Sinning? In your dreams...

I don't dream very often. Almost never in fact. Or at least not in the sense that I am aware of having done so - even if vaguely. Not aware in the sense of remembering detail the next morning.Shortly before the alarm clock went off this morning I had a very vivid dream. One which was as clear as a bell in my memory when I woke up. It was a 'normal' dream in the sense that it played out as if it was taking place in normal life - as opposed to it being of the 'weird n' whacky' variety.In the dream I committed adultery. An opportunity presented itself and I went through the weighing up just as I would were it real life: "it's wrong", "think of the betrayal", "what if I get caught", But in the dream I made a clear decision to go ahead.The question is: did I sin in making the decision I did - for it was me making the clear decision - even if the consequences weren't played out in real life.Faith n Belief I supposeEdited by iano, : No reason given.

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

Was it you? I mean, really? I would venture to say that, in REM sleep, probably not all of your brain is active in the way that it is when you're awake.Occasionally my wife is startled from sleep when I get into bed, and the part of her brain where information about me is stored doesn't seem to activate first, and she's completely unaware - for as long as a minute, once - of who I am or what our relationship is.The point is, you weren't in your right mind, by just about any definition. Are you really on the hook for the decisions of your malfunctioning brain?

Hi, Iano! So what did you do? Did you repent earnestly in your morning prayers? Did you ask God why a Saint would have such evil thoughts in their mind?Or were you really worried because the Lass in the dream was quite attractive and you feared the devil sneaking in the unconscious doorway?From a psychological standpoint, dreams are thought to be ways in which our wiring gets condensed and rearranged more efficiently. There is also some theory about how dreams are unresolved issues in our waking conscious.While im sure you would never commit adultery on a waking basis, perhaps the dream was a way for your soul to see what it would be like to give in to temptation. Perhaps a true attack of the devil, as it were.Or maybe it is a test of your waking reaction.What do you think?

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“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way” --C.S.Lewis

It was me alright. I was aware of me being me. No sense during (or when I woke up) that it was another person making the decision. Even the decision making followed the route I am familiar with in how it is I make decisionsI've only ever once betrayed a girlfriend in this way in real life but once is enough to know I am capable of making the decision I did in the dreamThere is no sense of being on a hook. I don't know if it was a sin or not but it had exactly all the elements of temptation and me yielding to temptation that I am familiar with in real life. I said sorry for I presume it is. And am forgiven for it.If it wasn't a sin in fact - then no harm done. I apologised for something I didn't do. This hardly upsets the overwhelming balance of his grace me to-ward

If you're not really bothered by it, then why ask about it?

I repented a few minutes ago when pondering it more closely made that seem the right thing to do. I know why saints have evil thoughts - I don't need to ask about that one!! Me, the sinful natured part has all the morality of an alleycat. 'Attractive' doesn't come into it for such a one. Satan will use any method at all he can. There is no particular reason to suppose he wouldn't us this one. I find that his attacks vary in intensity - sometimes hes full frontal - other times its devious as can be. When keeping a wary eye out and I can actually see the attack looming I am amazed at the devious nature of its construction. Its easy to side step when you see it coming but if you are not looking then you don't have a hope.The psycological theory behind dreams would always be trumped by what they represent spiritually. See above - I am capable. It could be a way to get an inkling into the consequences of such actions without them being a sin - this could be a lesson from God as much as an attack of the devil. God could withold his grip and so allow my sinful thoughts free reign in the relative safety of my dreams. To remove barriers to my expressing them in order that I can follow out the consequences without having true devastation to deal with. God is smarter than satan afterall

Not knowing whether something is a sin or not is not "not bothered about it" If it was a sin (meaning I did make the free choice) then I would be very bothered, if not then I have no reason to be bothered at all. If I do not know then it pays to 'play safe' as it were."Keep short accounts with the Lord" has always struck me as good advice

So was there just the one sin of deciding to commit adultery or was their lots of other "sinning" back at her place?

"Din-na-na-naaaaaaaa! "Good morning. Here are the news headlines at 8 o'clock..."Saved by the bell...or rather the alarm clock radio...

Define "sin".

Define sin?Acting or thinking, fantasising (and possibly dreaming) etc. outside boundaries considered acceptable by God.Allowing my will to express itself in anyway which is counter to his will for me.

are we held responsible for unconcious thought?is your initial reflexive reaction to an attractive woman treated as lust? or 'coveting'?I dreamt about eating shellfish once (although in reality I never have) Should I be stoned to death?Edited by Creavolution, : spelling

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If it wasn't a sin in fact - then no harm done. I apologised for something I didn't do. This hardly upsets the overwhelming balance of his grace me to-ward

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I realize this probably means nothing to you but according to modern research the part of the brain involved with critical judgment is not active during a dream state. This would be the part involved with moral reasoning, so according to science, you are off the hook for any lack of moral judgment you may have in a dream. See the bottom of the following site for details.Page not found | APsaAHowever, if you prefer to feel guilty for religious reasons, that is your choice (or destiny, depending on if we do or do not have free will).Edited by anglagard, : clarity

Only in a nightmare.