Curiosity

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

So i just got out of the baccalaureate mass at FUS, and Cardinal Stafford preached about curiosity. I guess there is no sort of conscientious regulation to curiosity. It used to be that something out of your scope is none of your business. Now you just google them and dig up the dirt.

I was also reading the steps of Pride and Humility by St. Bernard.

Curiosity is one of the first steps of pride.

Just a thought, when we find ourselves with a fascination for God knows what kind of things are not going to get us into heaven.
SHALOM
Bro Mark

[CatherineM]

I've always been the curios type, and it has gotten me into trouble, especially when I was younger.

[journeyman]

Is it curiosity that is the problem, or is it the things about which we are curious?

[morostheos]

I think curiosity is often a good excuse to give yourself to learn more about things you have no real business knowing about. As a scientist, I mostly see curiosity as a good thing; but there are definitely times in life that I get myself into hot water morally because I was curious. I think it kind of goes along with the idea of trying anything once - there are many things in life that are better left untried. It's a matter of trusting in the wisdom and knowledge of others instead of having to find out everything for yourself.

[Deb]

I am a little curious about this topic. So, are you saying that if you are curious about things that it is a sin or bad? How does it lead to pride? Is it tied to not worrying about the things of this world? I guess I don't understand.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Deb' post='1529395' date='May 15 2008, 05:02 PM']I am a little curious about this topic. So, are you saying that if you are curious about things that it is a sin or bad? How does it lead to pride? Is it tied to not worrying about the things of this world? I guess I don't understand.[/quote]
I'm echoing your post here. Now, I can see how being curious about some things [i]could [/i]lead to sin, but not curiosity about everything (we'd have no research & discoveries if people weren't curious about something).

[puellapaschalis]

Is [i]fides quaerens intellectum[/i] curiosity?

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Deb' post='1529395' date='May 15 2008, 01:02 PM']I am a little curious about this topic. So, are you saying that if you are curious about things that it is a sin or bad? How does it lead to pride? Is it tied to not worrying about the things of this world? I guess I don't understand.[/quote]

I think he means vain curiosity. Wondering how a car works, taking it apart, and putting it back together serves a productive purpose. Wondering what you ex has been up to, looking them up on Facebook, and making critical comments to yourself about their current significant other's haircut serves no productive purpose and only leads down a prideful path of gossip, conceit, etc.

[Deb]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1533606' date='May 19 2008, 02:30 PM']I think he means vain curiosity. Wondering how a car works, taking it apart, and putting it back together serves a productive purpose. Wondering what you ex has been up to, looking them up on Facebook, and making critical comments to yourself about their current significant other's haircut serves no productive purpose and only leads down a prideful path of gossip, conceit, etc.[/quote]


That was a good example of vain curiosity. Did you just make that one up? I have to say I did enjoy the haircut part.

So, investigating things that are basically none of your business and have no concrete relevance to you would be vain curiosity and would that make it a sin or just lead one to sin?

[Veridicus]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1533606' date='May 19 2008, 01:30 PM']I think he means vain curiosity. Wondering how a car works, taking it apart, and putting it back together serves a productive purpose. Wondering what you ex has been up to, looking them up on Facebook, and making critical comments to yourself about their current significant other's haircut serves no productive purpose and only leads down a prideful path of gossip, conceit, etc.[/quote]


Sounds personal...

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1533606' date='May 19 2008, 07:30 PM']I think he means vain curiosity. Wondering how a car works, taking it apart, and putting it back together serves a productive purpose. Wondering what you ex has been up to, looking them up on Facebook, and making critical comments to yourself about their current significant other's haircut serves no productive purpose and only leads down a prideful path of gossip, conceit, etc.[/quote]
Makes sense.

[Deb]

I need a definitive answer here. Does anyone know? I am so curious right now.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Deb' post='1533622' date='May 19 2008, 03:40 PM']That was a good example of vain curiosity. Did you just make that one up? I have to say I did enjoy the haircut part.

So, investigating things that are basically none of your business and have no concrete relevance to you would be vain curiosity and would that make it a sin or just lead one to sin?[/quote]

Well, the specifics of that example are made up, but I can't deny that I've checked ex's profiles on myspace/facebook just for the heck of it. None of them have moved to Texas.

And when I say "ex's," that's really only one person, legitimately speaking.

I'd consider it, at the least, an occasion to sin, but it's something that depends on the attitude of your heart. I've never been tempted to think badly of a former love interest because of stuff on their myspace/facebook profile. It's more like I happen across their name through a mutual friend and decide to see if there's anything cool on their profile. I see that there isn't, yawn, and move on. I'm not sure that passing the time like this is really that much better.

Now, I've never had a long-term really involved relationship or had the misfortunate to experience an ugly end to a relationship. Having that in your past would definitely make the temptation between vain curiosity and gossip/conceit/anger/jealousy or whatever might be simmering under the surface a lot more difficult to resist.

Granted, some people remain friends with their former significant others, and that's different. You have to develop an honesty with yourself in order to assess the motivation for your actions. I think a good rule of thumb is if you can comfortably comment on their "wall" (where everyone can see it) without any weird factor coming into play, then you're pretty safe. If it would be weird, you might want to reconsider why they're still a "friend."

Hope that helps a little...