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Full Version: Prohibition of scaring and terrifying
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BH

From the Divine Code (p 440, topic 1):

"Just as it is forbidden to murder, it is likewise forbidden to harm any person, whether male or female, old or young. This applies not only to physical harm, such as wounding or bruising, but also to emotional harm, such as scaring, terrifying, or embarrassing a person (for example, stripping a person in public)"

I have plans to write frightening tales in the future. Surely the prohibition of scaring and terrifying a person does not apply when the reader wants to be scared and terrified. In that case there is no emotional harm at all.

But what about children who are too young to understand that these tales are fiction? Would I be liable for causing emotional harm to them?
Perhaps we can say that this would be similar to the case of someone who publishes x-rated pornographic literature for adults, which gets into the hands of children who then get corrupted by it, thus causing them moral harm.

The high road in the path of service to G-d would be to use your writing talents in ways that will inspire and uplift people of all ages to become closer and more attached to their Father in Heaven, Who is the essence of goodness and purity. That is what the world needs at this time. In other words, it is the call of the hour. Who will answer this call, if not you? And if not now, when?