Is texting or using a hand held cell phone a sin to confess?

Andrew21091 · Nov 2, 2009

I would say, it can be a sin since doing so can possible endanger the lives of others. What if you were focused on your phone and did not see the light turn red and you run right through it and hit another car and they die in the crash. Why did the person die? Well, you were to busy on your cellphone to notice and you didn't see the car. We have to be conscious of the people around us when driving and we have to drive safely so that we do not cause harm to others through our negligence.

MariaRegina · Nov 2, 2009

Hey, Philothei,

In any emergency, officers try to use common sense and usually will not cite a person who must use his/her hand held cell phone to call 911.
Since 911 calls are recorded that will be evidence in favor of the person.

In those cases, surely, it is not missing the mark to try to save your life, especially if you are taking every precaution. You are a mother, and your teenage daughter needs you. On the contrary, if one were to avoid any evasive measures to avoid harm by not using the cell phone to alert police, then that could be missing the mark because one could be killed.

In July, I received a citation for parking during the Wednesday Sweeping time. However, the sign was weathered and not clearly visible. Furthermore, there was only one sign that was visible and that was clear at the end of the street while we had parked at the other end. So, the officer dismissed our ticket in the cause of justice.

But that was Glendale, California. When the same scenario happened in Los Angeles, two years prior, the courts would not buy our argument. Los Angeles is chronically broke.

Philothei · Nov 2, 2009

I witnessed an emergency once ... by my friend who called her husband as someone was tailgaiting and harassing her in the highway. She was lucky to be able to call her husband as for some reason she could not call 911... or the local police her phone was going in and out of the signal.... So she was lucky to happen to be on the phone with him .. She has the speaker phone though when she talks. But that is the kind of emergency when ....you absolutely have to use it...even if it is a hand held phone. The fella followed her up all way to her home... She did not hesitate to let him follow here as the police had arrived in their home already waiting for her.... Maybe irrelevant to this thread but still the usage of cell phones is not always recreational...as some think... It is a true life saver..... So Technology is not that bad when we use it for good purpose it is when it is used in a bad way that it is harmful....

Should we encourage our youth to use phones and texting I think they should learn as whatever you know it is a good thing.... Should we site all those teens that text while driving sure we should there is no excuse. But we should not "forbit" the usage completely as in emergency cases it might be a life saver.... And God forbit we never know when this time will come.....when we are on the road.

michaeldimmickjr · Nov 3, 2009

there is no law against it where i live or the state in which i work.

Dorothea · Nov 3, 2009

Philothei said:
I witnessed an emergency once ... by my friend who called her husband as someone was tailgaiting and harassing her in the highway. She was lucky to be able to call her husband as for some reason she could not call 911... or the local police her phone was going in and out of the signal.... So she was lucky to happen to be on the phone with him .. She has the speaker phone though when she talks. But that is the kind of emergency when ....you absolutely have to use it...even if it is a hand held phone. The fella followed her up all way to her home... She did not hesitate to let him follow here as the police had arrived in their home already waiting for her.... Maybe irrelevant to this thread but still the usage of cell phones is not always recreational...as some think... It is a true life saver..... So Technology is not that bad when we use it for good purpose it is when it is used in a bad way that it is harmful....

Should we encourage our youth to use phones and texting I think they should learn as whatever you know it is a good thing.... Should we site all those teens that text while driving sure we should there is no excuse. But we should not "forbit" the usage completely as in emergency cases it might be a life saver.... And God forbit we never know when this time will come.....when we are on the road.

Remember that news story where that teenaged girl was kidnapped and held somewhere by some guy and got a hold of her cell phone (forget how) and text to her parents where she was trapped, and because of that, the police and her parents were able to find her and save her before this insane man killed her.

MariaRegina · Nov 3, 2009

Dorothea said:
Remember that news story where that teenaged girl was kidnapped and held somewhere by some guy and got a hold of her cell phone (forget how) and text to her parents where she was trapped, and because of that, the police and her parents were able to find her and save her before this insane man killed her.

Yes, I agree that cell phone usage can save lives, but I am talking about abuse of the technology by addicts who must keep their fingers on texting buttons and so lose sight of driving. That behavior is wrong and deadly.

We cannot excuse such irrational behavior.

As a teacher, I have seen teenagers who are so addicted to texting that they lie and say they must use the restroom (to continue their conversations there). I finally caught on when one youth said that he was sick and had to use the restroom every ten minutes. When I urged him to visit the nurse, he suddenly was well. Not only that, several classmates volunteered that he was chatting with his girlfriend (via Blackberry) and that they were following the conversation on one of the popular website like My Space. So one sin leads to another.

Philothei · Nov 3, 2009

It is a fad.... MR.... Risky behaviour in teens is already there...in their hormones They drink and drive... bad... now the text and drive as bad... Did you like the fifties where they raced each other in the highways ??? that was another type of risky behaviour every generation has them... Unfortunately we cannot forbit them to have cell phones. We can tell them the dangers and hope for the best. Is it sinful all compulsive behaviours are sinful but we cannot blame technology for it.... Then we should blame the fact we have cars Are cars sinful because using them we can kill people?

Philothei · Nov 3, 2009

Dorothea said:
Remember that news story where that teenaged girl was kidnapped and held somewhere by some guy and got a hold of her cell phone (forget how) and text to her parents where she was trapped, and because of that, the police and her parents were able to find her and save her before this insane man killed her.

No I had no idea but yup another example why skills like that are important to learn...I have no clue BTW how to text and i would never be able to do it... the letters are too small ....My daughter texts to her friends all the time. At school they are not allowed to have their cells on... If they phone rings they would be called in to the head master. It is a small Orthodox school Strict and just what we need
My daughter answers the phone for me....in the car. I usually tel her to tell them I will call back... ONLY three four people have my cell phone number my in laws my hubby my daughter and my Greek school director... for emergencies. I consider the calls I make emergency....When I call I call to say I am late etc. if I am out shoping. Otherwise I mostly forget to even take it withme...lol... I hate cell phones...but in case of emergecncy they are truly life savers.

MariaRegina · Nov 3, 2009

Cars are not rational animals, so of course those objects cannot sin.

It is the wrong use of cell phones and cars by humans that is sinful.

Remember that dynamite was originally developed to aid in construction, but it was then developed as a weapon.

Cellphones are being used by terrorists to trigger bombs. Does that mean we must outlaw cell phones? No, of course not.

Anyway, we are continually going off topic by asking such questions.

The point remains: people cannot drive attentively and use hand held cell phones or texting devices like Blackberries and laptops. Police do use these devices but they are often using the buddy system so that while one officer drives, the other can use communicative devices. That is part of their job to protect our lives.

brinny · Nov 3, 2009

any careless gambling of life is a sin.

MariaRegina · Nov 3, 2009

brinny said:
any careless gambling of life is a sin.

Amen, Brinny!

Dorothea · Nov 3, 2009

MariaRegina said:
Yes, I agree that cell phone usage can save lives, but I am talking about abuse of the technology by addicts who must keep their fingers on texting buttons and so lose sight of driving. That behavior is wrong and deadly.

We cannot excuse such irrational behavior.

As a teacher, I have seen teenagers who are so addicted to texting that they lie and say they must use the restroom (to continue their conversations there). I finally caught on when one youth said that he was sick and had to use the restroom every ten minutes. When I urged him to visit the nurse, he suddenly was well. Not only that, several classmates volunteered that he was chatting with his girlfriend (via Blackberry) and that they were following the conversation on one of the popular website like My Space. So one sin leads to another.

Oh, you're talking about addicts. Well, that's a different story. Yes, when texting becomes your "Idol," because there's no room for God, then, yeah, it's like anything we make idols. It's sinful.

Dorothea · Nov 3, 2009

Philothei said:
No I had no idea but yup another example why skills like that are important to learn...I have no clue BTW how to text and i would never be able to do it... the letters are too small ....My daughter texts to her friends all the time. At school they are not allowed to have their cells on... If they phone rings they would be called in to the head master. It is a small Orthodox school Strict and just what we need
My daughter answers the phone for me....in the car. I usually tel her to tell them I will call back... ONLY three four people have my cell phone number my in laws my hubby my daughter and my Greek school director... for emergencies. I consider the calls I make emergency....When I call I call to say I am late etc. if I am out shoping. Otherwise I mostly forget to even take it withme...lol... I hate cell phones...but in case of emergecncy they are truly life savers.

I always take my phone with me for fear my car will breakdown, and I'll be stuck on the side of the road, and some stranger will come and get me and that'll be that. Yeah, sometimes I'm a bit paranoid. I was glad I had my cell phone with me a couple years ago when one of my tires got a terrible flat. I pulled over and called my auto insurance company, and somebody was there in about 20 minutes, thank goodness.

MariaRegina · Nov 3, 2009

If people had read the complete article in the OP, then they would see that the young waitress, Phillipa Curtis, 22, who was sent to prison for 21 months was engaged in text messaging her friends about one of her restaurant clients, a popular singer. This addictive behavior distracted her from paying attention to the traffic. As a result, a young fashion designer, Victoria McBryde, only 24 years old, was killed by Phillipa when Victoria had pulled over to the side of the road with car problems and had just messaged her mother for help. When Victoria's mother called her back on her cell, Victoria was already dead.

Had Phillipa not been repentant, the judge would have sentenced her to four to seven years as the law commands. He was lenient also because she was a first time violator. In the article, it mentions that for many young people, this conviction was a wake up call to be more responsible with texting and cell phone usage.

Anhelyna · Nov 4, 2009

How about including eating and drinking while at the wheel ?

It's every bit as bad as using a handheld phone and making calls and texting , oh --- and don't forget smoking .

Yes all these can be regarded as offences in the UK if the police feel you have less than perfect control of your vehicle .

Julina · Nov 4, 2009

Anhelyna said:
How about including eating and drinking while at the wheel ?

It's every bit as bad as using a handheld phone and making calls and texting , oh --- and don't forget smoking .

Yes all these can be regarded as offences in the UK if the police feel you have less than perfect control of your vehicle .

don't forget shaving or applying makeup. or using a laptop. yes, i saw some guy using his laptop behind the wheel

Philothei · Nov 4, 2009

We should include kneating, reading (some read the paper) or books. Would praying be considered also sinful during driving? I mean it can be distracting for sure if one is praying with his whole mind and soul....

Dorothea · Nov 4, 2009

Julina said:
don't forget shaving or applying makeup. or using a laptop. yes, i saw some guy using his laptop behind the wheel

I don't know how they do it. The shaving reminds me of an old cartoon (one of those narrated types) where this guy is shaving in the car, and the narrator said, "You have to be veerrry careful..." and the car hits a pothole, and then the car parks on the curb and the guy comes out and passes a person and he reaches for his hat to greet the person, and his whole head comes off with the hat, a smile plastered on his face. Sorry, but that cartoon was funny.

MariaRegina · Nov 4, 2009

Philothei said:
We should include kneating, reading (some read the paper) or books. Would praying be considered also sinful during driving? I mean it can be distracting for sure if one is praying with his whole mind and soul....

That reminds me of Kyriakos Markides' book, The Mountain of Silence, where he talks about a college professor who could not teach while he was praying the Jesus Prayer

So his SF told him not to pray the Jesus Prayer when he had to focus on academics, etc.

Again, common sense!

Is texting or using a hand held cell phone a sin to confess?

Is texting or holding a cell phone while driving a sin?

I consider driving while texting or holding a cell phone to be a sin.

While I do drive and text/hold a cell phone, I do not consider it a sin.

What a person does in his/her own car, is his/her own business.

Sin, what is sin?

Is outrage. Did 19th Century Russia have cell phones or text messaging?

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