm sick of of this. Every flaw I find, every contradiction, everything that's wrong with the bible is either a hyperbole, symbolic, or not to be taken literally. I will never quote or respond to a quote from the bible again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmmerf Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 [quote name='MichaelFilo' date='Jul 23 2004, 02:31 PM'] Chris, I think we've been through this a couple of times now, but I guess I'll give it one more go. Not everything in the Bible is literal, not everything in the Bible is a hyperbole, not everything in the Bible is a symbol. The Bible is made up of all these things. That quote, is a hyperbole. God bless, Michael Filo [/quote] Michael, I'm not sure that's fair. I mean, that quote is there because it makes the point of how far we should go to protect our souls. If I had cancer in my leg that required amputation, I'd get it amputated. (And i'd crack jokes about a fantastic new weight-loss plan, but that's neither here nor there) That passage tells us that we should be as ready to do the same to protect our spiritual lives. Certainly hand-amputation might be a last resort (I can't think of a single sin where my hand was the problem and not my brain) (or the tacos, so very tasty and good for you,... mmm... tacos, so very tasty and good for you,... anyways) but it's a valid statement. But cutting off your hand for spiritual health (if it were ever necessary) and cutting off your hand for the fun of it are two different things. So I think you're both wrong. For further exploration of this topic I reccomend you read 'A Farewell to Arms' by Ernest Hemingway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 [quote name='Chris Zewe' date='Jul 23 2004, 04:24 PM'] From the Bible - A butchered quote: "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off." [/quote] Aside from the argument of hyperbole, this quote really doesn't apply to the conversation. There can be legitimate reasons to cause oneself injury (like 1337's example). We are talking about whether it is gravely sinful to cause injury pretty much for the sake of causing injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1337 k4th0l1x0r Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 [quote name='p0lar_bear' date='Jul 23 2004, 03:05 PM'] Aside from the argument of hyperbole, this quote really doesn't apply to the conversation. There can be legitimate reasons to cause oneself injury (like 1337's example). We are talking about whether it is gravely sinful to cause injury pretty much for the sake of causing injury. [/quote] It was pretty cool to do to. Looking at the blood cells that is. After a few minutes, the cells started to rupture. I spotted a few white cells, but the red cells were defintely the neat part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now