Do you personally believe masturbation is a sin?

Do you personally believe masturbation is a sinful act?

  • Yes, I do.

  • No, I don't.

  • I don't know/other


Results are only viewable after voting.

Upisoft

CEO of a waterfal
Feb 11, 2006
4,885
131
Orbiting the Sun
✟20,777.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Married
The act of masturbation is a sin in the sense that it doesn't connect you with anything outside of yourself; it just gives pleasure.
By that logic using drugs is kinda ok. After all it connects you with the needle and the stuff injected into your bloodstream, which is something outside of yourself.

And thinking, which happens entirely in your head, could be a sin.. You could think about abstract things that do not exist.
 
Upvote 0

Stephen Kendall

believer of Jesus Christ
Sep 28, 2008
1,387
112
USA
✟9,673.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
How do you do that long-term?

Biology doesn't produce sin. Keep it as need base as it should be. It is our responsibility to be moral. These personal matters are a part of us and we share them. I have tried to be simple and helpful as I can. You don't have to go into sin or immorality to satisfy a biological need.
 
Upvote 0

Stephen Kendall

believer of Jesus Christ
Sep 28, 2008
1,387
112
USA
✟9,673.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Stephen, these are biological or medical terms. You may call masturbation "sex" if you wish, but the correct term is masturbation, because it fits a specific criteria for self pleasure. Yes, masturbation is part of the sexual experience, but it's not the same as intercourse. These are quite easily defined as separate acts.

The same thing applies for "calling a baby a fetus." There are several stages of the development of a baby which have been identified by doctors for a long, long time. You may prefer to call it a "baby" from the moment of conception and that is certainly your right, but medical professionals use terms to describe growth and development in the "baby" so that they can identify problems and make sure that the fetus is on track for those stages. There is no sinister reason for using the word 'fetus' other than in the minds of some anti-abortion supporters.


I left myself open for corrections. Thank you, but I am supposing that you agreed with me in what I wrote beyond your corrections. In that case thank you.
 
Upvote 0

Stephen Kendall

believer of Jesus Christ
Sep 28, 2008
1,387
112
USA
✟9,673.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Stephen, these are biological or medical terms. You may call masturbation "sex" if you wish, but the correct term is masturbation, because it fits a specific criteria for self pleasure. Yes, masturbation is part of the sexual experience, but it's not the same as intercourse. These are quite easily defined as separate acts.

The same thing applies for "calling a baby a fetus." There are several stages of the development of a baby which have been identified by doctors for a long, long time. You may prefer to call it a "baby" from the moment of conception and that is certainly your right, but medical professionals use terms to describe growth and development in the "baby" so that they can identify problems and make sure that the fetus is on track for those stages. There is no sinister reason for using the word 'fetus' other than in the minds of some anti-abortion supporters.

Not quite through. Obviously what you said is correct. When a sex organ performs, it is performing sex, right?! Is this something new? Surely our knowledge should at least know itself. The organ doesn't produce masturbation. Intercourse is the designed purpose of having the organ to begin with. Procreation allows the specie to continue and is the purpose of the organs. Does the organ know procreation? It just knows to produce something called sex, in males the emission of sperm. Enough.

When I said that calling a developing baby in the womb of a mother a fetus isn't a good thing, I said this in reference to abortion (killing of the unborn child). The killer would rather think of the object killed as a fetus, right?

When a man uses his sexual organs to produce sperm whether it goes into a woman or not, the organ produces sperm and as far as the body knows, it is having sex, plain and simple.

In both cases, it is the mind that challenges simple facts and differentiates by its normal functions of complexity, yet the simple facts remain. As far as a loving mother is concern or for that matter her body is concerned, ITS A BABY!
 
Upvote 0

Hetta

I'll find my way home
Jun 21, 2012
16,925
4,875
the here and now
✟64,923.00
Country
France
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Married
Not quite through. Obviously what you said is correct. When a sex organ performs, it is performing sex, right?! Is this something new? Surely our knowledge should at least know itself. The organ doesn't produce masturbation. Intercourse is the designed purpose of having the organ to begin with. Procreation allows the specie to continue and is the purpose of the organs. Does the organ know procreation? It just knows to produce something called sex, in males the emission of sperm. Enough.

When I said that calling a developing baby in the womb of a mother a fetus isn't a good thing, I said this in reference to abortion (killing of the unborn child). The killer would rather think of the object killed as a fetus, right?

When a man uses his sexual organs to produce sperm whether it goes into a woman or not, the organ produces sperm and as far as the body knows, it is having sex, plain and simple.

In both cases, it is the mind that challenges simple facts and differentiates by its normal functions of complexity, yet the simple facts remain. As far as a loving mother is concern or for that matter her body is concerned, ITS A BABY!
There is more than one use of sex organs. Breasts are for pleasure and for nurturing offspring. And you know that a male sex organ performs more than one function.

"The killer would rather think of the object killed as a fetus" - I see no evidence to suggest that. Medical professionals who nurture pregnant women also use the word "fetus" and others, again, to describe development.

You really can't dictate what a "loving mother" thinks, and the topic is not abortion btw, so I am not going to address this any further.
 
Upvote 0

GoldenBoy89

We're Still Here
Sep 25, 2012
23,802
25,693
LA
✟551,683.00
Country
United States
Faith
Humanist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Democrat
A more appropriate question would be: why are people readily looking for answers anywhere else but the Bible and Sacred tradition?

Because there's a lot that we've learned about the world that the bible makes no mention of. Mainly in the realms of medical science and technology.
 
Upvote 0

RDKirk

Alien, Pilgrim, and Sojourner
Supporter
Mar 3, 2013
39,137
20,183
US
✟1,441,250.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Biology doesn't produce sin. Keep it as need base as it should be. It is our responsibility to be moral. These personal matters are a part of us and we share them. I have tried to be simple and helpful as I can. You don't have to go into sin or immorality to satisfy a biological need.

My question was not about biology, but about the thoughts of a man while masturbating, especially if masturbating repeatedly over a long term. If we are Christian, we know that thoughts can count as sin, and "sin" is what the OP is about.
 
Upvote 0

Hetta

I'll find my way home
Jun 21, 2012
16,925
4,875
the here and now
✟64,923.00
Country
France
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Married
My question was not about biology, but about the thoughts of a man while masturbating, especially if masturbating repeatedly over a long term. If we are Christian, we know that thoughts can count as sin, and "sin" is what the OP is about.
So is it regularity that is the sin, or just the act at all. I can't see the justification of sin status on an act committed 20 times per week as against an act committed 1 time per week. If it is a sin, like lying or stealing, then every instance should surely be sin.
 
Upvote 0

Aeroflotte

Member
Jul 2, 2013
88
5
New York
✟7,740.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
I think you're also seeing both wholly different settings, situations, and the profoundly different manner in which males and females think about the act of sex.

Males and females may think about sex differently, but that's not what's happening here. Hetta is concerned about masturbation as if the objective act of masturbating and the intent behind it were one and the same. I was splitting masturbation into the act and the intent.

It's important that the distinction is made, because on one hand, if you're masturbating alone then you're pleasing yourself (subject-subject relationship); on the other hand if you're sharing then you're having someone else pleasure you (subject-object relationship). If you're the giver and the receiver at the same time, then masturbation is entirely self-contained. Instead of masturbation being used as an opportunity to reach out to another human being, you're closing yourself off, albeit in a minute way.

Being closed off emotionally from yourself and others is the root of sin in my book.

By that logic using drugs is kinda ok. After all it connects you with the needle and the stuff injected into your bloodstream, which is something outside of yourself.

And thinking, which happens entirely in your head, could be a sin.. You could think about abstract things that do not exist.

Your argument assumes that your depiction of sin and my depiction of sin are one and the same.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Aeroflotte

Member
Jul 2, 2013
88
5
New York
✟7,740.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Thanks for deciding what I am "concerned" about. :doh:

Once the painting makes it to the museum, it's open to interpretation by the general public. If Van Gogh were to see what people are writing about him these days, he may have a heart attack.
 
Upvote 0

KitKatMatt

stupid bleeding heart feminist liberal
May 2, 2013
5,818
1,602
✟29,520.00
Faith
Agnostic
Marital Status
Single
Being closed off emotionally from yourself and others is the root of sin in my book.

Is masturbation emotional?

It's not to me. To me it is sexual.

Is there anything wrong with closing yourself off sexually for a few minutes?

(just curious)
 
Upvote 0

RDKirk

Alien, Pilgrim, and Sojourner
Supporter
Mar 3, 2013
39,137
20,183
US
✟1,441,250.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
So is it regularity that is the sin, or just the act at all. I can't see the justification of sin status on an act committed 20 times per week as against an act committed 1 time per week. If it is a sin, like lying or stealing, then every instance should surely be sin.

We're getting into TMI territory here, but it's with regard to the physical ability to touch to [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] repeatedly within a short period of time. It varies by age, but a man will normally require greater amounts of stimulation--purely mental, visual, whatver, to have repeated [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] within a period of time.

So the first time in a month for a 50-year-old man, it might be possible merely recalling the last sexual intercourse with his wife. The tenth time in three days might require actually viewing inappropriate contentography.
 
Upvote 0

Upisoft

CEO of a waterfal
Feb 11, 2006
4,885
131
Orbiting the Sun
✟20,777.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Married
Biology doesn't produce sin. Keep it as need base as it should be. It is our responsibility to be moral. These personal matters are a part of us and we share them. I have tried to be simple and helpful as I can. You don't have to go into sin or immorality to satisfy a biological need.
That is quite debatable. Although I don't classify things as sin/not sin, I can understand what you call sin. In this case biology can go wrong in many ways, including producing a psychopath. A psychopath do not have the ability to feel empathy, so they can kill without remorse and they can't see anything wrong doing it. So, biology can lead to a sin.
 
Upvote 0

RDKirk

Alien, Pilgrim, and Sojourner
Supporter
Mar 3, 2013
39,137
20,183
US
✟1,441,250.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Biology doesn't produce sin. Keep it as need base as it should be. It is our responsibility to be moral. These personal matters are a part of us and we share them. I have tried to be simple and helpful as I can. You don't have to go into sin or immorality to satisfy a biological need.

Scripturally, human nature left to pursue its own ends always produces sin.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

keith99

sola dosis facit venenum
Jan 16, 2008
22,884
6,556
71
✟318,590.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
Interesting how many people don't think its a sin. Realistically, adultery (sin) occurs in the heart, and it's near impossible to touch without thinking about someone.

Lets concede that point.

Consider the situation of a soldier, sailor, traveling salesman or anyone else who could be married and separated from their spouse.

Is it a sin for either spouse to touch while thinking of their spouse?

I'd argue that for many it might be a sin not to! They in their pride think they can resist outside temptations and thus fall into adultery. 2 sins which masturbation could help prevent.

The blanket condemnation of masturbation is relying on the traditions of men rather than scripture. Both Jesus and Paul spoke poorly of such an approach.
 
Upvote 0

Aeroflotte

Member
Jul 2, 2013
88
5
New York
✟7,740.00
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Is masturbation emotional?

It's not to me. To me it is sexual.

Is there anything wrong with closing yourself off sexually for a few minutes?

(just curious)

The point that I was trying to make, but failed to express, goes beyond what these questions are addressing, so please don't take this personally, but I'm not going to answer them. I'm not skilled enough a writer to express what I'm thinking.
 
Upvote 0

Cearbhall

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2013
15,118
5,741
United States
✟122,284.00
Country
United States
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Single
We're getting into TMI territory here, but it's with regard to the physical ability to touch to [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] repeatedly within a short period of time. It varies by age, but a man will normally require greater amounts of stimulation--purely mental, visual, whatver, to have repeated [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] within a period of time.

So the first time in a month for a 50-year-old man, it might be possible merely recalling the last sexual intercourse with his wife. The tenth time in three days might require actually viewing inappropriate contentography.
Yeah, same with women.

For those who consider masturbation to be sin, what do you think about mutual masturbation within marriage (or any act within marriage that leads to [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] without the possibility of procreation)?
By that logic using drugs is kinda ok. After all it connects you with the needle and the stuff injected into your bloodstream, which is something outside of yourself.
No, because the drugs to which I assume you are referring have negative effects on the physical health of the body. [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] do not.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

RDKirk

Alien, Pilgrim, and Sojourner
Supporter
Mar 3, 2013
39,137
20,183
US
✟1,441,250.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
For those who consider masturbation to be sin, what do you think about mutual masturbation within marriage (or any act within marriage that leads to [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] without the possibility of procreation)?

I think that's implicit in 1 Corinthians 7, which is completely about sexual pleasure with no reference to procreation.
 
Upvote 0