What's your opinion on....

[CatholicXian]

Well, we've now established that doing something purely for your own pleasure is not necessarily a sin, and we've established that something can be a sexual act and not necessarily a sin. Given these two axioms, I think a reasonable argument could be made either way. I agree that if you hold to Catholic dogma, then masturbation is probably sinful. For non-Catholics, though, I don't think a sound argument can be made without just trotting out tautology. (It's sinful because it's sexually immoral! Why is it sexually immoral? Because it's a sin!)

I would still nit-pick a few points... mostly relating that the sexual act has the potential to be without sin in the confines of the act of intercourse between a husband and wife. Masturbation is not within in the confines of marriage (because it involves only self), Adultery is not within the confines of marriage, thus they are sinful. The act of using one's spouse to fulfill one's own sexual gratification is sinful-- a person's spouse is not an object of sexual gratification and new source of income, etc. There are probably more examples. I just hestitate to disconnect masturbation's being a sexual act (and saying it is only one of mere pleasure), because this is the grounds for its immorality.

Regardless, I think us continuing this discussion would be about as fruitful as a Muslim and Christian debating the true nature of God. I submit that we agree to respectfully disagree.

lol, point taken. Fair enough.

 

[Soma-Sight]

Any man going for months on end without "letting the boys out" has got to have low testosterone or is a monk or buddhist......

http://www.buddhanet.net/images/korean4a.jpg

 

[Soma-Sight]

Is it not so awesome that God gives man a "unit" and then supposedly according to the Church it is a sin to "use it" by yourslef in a clean manner?

Even in the privacy of your own bathroom?

Unless you are striving for monkhood or cosmic enlightenment, not masturbating for LONG periods of time is UNATURAL and just plain insane.

In psychology the guilt and subsequent depression and apathy ones feels after "sinning" through self pleasuring is nothing more than repression that leads to other self destructive guilt ridden tendancies....

Historically, masturbation  touching one's own sex organs for pleasure  has been stigmatized as having pathological origins and negative physical and mental health consequences. Today, as masturbation is better understood and more widely accepted, we have learned that it can promote physical, mental, and sexual health. By destigmatizing masturbation, we are able to recognize it as healthful, helpful, and natural behavior.

Although attitudes toward masturbation have become more positive in the recent past, we are not entirely removed from its stigmatized history. On December 12, 1994, U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was fired from her position because of the controversy that erupted around her support for the public discussion of masturbation as an appropriate topic in school sexuality education programs (Rowan, 2000, 9). Elders' reasonable acknowledgment of masturbation was part of an effort to prevent the increase of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as unintended pregnancy. Her termination was a powerful reminder that the act and discussion of masturbation remain highly controversial and that the history of social and religious attitudes toward masturbation have been extremely negative.



http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/po ... bation.xml

 

[CatholicXian]

Planned parenthood is never a good source to turn to. Promoting abortion isn't exactly promoting the best state of mental health for women... walk in to any BirthRight or Bethesda Healing Center and talk to the numerous women who need counseling from previous abortions.

 

[afton]

Masterbating? Is it a sin?

No.

 

[gingercat]

I would like to put in my two cents worth if you don't mind.

Paul is suggesting to get married if you cannot control yourself or you 'burn' with sexual desire.

It must be sin otherwise he would not suggest to get married.

 

[thessalonian]

Masturbation is a sin. But the love and grace of Christ is given to free men from the bondage of sin. Call upon him who wishes to give you freedom.

 

[afton]

I would like to put in my two cents worth if you don't mind.

Paul is suggesting to get married if you cannot control yourself or you 'burn' with sexual desire.

It must be sin otherwise he would not suggest to get married.

How about if you can't find a spouse yet in the mean time?

 

[thessalonian]

I would like to put in my two cents worth if you don't mind.

Paul is suggesting to get married if you cannot control yourself or you 'burn' with sexual desire.

It must be sin otherwise he would not suggest to get married.

How about if you can't find a spouse yet in the mean time?

The context of Paul's words are for the man in a relationship already to avoid sexual immorality with a woman. A man not in a relationship needs to call upon the grace of Christ to help him persevere in the virtue of chastiy. Masturbation involves lust and lust is condemned in scripture. We must control our passions. Some on this thread have indicated that men cannot help themselves. Nonsense. These men would have others enslaved by sins that rob them of their self esteem as a child of God.

 

[Vic C.]

Sorry folks, I'm not exactly thrilled this thread has been bumped up. I'm even less thrilled at some of the responses and analogies I read here. We have enough issues without dredging up this mess of a thread again.

I'm giving Thess the last word.

Some on this thread have indicated that men cannot help themselves. Nonsense. These men would have others enslaved by sins that rob them of their self esteem as a child of God.