Masturbation and Religon

[JonnyH]

I don't know where to put this but anyway
Please state first your religon and answee the question given.

Is religion interferring your life while masturbating?
Because in my case it does interfere because I am a Born Again Christian

[ScottishFilipino]

Im athiest.
No problems here.

[RunnerRunner]

Im an atheist, so no it doesnt causs it feels great knowing u can j/o knowing its not bad.

[Cicero]

Whats Normal

-Occasional self-stimulation

-Masturbation at home or in other private places. In most cases, masturbation will not prove a significant issue in this stage. Parents will want to gently redirect their children if masturbation occurs in public, and otherwise simply monitor, to the best of their abilities, any increases or changes that would warrant intervention.

Source (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/healthy_childhood_sexual_development/prevention.aspx)

Discussing masturbation
At some point (probably more than once) during these years, you will need to deal with the subject of masturbation . As children approach adolescence, you will have to make a judgment call on what to say about the significance of self-stimulation after puberty arrives. It is extremely likely that masturbation leading to sexual climax will occur at some point, especially for a male. If he is racked with guilt about it and repeatedly vows never to let it happen again, he will probably expend a lot of energy feeling like a moral failure and worrying unnecessarily about his spiritual welfare.

But when masturbation becomes a routine and frequent habit, especially when accompanied by vivid sexual fantasies or, worse, the viewing of pornography, it can be damaging to sexual and emotional health. In essence, a young man may have hundreds of sexual experiences associated with unrealistic or overtly distorted imagery, reinforced with the extreme pleasure of sexual release. At the very least, when he marries, his real-life sexual partner may seem disappointing by comparison, and his physical and emotional bonding with her may be impaired. This problem will be more significant if there have been many actual sexual partners before the wedding night. At worst, he may come in contact with violent or degrading images and associate his own sexual release with them.

Your approach to this issue will need to be both tactful and realistic. A bottom line worth stressing is that masturbation should not play a major role in your child's life, either as a source of relentless guilt or as a frequent and persistent habit that displaces healthy sexual relations in the future. If it happens once in a while, it happens. But it should not be pursued as a form of recreation, especially while viewing sexually provocative material, and it should never be allowed to occur with other people.

Source (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/talking_about_sex/preparing-for-puberty.aspx)

[SirMazing]

I'm Roman Catcholic, I don't let it interfiere with j/o, which is bad, since, you know we're all like: porn, j/o, gay, expirementning, ect is all BAD, and I honestly don't agree with

[tovaris]

Im atheist so no problem there
But there is nothin in the bible that seys you cant j/o or watch porn

[pastel]

Im athiest.
No problems here.

This.

[brandon1995]

my family is born again Chirstian and our Church doens't teach that masturbation is wrong, tho I know some do. Tough to ban what's so common among teenage guys.

[patches]

CATHOLIC

GOD wants us to reproduce, so stimulating yourself is good. However its the other things that might go hand-in-hand with it, such as porn. The LORD wants us to abstain from that, so if you do, I cannot see a problem with stimulating.

Served on the Church 8 Years

[IAMWILL]

CATHOLIC

GOD wants us to reproduce, so stimulating yourself is good. However its the other things that might go hand-in-hand with it, such as porn. The LORD wants us to abstain from that, so if you do, I cannot see a problem with stimulating.

Served on the Church 8 Years

Not sure how well you paid attention in Sunday school. The Catholic Church teaches masturbation is immoral (and therefore should not be done) because it is contrary to the purpose of our sexual organs according to the Natural law.

Do I let my religion (Catholicism) interfere? Maybe. I don't think, "I shouldn't masturbate because I'm Catholic", but more like "I don't really need to do it now, it would be better to not do it." I never directly think of religion, I just think of it as something I should slowly cut back on.

[Thekiid031]

Catholic.
Considering that I'm not religious, it hasn't had an effect on my pleasure. I personally only believe in god, but not religion bc it's manipulative and .. I don't wanna go into it. But I do want I want freely, and don't really let religion get in my way.

[Jay98]

I was raised spiritual, no particular "religon" or spooky "gods" just love each other and the earth, simple!

Nope doesnt effect my jerking off one bit!

BUT, i am trying really hard to understand how "god" or the "bible" could frown on porn when i didnt even excist at the time it was written... i cant understand how the church can take Jesus an spend every sunday talking about how loving an forgiving this particualr invisible man-god is, but he'll apparenty send you to hell for playing with your dick in a heat beat lol organized religon is a VERY distructive and manipulative force, and its dangerous!

[Straya]

Atheist so no I'm free to do what I want

[deanbrodi]

No Jon, I've always enjoyed masturbation immensly! I'm a progressive christian. What's being a born-again christian got to do with it? There is nothing in the bible about masturbation. No commandment against it. So enjoy it.

I know that some christians say "just because there's nothing in the bible about it doesn't make it ok to do it." But then, the bible also doesn't say anything about playing games like football, yet nobody thinks that playing football is wrong.

Don't worry about the thoughts you have while masturbating. Just don't think of somebody else as just a sex object. Instead, imagine them as your future partner, enjoying it with you. That way, you're practicing a healthy attitude about sex with another person, which will be good rehearsal for when you finally do have a partner in real life.

Read "Wanking - the Last Taboo" at
cust.idl.net.au/fold/teach/Top40/Wanking - The Last Taboo.html

Theres also another item at
www.youthspecialties.com/articles/is-masturbation-a-sin

[Troy35216]

someone tried to tell me once that it's a sin to spill my seed upon the ground. I told him no worries cuz I spill my seed upon a Kleenex. anyway that story wasn't even about jerking off. as far as I am concerned jerking off is God's way of letting me relieve sexual tension without boinking anyone. Thanks God! :D

[eric_am_i]

im a Jehovah's Witness and we are taught that any kind of masturbation is wrong and that's why its does interfere with my masturbation; and for those that say that "since the bible doesn't condemn masturbation its not bad", it actually does. look up Colossians 3:5 in your spare time.

[Catholic Guy]

Im atheist so no problem there
But there is nothin in the bible that seys you cant j/o or watch porn

That's because porn wasn't invented when the bible was written...

[CharlieHorse]

I'm a devoted atheist and masturbation is strictly required by my religion.
Lol
:D

[MrDrDude]

don't believe in nothing you can't prove

no religion doesn't interfere

[sdude]

Source (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/healthy_childhood_sexual_development/prevention.aspx)



Source (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/talking_about_sex/preparingafor-puberty.aspx)

What absolute freakin hypocritical garbage....

[Cicero]

What absolute freakin hypocritical garbage....

How so?

[sdude]

While I don't feel the need to defend my position to your statement, the proof is in your hand....You masturbate, the PRIESTS masturbate, the world does...So insistinig that it somehow isn't to be a natural progression of human nature is ridiculous, and harmful in continuing to make GUILT the only means religion can have power of people. It is a healthy, important part of growing up that does nothing but provide a natural release that needs to be encouraged as part of normal sexual nature.

[Dave99]

I'm Church of England but as i don't go to church or believe in it then no it doesn't interfere

[JonnyH]

Thank you all of you it really helped me a lot

[Bleex]

CHRISTIAN: If you are consider this excerpt (quite long though)

An answer to the oft-asked question of if masturbation is a sin for believers in Christ Jesus, and what the scriptures teach concerning it.

1Cor 4:6 (Wey) .. in order to teach you by our example what those words mean, which say, "Nothing beyond what is written!"...

The Scripture is strangely silent about this universal issue, while not shy about all sorts of other sexual situations and perversions... in great detail concerning sex with animals, etc. Yet the Bible says nothing about masturbation. This is odd, don't you think?

Some, mistakenly, cite Onan in Gen 38:9 as suggesting that masturbation is a sin. In fact, "onanism" has become a synonym for masturbation. But this is obviously an error, and a rather daft one at that. We know what Onan did, for it is spelled out for us in lurid detail; and we know why it was a sin: he was maliciously using and cheating Tamar in way that was wrong. In any case, what Onan was doing was certainly not masturbating, and you have to be pretty dimwitted to miss this.

In fact, there is no place in scripture where masturbation is even mentioned, much less forbidden. This is a very odd situation since it is so common a human experience, and given that scripture speaks of other sexual sins (some fairly perverse and rare) without any shyness at all.

Since scripture does not forbid masturbation directly, neither should Christians in general. "Nothing beyond what is written" in terms of how we should help lead others to the Lord is the rule. But since you asked, I will give you the best answer I can using what I do know from scripture as our guide. We should stick to emphasizing the things God has told us are important, and not be teaching things that the Lord has never expressed His opinion on.

To be sure, it is clear from Scripture that illicit sexual fantasies are forbidden, and this is a significant issue with masturbation.

Matt 5:28-29 (NIV) [Jesus:] "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

But what if no illicit fantasies are included in masturbation? Is the act then sinful? By scripture, there is nothing to indicate that it is. Specifically, if the act is done merely as a hedge against temptation and as the body requires then there is no need for the above sinful "crutches". This is hardly exciting, and a rote act of keeping the body in submission. It cannot be done often, as the body is not that demanding if left alone by a perverted imagination. On the other hand, if we attempt a pent-up self-sex life, then we find that the body needs help from the soul through illicit fantasies, and then sin is clearly being committed.

I hope this is clear. Were it not for our perverted imaginations and lustful sense of expectation, our bodies would not cause us much trouble. It is our minds and hearts that need "treatment". It is like rev-ing an engine near red-line at every traffic signal, and all the time it is running, and then complaining about the eventual engine failure. Sure the thing can rev, but not all the time. It was not made for that.

From Scripture, the line not to be crossed is the line of illicit imagination. And what a line! Minus the sinful fantasies, which are the fuel for most masturbation, all the fun and zest would be taken out of it. Thus, it would no longer be a topic of interest to you or anybody, any more than the act of going to the bathroom. It would be just "doing what was needed" to keep the body from exploding from within.

Sex was not created for this, you can be sure. That God allows masturbation to even work is a mystery (ever try tickling yourself?) and so it is reasonable to assume that it is a "gift" to keep ourselves from temptation.

Eph 5:3 (NIV) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Much like a person who is an Alcoholic must avoid any kind of drinking like the plague, where others can drink with moderation and without sin, the same principle applies here. So people might come to different conclusions concerning masturbation, and that is anticipated within our faith. Each man must live in holiness before the Lord in his/her own body, and this might mean different disciplines and personal leading in each case. What works for me or you... we should not impose on anybody else as a stumbling block.

Rom 14:12-13 (NIV) So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling-block or obstacle in your brother's way.

The important thing is that we live holy before Him, and this is a matter that we should take very seriously. I assume this is why you are interested in this question, because you want to please God by avoiding any kind of sin. And when it comes to sexual sin in the thought-life, in our culture this is an easy temptation to fall into. So care and caution are appropriate as we consider these things and make choices before the Lord.

1Th 4:2-8 (NIV) For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God... For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Can you, in all honesty, masturbate without sinning against the clear commands of Christ? If yes, then we are never told that the act itself is impure or forbidden. But let us be honest and admit that it is not so easy to do if we are committed to avoid mental sexual sin.

In our society, where lust is in the air, how is it is possible to "learn to control our bodies in a way that is holy and honorable"? Well, the answer is that we can die. Really, spiritually. This is The Gospel as we have received it.

John 8:32 (NIV) "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Here is the specific Scripture that set me free, when it finally dawned on me what it meant:

1 Peter 4:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Think about the radical nature of the spiritual dynamic of what is being explained here. If you are really the recipient of the HOLY Spirit, then this means PAIN in a physical body that lives in this carnal world. If you get this right in your attitude, God says you will be "done with sin". Awesome, eh?

The problem is that we want relief, and sin is the way. But if we agree in advance that the way of the faith must inevitably involve suffering, then we are truly living the gospel and have transferred out of the power of evil and into God's will.

And masturbation, never forbidden by God, can be used as one of the ways that we can "learn to control our bodies"; not by inflaming the body with pornography or fantasies so that it can be done but by avoiding thoughts that prompt it. Its quite hard and that is the PAIN in question. Let your body desire but don't give in.
Commit yourself to a certain amount of pain, and commit yourself not to sin in thought, and I think you will find that masturbation should be done. We should not indulge our bodies, but we should "honor" them and learn to live in them properly in this sinful world. God has most definitely forbidden sinful thoughts that so often accompany masturbation, and for this we all need to die to self and commit ourselves to the fact that living holy in this world will involve pain.

I pray that through what we do know, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, that you will be able to conduct yourself in purity and wisdom concerning this matter.

Ro 6:13 (NIV) Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

Luke 14:28 (NIV) "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
1 Peter 4:1-2 (Wey) Since, then, Christ suffered in the flesh, you also must arm yourselves with a determination to do the same--because he who has suffered in the flesh has done with sin--that in the future you may spend the rest of your earthly lives, governed not by human passions, but by the will of God.

[CharlieFinley]

No Jon, I've always enjoyed masturbation immensly! I'm a progressive christian. What's being a born-again christian got to do with it? There is nothing in the bible about masturbation. No commandment against it. So enjoy it.

I know that some christians say "just because there's nothing in the bible about it doesn't make it ok to do it." But then, the bible also doesn't say anything about playing games like football, yet nobody thinks that playing football is wrong.

Don't worry about the thoughts you have while masturbating. Just don't think of somebody else as just a sex object. Instead, imagine them as your future partner, enjoying it with you. That way, you're practicing a healthy attitude about sex with another person, which will be good rehearsal for when you finally do have a partner in real life.


I'm afraid I would disagree with you -- masturbation, in and of itself, is not necessarily sinful. However, it is almost invariably accompanied by lustful thoughts, which are sinful.

Also, to the guy who said there's nothing in the Bible against watching porn --
you're wrong.
What absolute freakin hypocritical garbage....

ITT: Someone attacks religious beliefs without actually addressing anything they say.

[deanbrodi]

What are "lustful thoughts"? There is no single agreed-upon definition of lust.

I've already talked about sexy thoughts :
"Don't worry about the thoughts you have while masturbating. Just DON'T think of somebody else as JUST a sex object. Instead, imagine them as your future partner, enjoying it with you. That way, you're PRACTICING a HEALTY ATTITUDE about sex with another person, which will be good rehearsal for when you finally do have a partner in real life."

[xmojox]

Wow. I mean just...wow. THOUGHTS are sinful? You guys spend way too much time thinkin about this stuff. I love God. I hate religion. No. Loving God doesn't keep me from enjoying one of his best gifts.

[WalkingOnDisaster]

im a Jehovah's Witness and we are taught that any kind of masturbation is wrong and that's why its does interfere with my masturbation; and for those that say that "since the bible doesn't condemn masturbation its not bad", it actually does. look up Colossians 3:5 in your spare time.

That's all I gotta say.

[tundravortex]

native american

no its all good

[EvaHlt]

I'm catholic and sometimes when i'm horny, I'm like: "Don't do it, god is watching" and it's an awful feeling! But god never told us NOT TO do it... so yeah...

[MikeyB]

Is religion interfering your life while masturbating?
I'm an atheist so I don't have a problem with it. If my parents caught me (religious parents) there would probably be some problems. Good thing I'm off to university in 6 months. Then I can be completely open about being an atheist and many other things that my parents would probably frown upon. Then again it's my choice they should just deal with it.

[MikeyB]

Also, if you don't masturbate you are going to have hardly any experience with sex. i.e. what feels best for you, different speeds, whether you're a lube kinda guy (or girl). So the first time you have sex will probably suck to say the least. Sorry to be frank about it.

[Mark20]

not very religious but technically catholic. and no for me religion doesn't play any part in masturbation.

[nirvana94]

Atheist. No issues bopping the bishop

[habbohop]

Typical black Christian ;)

Yes, I know its a sin and I shouldn't be doing it, but the temptation is hard, and I always end up doing it, and then going back for forgiveness, just for me to do it again a week later :/

[johnsmith1]

Atheist, and no guilt

[superstarB]

I'm a Christian, and j/o i dont think at least gets in the way

[Lovelife090994]

I'm a Christian and I masturbate. The thing is not to make it a habit and not to go too far. Ask for forgiveness if you see fit just do not make it where it interferes with life. I don't masturbate every day, lately, every other day to every other week. Do I ask for forgiveness? In my case I do, because lust is involved with me, I admit I watch porn every so often, but it is no habit, like every other week or so.

[thatblondeboy69]

Its your decision :)

[Sordid Saint]

Please do not post in old threads :locked: