Are selfies sinful? Russian Orthodox leader says, 'yes'

'Today our social nets have a real disease when our young people are ready to do anything...'

We're all guilty of taking selfies - whether they're to reveal what's happening in our social lives or to send a friend evidence of the perfect haircut. While these simple images may seem innocent, one religious leader insists it is a sinful act and a dangerous trend.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow claims those obsessed with capturing the perfect selfie for online acceptance are the "disease of society."

After a liturgy at the Moscow Epiphany Cathedral, he explained: "Today our social nets have a real disease when our young people are ready to do anything, sometimes even [horrific] things, to risk their lives, so that someone says that he likes it.

"The English word 'like' is used to show such support. Some young people have only one goal, to collect 'likes,' if there are no 'likes' they feel it like a personal tragedy."

He continued, dubbing the obsession with receiving "likes" a gateway to sinful thoughts and acts. One of the greatest examples is when young teens begin taking nude and suggestive selfies, believing the number of "likes" they receive somehow equals their self worth.

"The whole civilisation is directed to help a person perceive these sinful images. to many people it is important from the point of obtaining money, others pursue more dangerous goals, but it is a fact that there are almost no movies without an image that excite sinful thoughts."

While many younger kids are engaging in the dangerous and sinful behavior, others attempt death-defying tricks for more "shares" and likes.

In Russia alone, about 100 people died or were seriously injured in their attempts to capture the perfect selfie in 2015. With such a number of entirely avoidable deaths, it is little wonder the Russian Orthodox leader calls the practice dangerous and sinful.

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