poll: Sensual Self-gratification (don't like the M word)

[outOftheLoop]

Do you think sexual self-gratification is a serious sin

Catholics, do you believe it is a mortal sin?

 

[jayem]

Masturbation is totally normal. It's a perfectly appropriate sexual outlet for someone without a sex partner. And it may have some health benefits.

BTW: What's wrong with the word masturbation? It's not obscene. It's scientifically accurate, and linguistically proper.

 

[Mystman]

You're gonna get a lot of non-Christian responses, dunno if you're interested in them..

anyway: everything in moderation. If you touch occasionally so that you're not sexually frustrated when doing other stuff: good. If you start cancelling other activities because you prefer masturbating 3 times per day: eh... I don't think that's the wisest course of action.

 

[Skaloop]

You're gonna get a lot of non-Christian responses, dunno if you're interested in them..

anyway: everything in moderation. If you touch occasionally so that you're not sexually frustrated when doing other stuff: good. If you start cancelling other activities because you prefer masturbating 3 times per day: eh... I don't think that's the wisest course of action.

But either way, the masturbation itself wouldn't be a sin, correct? If a person masturbates all the time, the problem is not the masturbation per se, it's the masturbator.

 

[plindboe]

I once read about some research that showed that it could be harmful for females not to touch. It was only harmful if they often got aroused but never relieved the pressure. A female that couldn't get aroused wouldn't experience the harm.

Male sperm has also been showed to function better in males that touch frequently, and would therefore increase fertilization. Masturbation can also reduce the risk of infection in females.

It certainly seems like humans are physiologically "made" to touch.

Peter

 

[Blayz]

What is the difference between a serious sin and a not so serious one?

Does the sin level change if the self gratification is not sensual?

 

[lawtonfogle]

The only part of masturbation that would be sinful would be the lust. And that is only because it is committing adultery, so even then, it would only apply to lusting after married women (remember, adultery was a crime punished by death, but it only occurred if the female was married or engaged; having sex with a non-married/non-engaged female did not result in death, but marriage, it was not adultery). And even if that sounds a bit to legalistic, what if the object being lusted after was fictional (you know those 'romance stories' for women)?

So tl;dr, masturbating while thinking about calculus is not sinful, but you might want to go see a shrink.

P.S. It is very unhealthy for the average adult to not masticate, anyone trying to stop it is being immoral.

 

[halloween]

In agreeance with post #2

 

[sbvera13]

The majority of current research shows that masturbation decreases the risk of prostate cancer. Why would something that's good for you be a sin?

 

[DeStRuCt1oN]

What is the difference between a serious sin and a not so serious one?

Does the sin level change if the self gratification is not sensual?

There is no difference because God shows no partiality with sin.

"For there is no partiality with God. 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." Romans 2:11-16

The only difference is if the person who is caught up in the sin, ex: masturbation, asks forgiveness and deliverance from God or not.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I don't instinctively think it's that a serious sin, although I am open to Catholic teaching on the issue. I am quite a hedonist, not that I use all sorts of chemicals to get high, or persue it blindly, but believe that states like pleasure and happiness, in association with the correct mental or behavioural outlook, constitute something good in themselves. So, pleasure in rape is not good, whilst in consensual sex it is obviously better... think of my view of ethics as something like the strategic science of giving "sugar hits" of pleasure to a network of emotional and behavioural machines (or cognitive content hits in the form of theory, opinion or instruction) - the end in view being optimisation of welfare. Back to masturbation though, and I have found that is is productive or more pleasure in the long run not to physically touch, but just to keep the libido high through abstinence, and then enjoy a hands free, "natural" experience of sexuality. As usual I aim to theologise morally from a "bottom up" perspective or using my own rationality, rather than blindly accept dogma from the top, although I believe that the two can conincide.

 

[KIYX]

Only in primitive societies where those in power feel the need to control all forms of sexuality is it considered bad.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Only in primitive societies where those in power feel the need to control all forms of sexuality is it considered bad.

Wrong! Italy is not a "primitive society" (well they certainly they use modern technology like the www, cell phones and cars) and there are plenty of people who consider it wrong living there. Maybe you're just going to call it primitive anyway, because such people exist?

 

[Lockguy3000]

you'll go blind,
and grow hair on your hands

 

[FreeSpirit74]

Masturbation is totally normal. It's a perfectly appropriate sexual outlet for someone without a sex partner.

Absolutely agree. I wouldn't get involved with anyone who doesn't self-pleasure at one time or another. It's not my "job" to figure out for them what works, pleasure-wise, and what doesn't - that's for them to figure out on their own.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I think that sight can be affected by inappropriate contentography and masturbation. If one becomes habituated to even the most explicit imagery of sensuous babes, and not only that, but also having spent one's libidinous energies alone, what is one going to make of the fully clothed beauty walking bye? For the masturbator, her fruits will not be in season.

 

[Lockguy3000]

I think that sight can be affected by inappropriate contentography and masturbation. If one becomes habituated to even the most explicit imagery of sensuous babes, and not only that, but also having spent one's libidinous energies alone, what is one going to make of the fully clothed beauty walking bye? For the masturbator, her fruits will not be in season.

But some "fruits" today are either waxed, or plastic.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

edit

 

[sbvera13]

Absolutely agree. I wouldn't get involved with anyone who doesn't self-pleasure at one time or another. It's not my "job" to figure out for them what works, pleasure-wise, and what doesn't - that's for them to figure out on their own.

Seconded, and with firsthand experience. My relationship with my wife improved substantially after I convinced her to start masturbating. It's MUCH easier to make her happy when both of us now know what it is that does the trick

 

[KIYX]

Wrong! Italy is not a "primitive society" (well they certainly they use modern technology like the www, cell phones and cars) and there are plenty of people who consider it wrong living there. Maybe you're just going to call it primitive anyway, because such people exist?

Italy?

The seat of the catholic church?

Say no more.