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[entremet]

In Christianity, some would point to the "sin of Onan," as speculawyer referenced earlier and appears to be a bad precedent. I believe the more applicable scripture reference would be in the New Testament in Matthew 5:27-28 when Jesus speaks of adultery.



By extension, masturbation, when accompanied by lustful thoughts of someone not your spouse, would essentially follow the same applicable reasoning.

This is it.

Funny thing is this is why we need grace. The command is impossible to keep perfectly.

The procreation argument is null as both Jesus and Paul were single and childless, something looked down upon at the time in traditional Jewish culture.

Christianity was one of the first religions where being single wasn't considered a blight on your character.

 

[Zoned]

How so? I am not disputing you, just wondering where this comes from.

Sexual pleasure is part of one of the four stages of life. In fact, it talks about the right way to do in Kama Sutra.

"Churn your instrument with a lion's pounce: sit with legs stretched out at right angles to one another, propping yourself up with two hands planted on the ground between in them, and it between your arms".

 

[-COOLIO-]

Of course, it is mostly for these reasons: Your genitals are a tool for procreation and not using them for that purpose alone is a form of sacrilege. Second, when you masturbate you usually fill you head with "sexy" images and therefore you instrumentalities a person to whom you fap to an object of desire. Can't think of any more reasons from the top of my head.

okay, i gotchya.

but then i wonder if it's okay to masturbate to the thought of fictional people, or non human things if you're looking to avoid the sin.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

This is it.

Funny thing is this is why we need grace. The command is impossible to keep perfectly

Quite so.

 

[Uncle_Classy]

This is at least part of the answer. However, in the past it really was necessary for people to have a bunch of kids for society to continue to function. We had a lot more need for manual labor and "back up" kids for when typhus or a failed harvest or an infected minor injury killed several. Without enough people to work a farm or hold a settlement or serve in the army, it would be over for everybody.

There it is. Every modern day religion is a continuation or an off shoot of one which began hundreds to thousands of years ago. If you really scrutinize codes of religious morality, most of it directly promotes or enforces social stability, insofar as it was necessary when they were created.

At a time when there was a tiny fraction of the modern population, you needed as many hands to work the fields and bodies to throw at swords as possible, and if you had a bunch of people busting it in their hand as opposed to inside a woman, that was ultimately a detriment to society. That detriment is irrelevant today in light of current population growth, but religious dogma, as it's handed down by God, is considered absolute and therefore isn't quick to change.

 

[spawnsniper]

If u think and believe it's wrong. Then its sin.

If u accept it and believe its fine, its not a sin.

 

[entremet]

There it is. Every modern day religion is a continuation or an off shoot of one which began hundreds to thousands of years ago. If you really scrutinize codes of religious morality, most of it directly promotes or enforces social stability, insofar as it was necessary when they were created.

At a time when there was a tiny fraction of the modern population, you needed as many hands to work the fields and bodies to throw at swords as possible, and if you had a bunch of people busting it in their hand as opposed to inside a woman, that was ultimately a detriment to society. That detriment is irrelevant today in light of current population growth, but religious dogma, as it's handed down by God, is considered absolute and therefore isn't quick to change.

Again, this is incorrect. Jesus and Paul, the founder and the most important theologian respectively were single and childless. The latter even recommended staying single, which later influenced the Catholic priesthood to celibacy.

Alternatively, Paul also said if you can't handle being single due to lust, to marry to avoid fornication.

 

[GungHo]

Sexual pleasure is part of one of the four stages of life. In fact, it talks about the right way to do in Kama Sutra.

That sounds like a lot of work.

Also, how are chicks gonna churn their instruments?

 

[mcz117chief]

okay, i gotchya.

but then i wonder if it's okay to masturbate to the thought of fictional people, or non human things if you're looking to avoid the sin.

As I said in my previous post, mate, it depends up to the person who is doing the faping. This is just the general guideline for people who are on the fence about this thing.

 

[-COOLIO-]

As I said in my previous post, mate, it depends up to the person who is doing the faping. This is just the general guideline for people who are on the fence about this thing.

ah okay, thanks man.

 

[UncleSporky]

i found this for judaism:

The most authoritative work of Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch (Even Ha’ezer ch. 23), states categorically that

“it is forbidden to release semen for no purpose and this is as serious a sin as any in the Torah…those who masturbate…and release semen, not only is it a serious sin…but it is as though they’ve killed a human being.”

This seems like a bad reason because it means having sex with contraceptives would be just as bad as masturbating. I didn't think Judaism is against that like the Catholic Church is, but I don't know much about Judaism.

 

[Smellycat]

In Islam it is a sin because of the health impact that it has and the psychological impacts too. Also, it leads to other unhealthy habits such as viewing pornography which leads to other problems.

 

[Zoned]

That sounds like a lot of work.

Also, how are chicks gonna churn their instruments?

Probably some other definition for them. I read in my class that Hinduism is a very open religion when it comes to sexuality. It's just that society over the years have set boundaries, but is not the actual representation of what was written in Vedas text. They also have ancient sculptures of homosexuals, heterosexual masturbation in many temples.

 

[Uncle_Classy]

Again, this is incorrect. Jesus and Paul, the founder and the most important theologian respectively were single and childless. The latter even recommended staying single, which later influenced the Catholic priesthood to celibacy.

Alternatively, Paul also said if you can't handle being single due to lust, to marry to avoid fornication.

I wasn't talking about Christianity specifically. Judaism, among other religions, had similar commandments against masturbation. You said yourself that it was looked down upon in Judaism at the time to be single and childless. Early Christians stopped marrying and having families because they thought that the second coming was going to happen in their life times and didn't want to burden themselves before entering the kingdom. When they realized it wasn't actually going to happen any time soon, they changed their tune and started encouraging people to have families again.

 

[DrNeroCF]

I feel like any sort of sin needs to be discussed in the context of, pretty much everything ever is a sin in Christianity. We we are sinful creatures, it's what we do.

Sin isn't like breaking the law, while there's varying degrees of sinfulness, no one can ever just not sin.

So, IMO, it doesn't really help to ask why something is considered a sin if it's not outright harmful to yourself or others, it's usually a sin because it's not the 'perfect' way to do something (remembering that only Jesus and Mary were ever 'perfect').

The 'perfect' way (or at least as perfect as the church can recommend) to experience an orgasm would be with an intimate partner without artificially blocking the chance of conception. And that's still the best that they can establish, being an institution made up of humans. You have free will, you have every right to disagree.

People start getting up in arms thinking that they're being judged for not doing things the 'right' way, but you have to remember, we're only human, we rarely do much the absolute right way, even the pope goes to confession constantly.

And judging people for their sins is super extremely anti new testament, which a lot of Christians seem to have forgotten lately, ugh.

 

[HUELEN10]

OP, Jews are known for making "umbrella rules" to cover all the bases, just in case. A great example of this is the Jewish prohibition of cooking a kid in its own mother's milk. We are a peculiar people who are different, and back then nations which would be classified as pagan did that, therefore we were forbidden. Does this mean we can go do this now? No, not really. We know more about safety cooking practices involving pork, but we still can't eat it (not even with a fork!). Why do I bring this up? Well, most Jews nowadays forbid the mixing of dairy and meat as an umbrella law, even though the bible never made that mandate. My people, the Sephardi, even went one step further to prohibit cheese with chicken. Yeah, the problem some Jews like me face are these traditional umbrella rules that sometimes make no sense. Take the poor Ashkenazi who can't even eat rice during passover, a prohibition that is nowhere in the bible!

Modern Judaism tends to be the bible, plus tradition. Personally, I think that sometimes with some Jews, the bible itself gets lost in the shuffle, and that is a shame.

That being said, as for the act of masturbation alone, the bible makes no prohibition on it, male or female. Simple as that. As for Judaism's umbrella rules, they vary greatly. It is important to keep in mind that while masturbation itself isn't prohibited, things that come with it to some people like coveting and lust, are indeed biblically sins. Everyone sins, even the people who wrote these traditional umbrella rules sinned. There's a saying that we must strive to be as great as Moses, but the bible states that no man would be greater than Moses, and that even he was human like everyone else, and he sinned too.

So no, while umbrella rules have been made on the issue otherwise, and Judaism tends to be more than just the bible, our bible does not list masturbation itself as a prohibition.

 

[openrob]

I think you have to define Sin first.
I mean in Christianity it is generally considered a Sin - but it is NOWHERE in the Bible.
It's like a culture thing. But then, to justify the culture, they look to very obscure, of of context verses - like Onan spilling his 'seed' on the ground. The only remotly related verse (which this Yahoo anser is the perfect summary).

Well that and lust being as bad as adultery.

 

[kitch9]

In Islam it is a sin because of the health impact that it has and the psychological impacts too. Also, it leads to other unhealthy habits such as viewing pornography which leads to other problems.

Religions were just a means of control and a tool for recruiting armies in ancient times.

People enjoying themselves were hardly conducive to that so frowned upon by the very clever manipulators who wrote the various religions.

It astounds me that the religions are still as prominent today and people still believe that the theft of a damn apple is the cause of all humanities problems.

 

[Reverend Funk]

they fear the jizzum

 

[maquiladora]

In Islam it is a sin because of the health impact that it has and the psychological impacts too. Also, it leads to other unhealthy habits such as viewing pornography which leads to other problems.

Health impact? Do you mean the reduced risk of cancer from regular ejaculation? Sounds like a good health impact to me.
Viewing pornography was a problem back in the days when Islam was created?

 

[GodParticle]

More masturbation = less kids = less Catholics/Christians/etc = less money

Finished it for you

 

[Orayn]

In Islam it is a sin because of the health impact that it has and the psychological impacts too. Also, it leads to other unhealthy habits such as viewing pornography which leads to other problems.

Modern studies would show the health impact to be largely positive or at least not negative.

 

[-COOLIO-]

Health impact? Do you mean the reduced risk of cancer from regular ejaculation? Sounds like a good health impact to me.
Viewing pornography was a problem back in the days when Islam was created?

i imagine that brothels, at least, have existed since forever.

 

[Idba]

In Islam it is a sin because of the health impact that it has and the psychological impacts too. Also, it leads to other unhealthy habits such as viewing pornography which leads to other problems.

What health and psychological impacts?

 

[Entryhazard]

because masturbation can be considered a form of hedonism

 

[HUELEN10]

because masturbation can be considered a form of hedonism

What's hedonistic about masturbation, sneezing, coughing, or popping? They're all merely bodily functions.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

New Question: All the the stuff in the OP seems to have to do with sperm.

How do various religions view female masturbation?

Or did that not factor in considering the old views of women not being sexual at all?

Bah. Women? Enjoying sex? That's some Lillith talk there, you heathen. What century you think this be?

 

[kitch9]

i imagine that brothels, at least, have existed since forever.

You are doing it wrong if you are slapping the monkey in a brothel.

 

[HUELEN10]

New Question: All the the stuff in the OP seems to have to do with sperm.

How do various religions view female masturbation?

Or did that not factor in considering the old views of women not being sexual at all?

In the Jewish bible, there is no prohibition on masturbation for males or females. in Jewish tradition, some sects encourage women exploring themselves.

 

[Izuna]

More masturbation = less kids = less Catholics/Christians/etc

WRONG. You are using logic to explain it.

It was because pleasure without purpose is considered a sin. It encourages sloth etc.

 

[GungHo]

New Question: All the the stuff in the OP seems to have to do with sperm.

How do various religions view female masturbation?

Or did that not factor in considering the old views of women not being sexual at all?

This was where I was going with the churning your churn thing from the Kama Sutra. If even for ignoble reasons, I wanna know how it gets done, because I know it gets done. Hell, even without the religious trappings, how is it done around the world?

 

[Zoned]

New Question: All the the stuff in the OP seems to have to do with sperm.

How do various religions view female masturbation?

Or did that not factor in considering the old views of women not being sexual at all?

As I have said it earlier, Hinduism promotes it and considers it as one of the four main stages of life. You can see some of the ancient art depicting sexual acts here - A world heritage temple

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/holiday-snaps-india-khajuraho/

 

[le bip]

Sometimes I wonder why a lot of people ask religion-related questions to a mostly atheist, if not anti-christian, internet forum instead of directly asking a priest, since clearing out this kind of doubts is a pretty big part of his job. I say this because he would answer that no, masturbation is not a sin at all, and no, nobody demonizes sex in this day and age.

 

[Angelus Errare]

WRONG. You are using logic to explain it.
.

That isn't even logical.

 

[Messofanego]

This reminds me of illhuemazahti's tweet that blew up at the start of Ramadan:

"dear guys who keep asking girls why we're not fasting, you don't see us asking you why ur showering at 3am. sincerely, we both know answers."

XD

 

[The Elite]

You're killing half babies.

New Question: All the the stuff in the OP seems to have to do with sperm.

How do various religions view female masturbation?

Or did that not factor in considering the old views of women not being sexual at all?

I think that comes down to men wanting to control what women do and keeping their sexuality under control.

 

[UncleSporky]

What health and psychological impacts?

Thinning of hair and associated psychological impact from that.

 

[Northeastmonk]

This is why I think priest should be allowed to marry. Why have a man fight natural instincts for his entire life?

I can see how married families and a-sexual people get away with believing it, but still.

You hold back a lot of regression and an urge of pleasure by doing this. I feel that everyone should be allowed the joys of sex (which includes masturbation). I also don't think there's a single person in the world who is Holy. I think everyone gets turned one once in their lives.

I think what happens in the church is awful. You have too many sick and twisted people posing as leaders of the church. The predators will even tell you that religious people are way too trusting and they have a faith to hide all their sins behind. People get fooled by this and they allow their kids to go anywhere and do anything with these people. I feel that everyone should enjoy sex. Sex would not exist if it wasn't made by God and you had beautiful women in the Bible left and right. Jesus also turned water into wine and people deny that God wants them to drink. I feel that it is all foolish.

Playing with yourself instead of committing a crime or being miserable for your entire life is not the answer. I've never agreed with this. Priest should be allowed to have a wife and more and more people should stop thinking its all wrong.

The Church of any religion is home to people preying on others. It just comes down to how they fool other people. It's not like this isn't something just thought up.

 

[Gonzalez]

This is a really weird topic.

 

[DoktorEvil]

Sometimes I wonder why a lot of people ask religion-related questions to a mostly atheist, if not anti-christian, internet forum instead of directly asking a priest, since clearing out this kind of doubts is a pretty big part of his job. I say this because he would answer that no, masturbation is not a sin at all, and no, nobody demonizes sex in this day and age.

My priest told me otherwise when I was in Sunday School. Funny how that works.

But yep, I wonder the same thing myself, because a lot of people, especially anti-christian people, seem to take the Bible at it's literal interpretation and not contextualize it to modern society.

In a world where porn is easily accessible just by the wrong Google search, I'd think masturbation has been reduced, in the Christian context, from mortal sin to a venial sin at most.

 

[M3d10n]

Since many denominations/sects/branches/cults talk about devoting your life to God 24/7, anytime you're doing something that doesn't involve worshiping Him, keeping you alive to worship Him or producing more people to worship Him, you are "sinning".

 

[dr3upmushroom]

Because you realize that you were god all along.

 

[SixStringPsycho]

Why masturbate when you can rape and procreate.

What?!

 

[speculawyer]

This is it.

Funny thing is this is why we need grace. The command is impossible to keep perfectly.

The procreation argument is null as both Jesus and Paul were single and childless, something looked down upon at the time in traditional Jewish culture.

Christianity was one of the first religions where being single wasn't considered a blight on your character.

Oh, you can't dismiss that procreation argument that easily. There's the whole 'be fruitful and multiply' bit. God wanted Onan not to spill the see because he wanted another kid. Various preachers (and the perhaps the Catholic church in general) have encouraged people to have kids to grow their flock. And we have the whole Quiverfull movement of people like the Duggars that think the should procreate like rabbits.

But I'm always amazed how people can read things so differently . . . the Shakers felt no one should have sex . . . and thus vanished.

 

[speculawyer]

Sometimes I wonder why a lot of people ask religion-related questions to a mostly atheist, if not anti-christian, internet forum instead of directly asking a priest, since clearing out this kind of doubts is a pretty big part of his job. I say this because he would answer that no, masturbation is not a sin at all, and no, nobody demonizes sex in this day and age.

Because atheists know more about the Bible than Christians.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

 

[le bip]

My priest told me otherwise when I was in Sunday School. Funny how that works.

But yep, I wonder the same thing myself, because a lot of people, especially anti-christian people, seem to take the Bible at it's literal interpretation and not contextualize it to modern society.

In a world where porn is easily accessible just by the wrong Google search, I'd think masturbation has been reduced, in the Christian context, from mortal sin to a venial sin at most.

Are you north-american? Because I always get the impression that, in America, christianity is approached in a way more archaic, oppressive, and "obtuse" manner than in Europe.

Because atheists know more about the Bible than Christians.

1. In the USA.
2. "Knowing the Bible" has literally nothing to do with understanding Christianity.

 

[entremet]

Oh, you can't dismiss that procreation argument that easily. There's the whole 'be fruitful and multiply' bit. God wanted Onan not to spill the see because he wanted another kid. Various preachers (and the perhaps the Catholic church in general) have encouraged people to have kids to grow their flock. And we have the whole Quiverfull movement of people like the Duggars that think the should procreate like rabbits.

But I'm always amazed how people can read things so differently . . . the Shakers felt no one should have sex . . . and thus vanished.

Oh I agree.

I'm just saying that procreation in the Christian worldview is not a requirement or even a commandment.

You're not a faulty or failed Christian if you don't procreate or marry.

But I do agree that certain sects have emphasized procreation over others.

 

[MadSol]

My priest said it was Ok as well and showed me how to do it, said I just shouldn't talk about it because not everyone could do it and wouldn't want to hurt those that couldn't.

 

[jackal27]

Hey, what's up. Pastor here. Masturbation isn't mentioned once in the Bible when all other types of sex you could possibly imagine are. If masturbation was a big deal to God, I think he would have mentioned it.

Enjoy your day.

EDIT: Yeah, lusting after someone who is not your spouse is mentioned by Jesus as a sin. Thank God for grace (whole point of the sermon it's mentioned in). I think that's more about objectification and misdirecting your affections that should be for your spouse than anything else. Bottom line is that God has something better, but no I do not believe the act of masturbation in and of itself is sinful.