Masturbation is it a Sin?
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:47 pm
Masturbation Is it a Sin?
By Glenda Jones
Is masturbation a sin? A lot of people certainly think so. Looking across the major world religions it is difficult to find anyone that has much good to say for the practice. We can start with the largest religious denomination in the world: The Roman Catholic Church (RCC).
A young man asks a priest on the Catholic Internet Forum [1] about masturbation. He states that he believes there are positive benefits to it and wonders why the Church is down on it.
A priest, Fr. Vincent Serpa answers,
Even if the physical benefits to masturbation were substantial, which I doubt, they would not justify the negative results. Masturbation conflicts with the whole purpose of sexuality. The act of sexual intercourse is the physical expression of the marriage vows made at the altar. It is therefore an expression of Christian love, i.e. concern for the other. It is the most complete way of expressing the total self-donation of one person to another. Total means until death.
I want to quickly add that there is a diversity of opinion on this matter, even within the RCC. Catholics certainly do masturbate. Among the more liberal Protestant denominations, it would raise little concern providing it is done in private. Still, officially, among many Christians it is not just a no no, but a major sin at that.
Islam, the worlds second largest religion, has similar feelings to the RCC. Totally forbidden in the Shia sect [2], it can be tolerated under certain conditions in other branches. Sort of like eating pork if one is starving and there is nothing else. What is interesting is the belief system on the part of many Muslims regarding the health hazards of masturbation. Muhummad bin Ameed, [3] an Islamic apologist notes that
There are a number of confirmed health hazards that could arise as a result of masturbation. From them: the dispersion of the mind, as it will attempt to recall sexual interactions prior to masturbating, and this leads in the long-term a weakening of the memory. Also, (for the male), the hand is relatively rougher than the vagina, masturbating leads, in the long term, to a weakening of the sensitivity of the male penis.
Another interesting input is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They go to great length in order to justify an anti-masturbation position based on the Bible. They proclaim ways to overcome the habit. In short, they are firmly opposed to the practice at least officially. One Mormon counselor says, [4]
Be assured that you can be cured of your difficulty. Many have been (so troubled) , both male and female, and you can be also (leave this practice) if you determine that it must be so.
The Jewish position is strongly a function of who you talk to. The average Reform rabbi would probably have nothing in particular to say other than it is a private matter. An Orthodox might be opposed. In reference [5] is what I consider to be a middle of the road position. In short, it may not be the best way to achieve sexual gratification, but is preferable to pre or extra marital intercourse.
So at this point the question could well be asked, Why is it so bad? Naturally people can do stupid things to their bodies. Some forms of masturbation can be harmful of course. Some masturbation fantasies are dangerous. Some people die every year from asphyxiation via oxygen deprivation while masturbating. One can also argue that some forms of pornography, which are now readily available on the Internet could be psychologically harmful. Yet, done in any reasonable manner masturbation does not hurt anyone and there are actually several physical and mental benefits. It does not spread any sexually transmitted diseases. It does not get anyone pregnant out of wedlock. The argument that masturbation leads to this or that is groundless. Yes, child molesters masturbate, but so do some of the nicest people around.
Again, Why is it so bad?
The answer is simple. It does not make babies. At the core of the propagation of any religious faith, or, for that matter, any political empire is the need for children. The one best way to make anyone into a Catholic is to have them born into a Catholic family. The same can be said for any other religious faith. The one way you propagate those who speak English as their native tongue is for them to be born into an English speaking family. Simple as that. Masturbation is one perfect form of birth control and that is the antithesis of any movement wanting to expand.
At this point we need to reflect that in years past, large families formed the basis for society. We still see signs on a hardware store: Jones and Sons. The kids in many cases took care of their parents in their old age. In the United States there was in years past the vast expanse of land waiting to be tilled. New industries to be formed and all this equaled expansion of population. To make a long story short, smaller families are now in vogue. Educating children is ever more expensive. Having a large family hoping your kids will take care of you in old age is no longer particularly feasible. That argument to me is totally passe.
In keeping with the introduction to this paper, it is well to look at the Bible. Here is one document that forms the cornerstone of human society and morality in the United States and Europe. What does the Bible have to say about masturbation? Short answer: nothing at all. It has a lot to say about other sexual issues. Adultery, for example, is one of the basic Ten. (Exodus 20:14). You shall not commit adultery. There are many references to promiscuous sex.
Again, nowhere in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is there any mention of masturbation. There are attempts to try and make the Bible say what it does not say. One favorite argument along this line is Genesis 38:4-9, the story about Onan. Here it is from the New American Standard Bible. Basically a family matter and you can read the whole thing if you like in your own Bible.
Judah and Shua when they lived at Chezib had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's first-born, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life. Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so it came about that when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground, in order not to give offspring to his brother. But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.
.
Here is the gist. Where Onan got into trouble had nothing at all to do with masturbation. It was over his not getting his brothers wife pregnant so she would bear more kids carrying on his brothers name. This is simply a weak and not to the point argument against masturbation.
One other verse I will comment upon. It is Matthew 5:27-28 (quoting Jesus)
You have heard that you shall not commit adultery. But I will say that if you lust after a woman (in your mind) you have committed adultery with her already.
Here there is a point to me. Masturbation fantasies are normally harmless. One masturbates and goes to sleep with no problems. To me the only issue might be if someone tries to act out a fantasy and it causes problems for them or someone else, then there is a problem to be dealt with. There are bizarre ways some people may want to masturbate and about all that can be said is that common sense should prevail. The very fact that the Bible, a book of human experience written two to three thousand years ago does not even mention it is significant. People have been masturbating for a long time and it normally is not a problem.
I will close on one point. Kids need to be taught that masturbation is a normal way of dealing with our sexual nature especially as we become adults. There are rules: you do it in private and dont talk about it all that much. Married couples may well find that mutual masturbation is an excellent alternative to intercourse when making babies is not the objective in the exercise. Beyond that all I can say is to enjoy life to its fullest and that includes a responsible expression of our sexual inclinations.
References:
[1] http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=157641
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_masturbation
[3] http://www.ibnamin.com/masturbation_en.htm
[4] http://ldolphin.org/mormon.html
[5] http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Se ... tion.shtml
By Glenda Jones
Is masturbation a sin? A lot of people certainly think so. Looking across the major world religions it is difficult to find anyone that has much good to say for the practice. We can start with the largest religious denomination in the world: The Roman Catholic Church (RCC).
A young man asks a priest on the Catholic Internet Forum [1] about masturbation. He states that he believes there are positive benefits to it and wonders why the Church is down on it.
A priest, Fr. Vincent Serpa answers,
Even if the physical benefits to masturbation were substantial, which I doubt, they would not justify the negative results. Masturbation conflicts with the whole purpose of sexuality. The act of sexual intercourse is the physical expression of the marriage vows made at the altar. It is therefore an expression of Christian love, i.e. concern for the other. It is the most complete way of expressing the total self-donation of one person to another. Total means until death.
I want to quickly add that there is a diversity of opinion on this matter, even within the RCC. Catholics certainly do masturbate. Among the more liberal Protestant denominations, it would raise little concern providing it is done in private. Still, officially, among many Christians it is not just a no no, but a major sin at that.
Islam, the worlds second largest religion, has similar feelings to the RCC. Totally forbidden in the Shia sect [2], it can be tolerated under certain conditions in other branches. Sort of like eating pork if one is starving and there is nothing else. What is interesting is the belief system on the part of many Muslims regarding the health hazards of masturbation. Muhummad bin Ameed, [3] an Islamic apologist notes that
There are a number of confirmed health hazards that could arise as a result of masturbation. From them: the dispersion of the mind, as it will attempt to recall sexual interactions prior to masturbating, and this leads in the long-term a weakening of the memory. Also, (for the male), the hand is relatively rougher than the vagina, masturbating leads, in the long term, to a weakening of the sensitivity of the male penis.
Another interesting input is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They go to great length in order to justify an anti-masturbation position based on the Bible. They proclaim ways to overcome the habit. In short, they are firmly opposed to the practice at least officially. One Mormon counselor says, [4]
Be assured that you can be cured of your difficulty. Many have been (so troubled) , both male and female, and you can be also (leave this practice) if you determine that it must be so.
The Jewish position is strongly a function of who you talk to. The average Reform rabbi would probably have nothing in particular to say other than it is a private matter. An Orthodox might be opposed. In reference [5] is what I consider to be a middle of the road position. In short, it may not be the best way to achieve sexual gratification, but is preferable to pre or extra marital intercourse.
So at this point the question could well be asked, Why is it so bad? Naturally people can do stupid things to their bodies. Some forms of masturbation can be harmful of course. Some masturbation fantasies are dangerous. Some people die every year from asphyxiation via oxygen deprivation while masturbating. One can also argue that some forms of pornography, which are now readily available on the Internet could be psychologically harmful. Yet, done in any reasonable manner masturbation does not hurt anyone and there are actually several physical and mental benefits. It does not spread any sexually transmitted diseases. It does not get anyone pregnant out of wedlock. The argument that masturbation leads to this or that is groundless. Yes, child molesters masturbate, but so do some of the nicest people around.
Again, Why is it so bad?
The answer is simple. It does not make babies. At the core of the propagation of any religious faith, or, for that matter, any political empire is the need for children. The one best way to make anyone into a Catholic is to have them born into a Catholic family. The same can be said for any other religious faith. The one way you propagate those who speak English as their native tongue is for them to be born into an English speaking family. Simple as that. Masturbation is one perfect form of birth control and that is the antithesis of any movement wanting to expand.
At this point we need to reflect that in years past, large families formed the basis for society. We still see signs on a hardware store: Jones and Sons. The kids in many cases took care of their parents in their old age. In the United States there was in years past the vast expanse of land waiting to be tilled. New industries to be formed and all this equaled expansion of population. To make a long story short, smaller families are now in vogue. Educating children is ever more expensive. Having a large family hoping your kids will take care of you in old age is no longer particularly feasible. That argument to me is totally passe.
In keeping with the introduction to this paper, it is well to look at the Bible. Here is one document that forms the cornerstone of human society and morality in the United States and Europe. What does the Bible have to say about masturbation? Short answer: nothing at all. It has a lot to say about other sexual issues. Adultery, for example, is one of the basic Ten. (Exodus 20:14). You shall not commit adultery. There are many references to promiscuous sex.
Again, nowhere in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is there any mention of masturbation. There are attempts to try and make the Bible say what it does not say. One favorite argument along this line is Genesis 38:4-9, the story about Onan. Here it is from the New American Standard Bible. Basically a family matter and you can read the whole thing if you like in your own Bible.
Judah and Shua when they lived at Chezib had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's first-born, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life. Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so it came about that when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground, in order not to give offspring to his brother. But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.
.
Here is the gist. Where Onan got into trouble had nothing at all to do with masturbation. It was over his not getting his brothers wife pregnant so she would bear more kids carrying on his brothers name. This is simply a weak and not to the point argument against masturbation.
One other verse I will comment upon. It is Matthew 5:27-28 (quoting Jesus)
You have heard that you shall not commit adultery. But I will say that if you lust after a woman (in your mind) you have committed adultery with her already.
Here there is a point to me. Masturbation fantasies are normally harmless. One masturbates and goes to sleep with no problems. To me the only issue might be if someone tries to act out a fantasy and it causes problems for them or someone else, then there is a problem to be dealt with. There are bizarre ways some people may want to masturbate and about all that can be said is that common sense should prevail. The very fact that the Bible, a book of human experience written two to three thousand years ago does not even mention it is significant. People have been masturbating for a long time and it normally is not a problem.
I will close on one point. Kids need to be taught that masturbation is a normal way of dealing with our sexual nature especially as we become adults. There are rules: you do it in private and dont talk about it all that much. Married couples may well find that mutual masturbation is an excellent alternative to intercourse when making babies is not the objective in the exercise. Beyond that all I can say is to enjoy life to its fullest and that includes a responsible expression of our sexual inclinations.
References:
[1] http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=157641
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_masturbation
[3] http://www.ibnamin.com/masturbation_en.htm
[4] http://ldolphin.org/mormon.html
[5] http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Se ... tion.shtml
