Lucid dreaming can be a fun and exciting experience. Being able to control an entire world, including the laws of that world and all the people who live in it, gives a lucid dreamer tremendous power and offers them the ability to live out their fantasies and to also achieve things they could never achieve in the waking world.
But, due to the godlike type of power a lucid dreamer has, many spiritual people wonder if lucid dreaming is a sin.
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Is Lucid Dreaming A Sin & Can It Be Spiritually Dangerous?
Many people who are religiously inclined and want to learn to lucid dream are concerned about the spiritual ramifications of learning this skill. Many wonder is it a sin to lucid dream or is it spiritually safe to try it.
Lucid dreaming itself is not a sin. The act of becoming conscious in your dream and taking control of it is no more a sin than being conscious while awake and taking charge of your life.
However, doing certain things in a lucid dream, that are considered sins in the real world, would be the same as sinning in real life.
Because lucid dreams can feel as real as real life this opens up the opportunity to sin.
If you were to do something in the real world that you consider to be sinful then it stands to treason that doing the same thing in a lucid dream would be sinful too.
So, in answer to the question “is lucid dreaming sinful” we can say a resounding “no” because in and of itself lucid dreaming is not a sin.
However, if you abuse it and do sinful things within a lucid dream then you have consciously and knowingly done something against your own values, which can be viewed as sinful.
Let’s dive deeper into this topic by first looking at what exactly lucid dreaming is.
The basic mechanics of lucid dreaming & how it works
To understand why lucid dreaming is not a sin we must first understand exactly what lucid dreaming is and why it occurs.
Once we understand these basic concepts we can delve into the bible for answers about the nature of lucid dreaming to determine if it is a sin or not.
So, what is lucid dreaming exactly.
Lucid dreaming is usually classified as one of the following:
- A very vivid dream.
- A controlled vivid life-like dream.
Although both these terms are technically correct descriptions of lucid dreaming the common-use of the term has changed slightly over the years.
Originally lucid dreaming was a term used to describe any dream that was very vivid in nature.
The dreamer was not necessarily in control during such a dream nor did he/she need to be fully conscious. As long as the dream was very vivid it was said to be a lucid dream.
Vivid dreams that were under the full control of the dreamer were also called lucid dreams.
So there was a wide spectrum of dreams types that fell into the category of lucid dreaming.
As lucid dreaming became accepted by the scientific community and viewed as a real phenomenon, this wide-ranging definition became very impractical for explaining controlled dreaming.
So, any type of vivid dreams, wherein the dreamer has very little, or no control were also classified as lucid dreams back then.
In recent times the term lucid dreaming has morphed somewhat and become much more focused in its meaning.
Today the term lucid dreaming refers to vivid life-like dreams in which the dreamer is fully conscious and in full control over everything that happens.
When we hear or read the word lucid dreaming in our modern times we consider it to mean:
A vivid, life-like dream in which the dreamer is fully conscious and is in complete control of the dreamworld.
So what causes lucid dreams? Are they supernatural in nature?
Spirituality & Lucid Dreams
Let’s look at the spiritual concerns many would-be lucid dreamers have.
Lucid dreaming is not supernatural
What is happening to a person who is experiencing a lucid dream? Is a lucid dream driven by supernatural forces? Is it possible that evil forces are causing lucid dreams?
Let’s look at what causes lucid dreams to occur to see if some supernatural entity or evil force could be behind them.
The real causes behind lucid dreaming are perfectly natural
There are very real physiological causes for lucid dreaming.
During the REM state, when we dream, the brain of a lucid dreamer enters into a state of heightened consciousness beyond what is normally experienced during sleep.
This heightened awareness then leads to lucidity and full consciousness within the dream.
There are very real, concrete, real-world causes for this. In fact, these causes are so well known that anyone can learn how to lucid dream by following specific techniques.
By identifying the natural causes of lucid dreams we can definitely say that no evil influence or supernatural force is responsible for the state of dream lucidity.
Lucid dreaming is natural and many people actually do it spontaneously without any effort, as I covered in this article.
Areas of the brain that are usually inactive, or subdued, during sleep become activated in the lucid dreamer.
This then leads to the dreamer becoming “awake” within the dream. All that is needed to control a dream is to be conscious that you are dreaming.
So, it is the brain activity that causes controlled dreaming and nothing else.
The Important Role Lucid Dreams Play In The Bible
The bible is filled with stories about dreaming and tells us how God often uses dreams to communicate with mankind. A perfect example of God using a dream to communicate with mankind can be found in the book of Job.
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men,
while slumbering on their beds,
then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction … (Job 13:15-16)
As you can see dreams play a very important role in the life of humans. In the above example we can take the word “men” to mean mankind, as women can be instructed through dreams in exactly the same way.
Pilot’s wife is a perfect example of how God uses dreams to communicate to women. Pilot’s wife experienced a dream warning about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying,
“Have thou nothing to do with that just man:
for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him”. (Mathew: 27:19)
The bible has many references to the role that vivid dreams play in the lives of men and women.
This biblical-inspired infographic is an excellent way to instantly see how God used dreams to communicate with his creation and to guide people in the Scriptures.
Even today God uses vivid dreams to communicate with us and to guide us in our everyday lives. So, we can see that vivid dreams themselves are not inherently evil.
In fact, one could argue that some dreams are spiritual in nature simply because they offer us a way of listening to our Creator.
However, just because lucid dreaming is not supernatural and is not a sin in itself, that does not mean it cannot be used to commit a sin.
Just as life itself is a gift from God and can be used to live a pious, just and spiritual life, or it can be used to live a depraved and sinful existence, lucid dreaming can be used in exactly the same manner!
Well, to answer that question we need to investigate how lucid dreams can be used to sin. But, before we do that it’s a good idea to touch upon the spiritual nature of lucid dreaming to see if it has any inherent spiritual dangers associated with it.
Lucid dreaming Christians
As we have seen the Bible tells us of how Yahweh has many times used dreams as a conduit for talking to mankind.
Vivid lifelike dreams occur through the Bible from the Old Testament right through to Revelations in the New Testament.
The Bible is filled with stories of how God spoke to his people through vivid dreams.
The old and new testaments document vivid lifelike conscious dreaming.
So, as God often allows his subjects to be fully consciously aware in a dream (a mark of the lucid dream) we can safely safe that lucid dreaming is not a sin for Christians.
However, you must be careful in the type of lucid dreams you have.
I discuss later in this article ways in which lucid dreaming can be used to sin without realizing it and how you can avoid falling into that trap.
It is worth mentioning here that lucid dreaming, in and of itself, is no more a sin than normal dreaming is.
It is just that if you willing do something in a lucid dream that you would consider to be wrong and against biblical teachings if you did it in waking life, then you run the risk of sinning.
Is lucid dreaming a sin for a catholic?
I was raised in an Irish Catholic family and attended mass every Sunday until I reached the age of 15 when I stopped going.
Back then I lost my faith and started down a terrible path the story of which is too lengthy to go into here.
Luckily, since then I have reconnected to my faith and embraced Christ as my redeemer.
Although I no longer consider myself to be Catholic, being raised in the Catholic Church I am well versed in its teachings.
Lucid dreaming is not a sin for Catholics.
As long as you do not use a lucid dream to commit acts that are considered sinful in the real world, then lucid dreaming is perfect fine for a Catholic.
If you still have doubts about whether a lucid dream is caused by supernatural forces or not – as the devil can use natural laws to aid his work just as easily as he can use supernatural forces – you can refer to the bible to see why lucid dreaming is not sinful.
To understand why this experience is not a sin let’s start by looking at the Bible.
Lucid Dreaming Can Only Be Dangerous Spiritually If Used To Commit Sins
Okay so we have seen that it is possible to commit a sin or multiple sins within a lucid dream. Does this mean we should avoid lucid dreaming? Is lucid dreaming dangerous spiritually?
Lucid dreaming itself is no more spiritually dangerous than a normal dream.
There is nothing to fear in a lucid dream nor anything that can harm you spiritually. But it can be spiritually dangerous to people who use it to intentionally commit sins.
Simply put, a lucid dream is in no way dangerous in and of itself. You cannot get hurt in a lucid dream, either spiritually or physically!
So it is no more bad to experience a lucid dream than it is to experience your everyday life while you are awake.
However, because you can do anything you want in a lucid dream it is possible to do things that are at odds with your spiritual beliefs, which could be spiritually dangerous for you.
If you take an action within a lucid dream that you would consider to be a sin if you did it in real life then you have basically committed a sin, even though it was only in a lucid dream.
If you use a lucid dream to do something you know is wrong and against your religious beliefs then you may be committing a sin.
Why is it a sin to take a spiritually dangerous action in a lucid dream but not a sin when it happens in an ordinary dream?
The answer is simple. When you do things in ordinary dreams you are not consciously responsible for your actions because it is your subconscious mind that is enacting the dream – you just go along for the ride.
However, because a lucid dream is totally under your control and feels just as real as real life, you are 100% responsible for your actions and what happens in the dream.
How lucid dreaming can be sometimes used to sin
So, we know that lucid dreaming itself is not a sin.
However, because you have full control over a lucid and what happens in it, it is possible to do things that would be considered sinful – even though everything is happening in your mind.
How is this the case?
Well, as lucid dreams are controlled dreams that feel just as real as real life it can be argued that sinning within a lucid dream is exactly the same as sinning in real life.
So, although sleeping with your neighbor’s hot wife in a lucid dream won’t have the same potential disastrous affects in the dream as it would in real life, you will still have committed a sin as far as the Bible is concerned.
Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28.
The Bible tells us that adultery is a sin in the Book of Exodus.
So this statement from Jesus lets us known that lusting (intensely craving after) a woman is the same as actually sleeping with her.
So, by normal deduction, if thinking about committing adultery is a sin then experiencing it in a lucid dream must be a sin also.
I would go as far to say that this applies to all sins.
If you think lustfully (not a passing thought but a deep desire) about something sinful then you have committed a sin even though you took no physical action to make it happen.
So, if you go a step further and actually create circumstances and situations within a lucid dream where you can “physically” experience something that is considered sinful in the real world then you will have sinned just as much as if you had did it in real life.
How to avoid sinning in a lucid dream
It is easy to avoid sinning in a lucid dream; just keep true to your values and stick with your spiritual integrity.
If doing something in the real world is sinful, don’t do it in a lucid dream. It’s as simple as that.
Obviously this means avoiding doing anything that goes against the 10 commandments and the spiritual dictates of your specific religion.
This will differ from person to person.
For example, if a Catholic who is married gets married to another woman in his lucid dreams and sleeps with her then he has committed adultery in his dreams and could be viewed as having sinned – even if the second wife is a completely fabricated person who doesn’t exist.
A Mormon, however, would be committing no sin because he is permitted by his religion to have multiple wives.
If each of the men slept with a married woman, in his own lucid dream, then both would be guilty of sin because they would have committed adultery.
Of course the same applies to stealing, killing, lusting after a neighbor’s goods etc.
Get it? It’s pretty straightforward.
If it’s a sin in real life, then it’s a sin to do it in a lucid dream!
To ensure you enjoy your lucid dream without running the risk of committing a sin just don’t do anything in a lucid dream that you know is sinful in the real world.
While in a state of lucidity, before you do something you are in doubt about, simply ask yourself, “if I did this in real life would I be sinning?” If the answer is “yes”, then don’t do it.
It really is that simple!
This still leaves a lot of scope to have great fun in your lucid dreams. After all, flying, playing Super Bowl football, scoring the winning goal in the World Cup, vacationing in Dubai, living in a castle or being a famous supermodel are not sins in real life so why not enjoy them in your lucid dreams?!
As long as you stick to your spiritual values without compromise and stay within the laws of your religious group then you can do anything you want in a lucid dream.
And, at the end of the day it isn’t just about having fun.
Lucid dreaming has many benefits including some you can take with you into the real world.
Learning to lucid dream is well worth the effort and you can do it sin-free!
