I am asking this from a neutral point of view, as I do not belong do any religion. I have just been wondering about it recently about one of my friends who is a 'DEVOUT' Catholic.
He is very heavily in to pornography (in an addictive capacity, in my opinion) and also regulary gets drunk, tells lies, etc etc.
Yet he often preaches to me about his beliefs and has lied to people before about how he is against pornography because it is degrading even though I know he is heavily in to.
What is going on with this guy?
He is being a hypocrite ? or am I just reading too much in to things.
2007-10-27 06:50:54 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First thing to consider is that pornography is addictive. It is something that he is in bondage to. As your friend, you should be praying for God's mercy to free him from this. That means, he needs to go to Confession. Perhaps you could ask him about that sacrament and the Holy Spirit might be able to convict him to go.
As for his life style, he obviously isn't living a devout life since he is steeped in all sorts of sins. That still doesn't mean that he is rotten through and through. See that there is still some good in him, be direct but not confrontational with him, that will only close his objectivity (as he apparently already lies about it to cover up his sin). Hope this helps.
2007-10-27 07:02:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
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2016-07-18 15:55:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "hypocrite" comes from a Greek term used to describe a play actor. The actor would put on a mask and pretend to be a character in the play. Today we use the word in a similar fashion. When we see a person who "puts on a mask" while speaking lines that they pretend to be the truth but their actions at other times betray the fact that they were just putting on an act we say that their actions are hypocritical.
It could be that your friend is actually against pornography for the reasons that he gives but is himself addicted to this degrading practice. An alcoholic can tell people the dangers of drinking too much and still be unable to give up the bottle himself.
If your friend goes around telling people that he is against drinking and lying and pornography and doesn't go in for that sort of thing and then when he is away from those people indulges in that behavior then he is acting like a hypocrite.
2007-10-27 07:14:32 · answer #3 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He certainly seems to be rationalizing his interest in pornography to himself, that's for sure. It's not uncommon for people to condemn in others what they like least about themselves, too, so that may play a part in it. At any rate, from your description he is far from "devout" unless he defines the word as going through the motions and making a great show of attending Mass, etc. If so, it's obvious that he's fooling only himself.
2007-10-27 07:32:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is going on with your friend is that he is a sinner who has a serious addition to pornography and possibly alcohol...or he might be using alcohol to anesthetize the guilt he feels over the porn.
That doesn't mean he is hypocritical in (a) believing in God and hoping others do, too or (b) publicly stating that pornography is bad (lots of addicts know it's bad for them).
Please don't make the common mistake of assuming that anybody who believes in God must be automatically perfect and sin-free. It doesn't work that way. We call it "practicing Catholicism" because it takes a lot of practice!
BTW, if you haven't already, a true friend would help him find help for his addiction problem(s).
2007-10-27 07:04:07 · answer #5 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If he is a true believer (Christian), he'd be feeling pretty bad about that. If he isn't being convicted by the Holy Spirit or by God's Word, then he's not a believer.
BUT every time we talk about other people as if we're better, we're hypocrites, too!
All have sinned. We all are sinners. Jesus cares & loves us so much that He died on the cross to save us and give us eternal life.
If we believe, we'll go to heaven. Would you trust in Him today?
2007-10-27 08:01:05 · answer #6 · answered by grammar_cleopatra 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sounds like a MAJOR hypocrite... lying, excessive drinking, and pornography are not things a Christian should do... If he does this stuff he shouldn't be preaching to you.
(lol, I really didn't mean for that to rhyme)
2007-10-27 06:57:21 · answer #7 · answered by Petina 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm not catholic(praise the Lord,it's just another false religion)but most catholic's i know of engage in those behaviors and think nothing of it! When someone has religion,and not the True and Living Christ of the Bible,they WILL NOT LIVE IT! How can they? ALL they have is just a false religion,that's all they have.
2007-10-27 07:01:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You are right, he is a hypocrite. He needs to go to the priest and confess all of immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is not in good standing w/ God nor the church w/ his lifestyle. Remind him the Bible says "Thy sins will find you out". Just because the church doesn't know what he is up to doesn't mean God doesn't. Also, if it is that bad he may neeed counseling to get a grip on himself, like it or not.
2007-10-27 06:57:39 · answer #9 · answered by paula r 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well not trying to offend anyone here but from what I know of the Catholic religion I think their beliefs are they can do anything they want as long as they confess to their Priest and do whatever he gives them as penance. So in your friends mind he's probably not being a hypocrite.
2007-10-27 06:59:03 · answer #10 · answered by lisaandpathailey 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋