Are romance novels considered sin?

[yvon]

Hi I would like to say that I'm a 39 year old single female, and I have always been a reader. The main books that have ever cared to read to this day is romance novels. I was just wondering, if reading such books would be considered a sin? I mean I know the bible says that it's not good to have impure thoughts, but I have always singled out impure thoughts to be considered lusting after another spouses, husband, or wife. Or many other such things but I never considered reading romance books in these catagories, can someone give me more insite on this on this topic? I would really appreciate it, thank you!

 

[kenisyes]

What thoughts does it give you? I watch murder mysteries all the time, but I could never kill anyone. Do you want to lust from reading them? I suppose one could make the case that they might lead you to unrealistic expectations about marriage and men/women relationships, that could interfere with a marriage some day. But do they? Sin is what separates you from God's blessings. Some people find blessings of relaxation in such things. You're the only one who can answer.

 

[Bookends]

The very fact that you are asking should speak volumes to you...Can you imagine yourself reading the novels out loud if a Christian brother or sister were sitting next to you, a pastor? Jesus? If your answer is Yes, then it's not a sin to you; but if you say No, then I'd say the HS is convicting you right now.

I have no idea what is in these romance novels you speak of, what do they promote? premarital sex? Would you watch a movie of the same caliber?

 

[intercessorginger]

I also am an avid reader. You might be interested to know that Marilyn Hickey is also (evangelist and bible teacher). I don't believe reading is sinful, per se. The bible is a book.
Think of all the wonderful books out there that we have read and that are out there to enjoy.
Books can take a home bound person, and make them able to imagine other places and things.
If you are convicted and feel uncomfortable about what you are reading, you might consider different types of books.

 

[libertygirl]

What type of romance? There are the clean versions, then there are the ones like Fifty Shades of Grey, which is definitely sinful.

 

[unclefester]

I have no idea what is in these romance novels you speak of, what do they promote?

Be honest with me Bookends (you won't hurt my feelings). Do I need a haircut ?

 

[MaggieMye]

The problem with romance novels....secular or Christian, is that they are NOT reality. They are FANTASY. And they almost Always leave the reader with the desire to LIVE out that type of episode or relationship in real life, rather than to live FOR GOD and do things His way. It is a very SUBTLE tool of the devil....to slap the name "Christian' onto a literary work that, in essence, sidetracks the reader from what they are SUPPOSED to be focusing on...namely, Jesus.

'nuf said....

Maggie

 

[unclefester]

Whew !! ... thanks to both Ariel and Bookends for liking my earlier post. Jes' to set the record straight, ... I didn't "really" know who Fabio was

 

[WolfInOxHide]

No haircut. Fix as depicted

 

[WolfInOxHide]

Do the romance novels involve relationships with righteous intent or promiscuity?
That's how I'd find the answer.

Having said that, "bad" relationships, whether in real life or the novel, are good for one thing - getting an idea of how mankind has treated God (when the female is at fault) or how people think God treats mankind (when the male is at fault)

Peace.

 

[ashleybee]

I think it just depends on your feelings and thoughts throughout the book. My opinion is a bit biased though because I'm a reader of a lot of genres, including romance.
However, I am starting to look for more "Christian" based romance novels.

If it is a sin, I've never known of it.

 

[Tintin]

Some romance books are sinful, for sure. But all, no, I don't think so. You need to be discerning. Some romance novels are really just emotional porn for women. Does the book drive you away from God, or drive you towards him? Will the book lead you to have unrealistic expectations of real romance or will it help you to understand true romance? There are many such questions to answer.

 

[99caravan]

Yvon,
The answer to your question lies within yourself. Do the romance novels spur thoughts, lusts and desires in you that could lead you to sinful actions, or thoughts, etc... then it is sinful for you. Do you read them for the romance and not the sexual parts, or do they imprint a romantic picture of what you think is a healthy romantic relationship between a husband and wife in a comitted relationship??

Consider a member of law enfircement who is in charge of child pornography internet investigations. They have to go through images, messages, and content in their investigations but they don't fantasize about being a child molestor... you know what I mean???

 

[Ugly]

Well, i used to work in a bookstore, we had quite a good sized 'romance' section. What i noticed is the majority of the books in that section read more like softcore porn. You would have to put effort in to find ones that weren't written like that, as there were so few of them.

I also disagree with romance novels in general, even the cleaner ones. The problem is they take a womans natural desire for romance, expand it to unrealistic proportions, and fill their heads with expectations that a real live man could never live up to. So either way i think its ideal to stay away.

 

[lucyjohn987]

Its depend on us that we take it as a sin or just novel.

 

[lastofall]

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin: and faith cometh only by hearing the Word of God, and the conclusion and end result shall be according as every person purposes it in their heart.

 

[Stranger36147]

Only Fifty Shades of Grey.


Old thread, by the way.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

I know there are several verses that admonish is to stay away from sexual impurity and sexual sin... And though I can’t say that reading them is a sin, I can sure as heck say that you tend to think about what you consume in media/entertainment. And what we ponder on usually leads to either action or having a tendency to look for those sake things we put in our heads. So I personally am very very cautious about my book/movie/tv choices.

I can say for sure though that lusting after someone means anybody not just spouses of someone else.

 

[p_rehbein]

…..and, yet another zombie thread is resurrected......from 2013 no less...….

how in the world do you guys find these things?

 

[ArtsieSteph]

…..and, yet another zombie thread is resurrected......from 2013 no less...….

how in the world do you guys find these things?

Hey man I just look under the latest posts and if it’s interesting I put in my two cents. I never look at the OP date 🤣