Is masturbation a sin?

[Aqualung]

Is it even possible to rise above our nature? Isn't that like saying to become something else besides what we are?

I've been doing a pretty good job of it.

It is also natural to be compassionate, altruistic, and caring.

No it isn't. That's something you have to learn. Compassionate, altruistic, and caring things don't survive for very long in normal circumstances. Kids aren't compassionate, altruistic, and caring, so it's something you have to learn.

How can you unlearn what's probably a genetic predisposition? You can manage your predispositions, but you cannot unlearn them.

Fine. Manage or unlearn, the end result is still the same.

Is there really any difference between natural and spiritual? Isn't the spiritual also part of our nature?

There's a huge difference. For example, natural is giving into your tendencies to masturbate. Spiritual is not acting on those feelings until you have a spouse to do it with.

The question regarding masturbation, which is natural, is not a matter of masturbation being bad simply because it's natural. There are many things natural to us (compassion, for instance) that we don't condemn merely because they are natural. Human nature comprises both things that we label good and things that we label bad. So, on what basis, other than whether something is natural or not, do you base your opposition to masturbation?

It's because sexual intercourse is for marriage. It's something God gave us to be used within a marriage. Any pre/extra marital sex, or any attempt to imitate sex, is sinful because it degrades it.

 

[Deut 13:1]

http://www.jewfaq.org/sex.htm

Jewish law clearly prohibits male masturbation. This law is derived from the story of Onan (Gen. 38:8-10), who practiced coitus interruptus as a means of birth control to avoid fathering a child for his deceased brother. G-d killed Onan for this sin. Although Onan's act was not truly masturbation, Jewish law takes a very broad view of the acts prohibited by this passage, and forbids any act of ha-sh'cha'tat zerah (destruction of the seed), that is, ejaculation outside of the vagina. In fact, the prohibition is so strict that one passage in the Talmud states, "in the case of a man, the hand that reaches below the navel should be chopped off." (Niddah 13a)

The issue is somewhat less clear for women. Obviously, spilling the seed is not going to happen in female masturbation, and there is no explicit Torah prohibition against female masturbation. Nevertheless, Judaism generally frowns upon female masturbation as "impure thoughts."

 

[Sunstone]

No it isn't. That's something you have to learn. Compassionate, altruistic, and caring things don't survive for very long in normal circumstances. Kids aren't compassionate, altruistic, and caring, so it's something you have to learn.

The majority of evolutionary biologists would probably disagree with you on this notion that compassion, altruism, and caring are things which are unnatural to us.

It's because sexual intercourse is for marriage. It's something God gave us to be used within a marriage. Any pre/extra marital sex, or any attempt to imitate sex, is sinful because it degrades it.

It seems to me that it's easy to day "it degrades it", but what prevents that from being empty rhetoric? In other words, precisely how does masturbation degrade sex within marriage? Are you arguing that it simply competes with sex within marriage? I've heard that most men continue to masturabate even after they get married. Does that result in a concrete and measurable loss to the quality or quantity of sex they have with their partner?

 

[Aqualung]

The majority of evolutionary biologists would probably disagree with you on this notion that compassion, altruism, and caring are things which are unnatural to us.

Good for them.

It seems to me that it's easy to day "it degrades it", but what prevents that from being empty rhetoric?

And it seems like equally empty rhetoric to say masturbation is a perfectly fine and dandy pasttime.

In other words, precisely how does masturbation degrade sex within marriage?

It takes something that you should only be doing with your spouse, and you start doing that with your hand. It's like when I use the word "God" I only do it in reference to him or when I'm speaking directly to him. If I didn't, it would degrade it.

Are you arguing that it simply competes with sex within marriage?

I don't think it could compete, no. But it's taking something special and making it mundane, second-rate, and commonplace.

I've heard that most men continue to masturabate even after they get married. Does that result in a concrete and measurable loss to the quality or quantity of sex they have with their partner?

I wouldn't know.

 

[michel]

Having posted, as I did, a link to show that animals masterbate, I must admit that when I have done so, in the past, I have felt guilt. It was almost as if I was being unfaithful to my wife for doing so.


But I tend to have crazy ideas anyway.

 

[Sunstone]

I suppose the problem here is that I cannot see the statement, "masturbation degrades sex within marriage", as being meaningful unless it refers to some evidence that the quality or quantity of sex is reduced by masturbation.

 

[michel]

I suppose the problem here is that I cannot see the statement, "masturbation degrades sex within marriage", as being meaningful unless it refers to some evidence that the quality or quantity of sex is reduced by masturbation.

I agree. The rules that apply to me are personal, most likely tempered by sexual hang ups, and not the ones I would ever expect others to abide by. I would think that masturbation could be regarded as a useful 'excess steam outlet' if one partner has a higher sex drive than the other.

Like I said, I'm not exactly the 'norm'.

 

[Aqualung]

I suppose the problem here is that I cannot see the statement, "masturbation degrades sex within marriage", as being meaningful unless it refers to some evidence that the quality or quantity of sex is reduced by masturbation.

Well, there you go. That's why we will always disagree on this one.

 

[Beck63Don]

Masturbation is natural and healthy if not done to excess. If it interfers with the rest of your life, then it's done to excess. But generally speaking it harms neither oneself nor others to masturbate.

 

[Deut 13:1]

Masturbation is natural and healthy if not done to excess. If it interfers with the rest of your life, then it's done to excess. But generally speaking it harms neither oneself nor others to masturbate.

It's healthy??? Well, I have my doubts about that, but I'll tell you what, you will be the absolute first person I tell when I get sick and the doctor tells me, "You're just not masturbating enough which is making you unhealthy."

But you might be waiting awhile for that to happen.

 

[pdoel]

There are so many contradictions when it comes to religion and how we currently live our lives. I guess that's what makes these debates so interesting.

Many religions teach that the purpose of sex is to procreate. Many consider it a sin to use birth control. Even during many marriage ceremonies, you vow to accept all Children. I even know people who feel it's a sin to have sex UNLESS you are trying to have children.

Many against homosexuality say it's unnatural because by instinct, man wants to reproduce, and that's why man is attracted to women, and vice versa. And since people of the same sex can't reproduce together, it's unnatural and against God's will.

Some religions now preach that birth control such as the Pill or a condom, or whatever, is a Sin. Yet, they say it's ok to use other methods (abstanance or the method where you figure when a woman would be ovulating, and avoid sex during those times).

But really, isn't that just another form of birth control?

If the purpose of sex is to reproduce, and God wants us to accept all children that he wishes to give us, then wouldn't any form of fighting the urges be a sin? Wouldn't it be a sin for a woman to deny her husband sex if his natural instincts tells him he wants it?

Of course, if he were to force it, that's a crime.

Just too many contradictions. It's wrong to have sex. It's right to have sex. It's wrong to fight the urge, but you should fight the urge, but just don't use birth control.

Blah blah blah blah blah.

 

[pdoel]

It's healthy??? Well, I have my doubts about that, but I'll tell you what, you will be the absolute first person I tell when I get sick and the doctor tells me, "You're just not masturbating enough which is making you unhealthy."

Well, you can doubt all you want, but it is indeed a fact. The body needs to get rid of semen. People who have sex more often, or who masturbate on a regular basis are much less likely to get testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

 

[Beck63Don]

It's healthy??? Well, I have my doubts about that, but I'll tell you what, you will be the absolute first person I tell when I get sick and the doctor tells me, "You're just not masturbating enough which is making you unhealthy."

But you might be waiting awhile for that to happen.

It's got to be healthier for you than sexual frustration and pent up tension.

 

[Deut 13:1]

Well, you can doubt all you want, but it is indeed a fact. The body needs to get rid of semen. People who have sex more often, or who masturbate on a regular basis are much less likely to get testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

Yes well, as I said, you'll be the first to know when my doctor tells me, "You need to masturbate more, it's making you sick".

 

[michel]

Well, you can doubt all you want, but it is indeed a fact. The body needs to get rid of semen. People who have sex more often, or who masturbate on a regular basis are much less likely to get testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

Oh, dear..................

 

[Nehustan]

Posted this before, but as the issue of masturbation and Doctor's has come up, and for those who missed it first time around....

Man goes to see the Doctor, who says 'Mr. Jones you really really really have to stop masturbating!'

'Why?' says Mr. Jones, 'Am I going to blind?'

'Oh no no no,' replies the Doctor, 'but you are really disturbing everyone else in the waiting room.'

:tsk:​

 

[jeffrey]

It can even be fun to watch your partner while they play! CAN I GET A WOW, BABY!

 

[Quiddity]

Well, you can doubt all you want, but it is indeed a fact. The body needs to get rid of semen. People who have sex more often, or who masturbate on a regular basis are much less likely to get testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

So much for having sex with my wife. For the sake of my health I'm replacing her for my hand. Much quicker. As if the body new the difference between masturbation and having sex with my wife...

``Victor

 

[jeffrey]

So much for having sex with my wife. For the sake of my health I'm replacing her for my hand. Much quicker. As if the body new the difference between masturbation and having sex with my wife...

``Victor

I hope your wife don't read this forum! You won't get none for a month!

 

[mr.guy]

So much for having sex with my wife. For the sake of my health I'm replacing her for my hand. Much quicker. As if the body new the difference between masturbation and having sex with my wife...

Who knows? Maybe your wife won't be able to compete with your competance concerning the "task at hand".