are eating disorders sinful?

Question

I've struggled with anorexia and bulima for about 5 years or so. I've been trying to recover the last two years (I see a therapist now, and I was in the hospital for awhile). I always feel really guilty about having an eating disorder, I mean it's not like I tried to get one or anything, but I always get the feeling that I'm a bad person and that God is probably mad at me for it. I'm kind of afraid to talk to my priest about it, since I'm not quite sure what he'll say. Am I more worked up about this than I should be? I mean I'm trying my hardest at recovery but I'm really worried that I'm sinning when I relapse.

Answer 1

God wants you to be happy and healthy. Falling short of that isn't a major sin, but it does cut into your quality of life.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 state:
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Of course, you want to take good care of your body. It's the only one you've got! Sleep, diet, and exercise come into it, but doing all things in moderation is the key. The scriptures are filled with references to moderation and temperance.

Just do your best. That's all that your Heavenly Father wants!

Answer 2

An eating disorder is called a "disorder" for a reason. It means your brain isn't functioning quite the way it should be, leading you to self destructive behaviour. This is not just a choice you made to make yourself look better. I can tell by what you've written that you're really fighting it. It's not a sin to suffer from a mental disorder (sorry to call it that, but it is), and many of us have it. Would you consider someone with post-natal depression as sinning for not being happy about having a baby? Of course not - it's a clinical problem that needs treatment to recover from - the last thing you should be doing is laying even more guilt & worry on yourself by wondering if you're sinning by being ill. So silly!!
Take care of yourself - I hope your recovery is quick & life-long.

Answer 3

Sometimes the more we think we're 'sinning' the harder it is to get past the problem.

I don't think you're sinning. I think that wherever our media goes eating disorders pop up. Cultures very often create their own disorders, and eating disorders are an example. There are only two times when eating disorders have popped up in history. The Victorian era and since the 1970s. Eating disorders have a lot to do with societal expectations directed at women. So you might say the problem is much wider than any individual. As our media spreads to other countries, eating disorders pop up in those places too.

I'm so glad you are working on recovery. Part of recovering is to forgive yourself and stop feeling guilt - that means guilt about eating and guilt about not eating.

Consider how media and the odd expectations about perfection that our society puts on women affect you. Give that distorted view of perfection back to where it came from. It stems from a societal disorder. It doesn't belong to you. You don't have to worry so much about whether or not you meet the socially constructed ideals of perfection that you've learned from being in this society.

You were born into this world as a wonderful soul, and that doesn't change no matter what happens. You'll leave this world as a wonderful soul loved by God. Be the soul watching yourself go through the difficult parts of life. Your body, your name, your feelings of guilt, all of these things are not who you are. When we understand that, it is easier for us to get beyond what we believe to be true about ourselves, but which is actually something we and the rest of society helped to construct. We can let it go.

Answer 4

The answer is in your question. Since God is a God of Order (God being the biblical one) anything that is a dis-order is not of God and therefore sin by default...as for you being a sinner, everybody sins with regularity including any priest or pastor, evangelist, etc. everybody has their own demon (cliche for vise). When you think of yourself as being so unworthy or bad as you put it, you only compound your own misery in a sense of the word. Try getting to know who God really is and how in fact he Loves each one of us so very much. He knows that although you are wrong everytime you choose to do something that he would advise against, the fault is not your own. You see he's very big on forgiveness, but you need to ask him to forgive you because there are things you, and indeed all of us, know you are going to do that just ain't gonna be right. So now you know that what you are doing isn't of God, and that he forgives sin when asked, and it's ok to deal with your sin (that is to continue to rid yourself of sin by allowing God to work it out in you) and still feel good about yourself because God knows you better than you will ever know yourself, and he Loves you no matter what. Know this as well: God Is Love, so he can't help but Love you...Calm your nerves, take care and be blessed...

Answer 5

The word "sin" is an ancient archery work which means to miss the mark. Are you missing the mark if you fast beyond all good sense, binge, or purge? I would be if I did it. We all miss the mark every day of our lives. consistent bulls-eyes are just hard to get. I think shame is a bigger problem in eating disorders than sin. Shame is a nasty, slimy little emotion that clings to us when we think we've done something other people will find really bad. Eating disorders are diseases of emotion and behavior. It's bad enough to have a disease without having to have shame, to boot. I'm glad yoúre seeing a therapist, and I'm glad you got care in the hospital. I don't know how your priest will respond, because I don't know what your priest knows about eating disorders. I can guarantee you that God is not mad at you about it, however. He may be sad about it, but it's sadness for the catastrophe the disease has caused in your life, not sadness from disappointment. St. Jerome told a story about the resurrected Jesus appearing to his brother, James, who couldn't eat after Jesus's crucifixion, and in compassion telling him to eat. Part of recovery is coming to believe that your Higher Power can restore you to sanity; coming to believe that God has your back. Are you in a recovery-based support group (as opposed to one where you all feel like cows comparing yourselves to all the other anorexics in the room)? Are you learning Dialectical Behavioral skills and recovery tools? Have to started to learn to practice radical acceptance or self-soothing skills yet? Do you encourage yourself with recovery-based slogans? Even though I don't know you, I do believe in your ability to recover. Always remember that recovery is a life-long, one-day-at-a-time process.

Answer 6

I'm sorry for the people who are using their "holier than thou" attitude to make you feel worse. A disorder, by definition, is something that cannot be helped. An eating disorder is a mental disorder, and has nothing to do with vanity. It's a vicious cycle, and you're to be commended for seeking help. How can something be a sin if you aren't doing it intentionally? Is having cancer a sin? If relapsing in your eating disorder is a sin (if you go by the fact that it is harming your body) then it looks like laying out in the sun is a sin, eating fatty foods is a sin, and cracking your knuckles is a sin. I'm sure you're fine, and good luck in your recovery!

Answer 7

Start by asking your priest if ANYONE is free from sin.
Go into your church, take a look around. Everyone in there has sinned in one way or another. Here is a link to some bad habits most people have that are considered sins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins
Whether or not, your particular problem is a sin or not, your priest is not allowed to judge you. Judging is a sin. He is there to help you. He will help you pray to overcome your problems, and become closer to God. Your priest will find it more distressing that you try to hide your problem, than if you seek out Gods help with your problem.

Answer 8

It depends on what exact religion you belong to, some strict Christians or Catholics may say that you are damaging your temple which I think is supposed to be sinful. Others would say that it is not sinful at all and that God isn't mad. I would ask you priest or try to pray and ask God yourself, don't expect an answer in words if you choose to pray though, but I've recieved answers in other forms, so I think you will too.

Answer 9

Have no fear...It is not a sin to have an eating disorder...any more than someone who has cancer...just get well sweetie and let God carry this burden for you..take this problem and lay it at the feet of Jesus....don't doubt and don't worry..

Answer 10

It's not your fault, but it's very unhealthy. Love yourself and don't think about religion or Hell for a while. Any religion that tells you you're sinning with something you have no control over is wrong. God would not hate you-- he created everything, even the disorder. He can't hate you for something He Himself did.

You need to concentrate on your own life and your body instead, and getting healthy again-- not worry about sin. You shouldn't stress over something that isn't your fault. It's not your fault, and He won't hate you for it.

Get well. Peace.