Is it sinful to masterbate?

I guess in the bible it is. Also note that times are different then. In the times where the bible was written men also ra*ed women without consequence. I wouldn't take it personally. Do what makes you feel good.

Originally Posted by logan2002

If you believe in god, why would he make you in his image, give you something that makes you feel good, and say not to use it

It's because he gives us temptations to test us to see if we will be strong enough to resist them or not. Like alcohol and drugs make you feel good but they are certainly sins. More often than not we aren't strong enough because we are human and humans will always sin. That's why we are offered a chance to repent afterwards and seek God's forgiveness.

However, having said all that, i don't think masturbation is a sin if its done in a healthy way. Masturbating too much might be but then all males are guilty for that

It’s not
Abuse of it or lust maybe
But it’s natural
Most of those things labeled as sin are just judgements by the translator / publisher at the time

I'm not religious so it doesn't bother me

I guess if you follow religion properly it is along with other stuff, like sex before marriage and having lustful thoughts, though just because you do these things doesn’t make you a bad person or that you can’t follow your religion

Yes it is sinful and haram.

I am going to hell.

I believe it is not, but I'm pretty sure there are many people who think otherwise.

Originally Posted by JustAnAveragePerson

I guess in the bible it is. Also note that times are different then. In the times where the bible was written men also ra*ed women without consequence. I wouldn't take it personally. Do what makes you feel good.

Does the bible actually talk about it ?

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Yep they do

It’s not
It’s natural

There's no simple answer, just as there's no easy definition of a "sin."

I would suspect that many on VT have come to think that it must be a sin because they don't want to be, or have been, caught by a parent while masturbating.

A parent is likely to have a reflex action of shock at finding what they thought their innocent offspring are doing. But many such parents have accidentally or conveniently forgotten what they did when they were in their teens.

My personal belief is that masturbating isn't a sin, except for those whose religion - either via their parents or directly - instructs them that it is. Masturbation is not mentioned as such in the Christian or Jewish books of the Bible. But the word "abomination" isn't well defined and many zealous believers will take masturbation as an example of an abomination, and therefore sinful.

So in summary, masturbation is what you yourself accept as being right or wrong for you.

Originally Posted by JustAnAveragePerson

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Yep they do

Isnt that just desire in general. Everything from looking at someone and thinking they look sexy, masturbating, having sex.... The basic point is everything is a sin if it has desire (in this case sexual) and you should only have sex to reproduce and hate the experience. Now I don't think anyone has ever not thought something looked good or wanted something in some context of desire

Who decides what’s sinful and for who?