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.

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

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

"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?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.

This seems to contradict the fact that I was judging things at the time: evaluating, weighing up pros and cons - in the same way as I am familiar with me doing this normally. Then decision: conscious, deliberate decision. The m.o. was very me.The way I would avoid the pitfall of adultery (for example) is clear the area long before I entered this final round (prevention). The dream had me in a position where the prevention measures had failed. I strongly suspect that were I put in a similar, real life, situation then my choice would be the same - prevention measures cannot be guarenteed to work in real life so the dream situation could well occur. I discern no difference - it was as 'me' as could be. Guilt? There is no reason to feel guilty about sin unless I was to deny it was a sin and justify it to myself - the guilt would soon build up. Repent, be done with it. Be forgiven. There is nothing to feel guilty about if you are clean and innocent (yet again). Guilt is Satans gig enabled by my own denial. God doesn't do guilt - although he will use it to further his ends.In this case I'm not sure so repent of it as though it were. On reflection during the day I suspect that it was sinful - this on the basis of decision making being as real as could be.

That's what I figured earlier today and that is what I did. Its not like it's much of a bother. Dreams of any description arrive about 4 times a year for me. But I'm working on your suggestion - just a couple of dates so far - a smart Christian girl - who happens to be a psychologist. On our first date I was mildy aware of the possibility of a Freudian slip (okay I know that psychoanalysis but like...) and mentioned it in passing. Later she sent me a text to say she enjoyed the date and finished off with a..."Sweat dreams"Oh dear.... Edited by iano, : No reason given.

There are various ways in which the relationship is made manifest. One can turn to his word, one can ask him directly, one can seek the council of saints (the views of other Christians), he can communicate unbidden etc.Its not a crisis Lfen, I thought I'd put it up here for interests sake - another angle to be considered.Personally, I have consulted him and considered it through the day. On reflection I think I made a decision in a dream that I would have had made were I in a real life situation so it is splitting hairs to say "it was just a dream" That would imply that the physical world was the main stage on which all things get played out - and there is no particular reason to suppose that for a person who accepts a spiritual realm being the primary one.So I asked forgiveness earlier in the day and the issue is dealt with. Done.Any relationship is a complex affair and posing simplistic "why don't you do this" doesn't take into account that complexity. And that is just relationship with other human beings. This is God I am dealing with - and that relationship is quite a young one at the moment.

Sounds like a scientific attempt to explain dreams. Tentitive. As is my own conclusion - which errs on the side of sin (becauze I'm no stranger to it atall atall)That you in the photo Larni (I mean the less pretty one)?

You are awful Ringo (your doctrine that is) but I like you (your humor that is).

Not quite accurate. For example, I know God exists (not that that is a conclusion in the usual sense of the word). I believe the Exodus happened because it is consistant with the general tenet of the Bible - this I have concluded. I know salvation is by faith alone. I believe Adam and Eve were real people (for the sake reason as I believe the Exodus happened). Etc, etc... {AbE} er...your both making kissy faces. I take it you are the bloke. You have all the finesse of a bloke. This I concludeEdited by iano, : No reason given.Edited by iano, : No reason given.

Nah mate. Have just gotten used to knowing how to treat them one answers questions when another brings them up. Why is there so much interest in interpreting the meaning of them if there is no meaning in them? Your faith in science to provide such certain answers in the face of evidence against is evidence of your faith. Welcome to the party

Your kidding me?!Edited by iano, : No reason given.Edited by iano, : remove superfluous bad language

The interest of science in dreams give lie to the comparision. We don't have to accept sciences conclusions per se but that dreams sit in a league apart from the above should be apparent I don't need dreams to know that about myself (another one for the know/belief files) Because it isa) perfectly consistant with the tenets of the Bible doctrineb) perfectly obvious to the dog in the street were you to sit back and consider it for a momentDo I hate myself? I wouldn't put it in that precise same way but I didn't like myself very much before I was forgiven. Now I don't dislike myself at all - except of course when I chose to sin. (and thats more disliking what I allow myself to do than disliking my self)Edited by iano, : No reason given.