Religion and masturbating

Gallery Photos (1)

This question actually has an interesting history, stemming from ancient Greek philosophy. Galen, whose ideas dominated western medical science for a thousand years, believed that semen, bone marrow, and brain matter were all the same substance. Brain matter & bone marrow are sort of gooey, whitish-grey, gelatinous, like semen is. Nobody had a clue about testicles producing sperm, or even secretions, hormones, etc, let alone seminal fluid.

He thought that brain matter filled the bones and collected in the testes like little barrels holding rain water, until ejaculation occurred, and it was planted in a woman. Nobody knew women had ova that were fertilized, so the assumption was that new human beings grew directly out of a man's brain matter (the substance was called "psyche" in Greek) planted in the fertile ground of a woman's womb.

The Romans took over this idea, and thought that the reason old men lost their strength, lost a few inches in height if they lived long enough, became senile and frail, was because they had been losing brain matter and bone marrow each time they had an orgasm. They also thought that barbarians were ugly and stupid because they screamed and shouted when they had sex, and had sex all the time. Romans believed if you kept yourself under control, you would not lose as much semen in sex, and therefore would stay stronger and smarter longer. This is also why statues of Roman or Greek gods don't show them with big monstrous cocks, since the ancients thought smaller cocks meant you would not lose so much brain matter when you came.

That got transposed into Christian beliefs about sex, strength, virility, etc, but not because it was a "religious" belief that came from divine revelation. It was the best science of the time.

This started to change with the microscope, when sperm and ova were discovered, leading to the discovery of fertilization. But by then, the ancient "scientific" practices of conserving semen had been woven into all kinds of religious and spiritual practices, especially in western ("catholic") christianity, so the customs survived well into the 20th century. Some people still think sexual abstinence can make people more inclined to have religious experiences, like fasting, chanting, or peyote do in some religions, but with the advent of psychology, the way people look at all kinds of experiences--sexual, personal, religious, aesthetic, cognitive, etc--also changed. It's hard to find a catholic theologian now who is superstitious about masturbation, even though you can still find simple priests or lay people who are romantic about the "old ways." Just as you can in any religion, in any culture.

this avatar is not my ass.

I'm a Rosicrucian and and to equalize the orgasm sensation we are taught by our clergy that simultaneously with the 1st jolt of pleasure we are required to inflict pain upon our body. Years ago I used to merely dump a litre of boiling water on my throbbing penis. Now the recent modern approach is to taser oneself during ejaculation.

I have a friend who actually has done some extensive research on this from a Christian point of view. In Christianity, more specifically within The Holy Bible, there is nothing that forbids masterbation. It is not mentioned in The Bible, and in ALL branches of Christianity, there is nothing that forbids masterbation. (Perosnally, I think its because God knew if he did put it in The Bible, no human would have a chance of getting into heaven.) BUT Here is where it does clash....Lust is a sin, and is considered a form of fornication not just in The Bible, but in almost every religion. So when you are masterbating...you are ultimatly thriving of of lust, because its what goes on in the mind and the heart. HOWEVER, I did rea somewhere that 2% of the male population have the ability to masterbate without any lustful mental image or thought. Lucky them. I personally am a devout Christian, and I feel that sex is a beautiful thing when married. There is no shame in it at all. I also feel that masterbation is perfectly natural and normal. There is a reason its not in The Bible. ; )

Gallery Photos (2)

Hey it's just another thing for which I need to be forgiven...

I was raised as a Catholic, not a hard-core, go God Catholic, but yeah. I started masturbating when I was 12, I didn't give a fuck about religion, even God has to get some every now and then! Now, I have a problem with organized religion of any kind, but that's a story for a different thread. Who gives a sh!t about religion when it comes to masturbating, would Christians rather everyone be sluts and man-whores?

Gallery Photos (10)

Album Photos (2)

Ok please forgive for this i realise this is somewhat judgmental of me but.... is it any wonder why there are sexually violent crimes committed when there are people being raised in this manner? This is quite literally teaching people to associate sex with violence and pain.

As for me well I'm a pagan...... im surprised not to see any other pagans posting here..... as a pagan i can masturbate all i like..... there are some forms of paganism that are as deeply into "sex is about creationism and therefore is a holy act" like some christian sects but on the whole pagans generally just believe masturbation is a form of self worship and should therfore be whole heartedly embraced

*Compassion is the key to solving world suffering*

The whole idea that a religion gets to interfere with what is clearly a good thing just blows my mind. I grew up in a relatively conservative household, but not extreme or anything, in the south. I never thought once about whether beating off was bad.. or that it was even a religious question.
Religion should be concerned with the way we treat each other. To focus on masturbation is to disregard the priorities that are important. It burns me up to think the Church (Catholic, especially) has anything at all to say about this. Just imagine how many guys out there are fucked up sexually because the Church--which I guaran-fucking-tee is full of masturbators-- says it's wrong. Lousy theology.

Jockmaestro

Gallery Photos (12)

Album Photos (3)

At one time - RC was all caught up with this stuff - you still get it with some closed-minded know it alls - but we are taught to enjoy what we've been given - as long as we hurt no one.

Story of a kid being catch jacking off and his mother tells him, "You'll go blind" - his reply - "Can I do it until I need glasses" - it's a oldie but a goodie.

I go to Church every Sunday, Christian Church, and I can honestly say that I can't remember ever hearing anything regarding masturbation.. so I am going to assume that i'm good. It's a good thing too, because I'm not sure I could quit, I'm pretty sure I'm addicted.. lol

Gallery Photos (5)

I left church and live the life of an agnostic. Way better to live in case you still have ethics.

edit:
Oh and I did masturbate back then, masturbate nowadays and will ever masturbate.

<3 Seether, Three Days Grace, Danko Jones

Gallery Photos (2)

I've read a book about Christianity, sex, and masturbation. Your explanation is on the money in terms of Christianity. However, I have masturbated without thinking lustfully and I don't think it's a mere 2% of the population that can do this. I think it's anyone if they go long enough without ejaculating. I had gone a month without masturbating and when I tried to do so without thinking lustfully, I as able.

But fuck all that.

I'm an (unorthodox but dedicated) Catholic and I masturbate. Don't see any problem with it at all. It's the best sleeping pill I know. Orgasm is the pinicle of pleasure. God sure knew what he was doing when He designed the sexual equipment in humans. He must be one great a sexy Guy. Only thing better than masturbation is making love.

I love TinyPrincess
5 x 4.5

There is some debate about whether or not Christianity/Judaism allow it.

‘Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother.’
Genesis 38:9

Now whether or not this means he masturbated, or he "pulled out" is the subject of debate.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (rule book of the catholics) states.

‘Masturbation is considered ‘an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.’ But moral responsibility should be judged in terms of one’s ‘immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, and other psychological and social factors.’

Where Does Religion Stand on Masturbation? Moments In Time

While there are denominations that forbid the practice, (Roman Catholic, LDS), masturbation is not something that will send a person to hell. It's my understanding that the prohibitions are in regard to the fact that it is a very human thing and that we should not focus so much on pleasure, but on God. I'm Baptist, but the restrictions are on pre-marital sex, with the thinking that sex whould be for man and wife.

All I'm going to say is that I'm human and as human we fall victim to temptation.

Bless your little racist hearts.


Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad.
Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)

Gallery Photos (2)

AMEN!
I'm a pretty good guy, but I must admit that I sometimes give in to temptation...