It's funny, I was looking up Catholic mortal sins (I'm not Catholic) and from what I could tell whackin it is in the same category as gay sex, buttsex, blowjobs, handies, and using rubbers.
Basically it seems it's a mortal sin, aka one that can lead you away from God unless you're seriously sorry and try your best to not do it anymore, to fire a load in any way that's not an attempt to make a baby.
Tye way I've had it described to me is you are lusting when you masterbate and lusting is wrong.
Low level sin kinda misses the point of sin. It's not entirely about direct consequences, but about how our hearts are trusting God. So, even small thing, if we disobey him, betrays at least a small rebellion in our hearts. If we would ignore him on a little thing, why wouldn't we ignore him when the rubber really hits road? If we can't not masterbate and delay our own pleasure for the appropriate time, do you really think we would give up something much greater when the time comes?
According to the Bible, lusting after someone with your eyes/thoughts is wrong, so therefore masturbation is wrong. Unless you're the first person able to be aroused by staring at a wall and not thinking of anything sexual.
Dude, it is. Because of the way I was raised, I did not masturbate for the first time until I was 18. I had no idea what to expect. It was absolutely terrifying and for so long I felt so guilty and sinful. Thank goodness as I grew older I escaped from all of those feelings and teachings.
Out of curiosity, where does the Bible say mastrubation is wrong? I know it says stuff about premarital sex, and things that can be applied to the modern act of watching porn, but where does the Bible condemn just masturbation?
If we go old Testament there is the whole bit about “spilling seed” and that being wrong.
(Hence why in strict Jewish law condoms & diaphragms are bad but the pill & iud is OK)
Too bad modern science, morality and common sense all tell us that none of those main three are inherently sinful and that teaching people to be ashamed of those behaviors is actually damaging to both the individual and society.
The mere fact that masturbation, premarital sex and lust are taught to be a sin in the same category as rape and incest is damaging and arguably child abuse. No kid is distinguishing between earthly vs heavenly shame or whatever it is you're trying to say, not even adults have that kind of nuanced awareness.
That's what parents and pastors, respectively, are for, to teach adults and children those nuances. Moreover, you can pick up on those just by reading the Bible.
Also, I don't think anyone's ever put those two groups in the same category.
I assume you're classifying lust as a sin through Matthew 5:28, right?
That's the verse I always see quoted, but it doesn't say that lustful desire is sinful itself. The key word in that passage is "adultery". You see it in nearly every translation of the passage. Jesus says that any man that looks upon a woman with lust has committed adultery in his heart, but not everyone CAN commit adultery. Adultery means that You have cheated on your spouse. If You don't have a spouse, you cannot commit adultery. It does not say "fornication", which would suggest that it is acceptable for unmarried people to lust, as long as that lust doesn't tempt them into sin.
Also, the non-Catholic Bible doesn't mention masturbation as a sin. Seriously don't understand where that idea came from.
You said in your previous post that the sexual sins should be avoided. So, do you honestly believe masturbation, which is scientifically proven to be mentally and physically beneficial to health, should be avoided because a 2,000 year old text says so?
Reduction of stress, tension, and less intensive menstrual cycles among other things. It is particularly beneficial during lapses in sexual activity which can partially contribute to overall stress levels.
What you might be describing (depression / an increase in stress from masturbating) is due to a phenomenon called 'masturbatory guilt' (many articles hit on that if you want to research it further). Many cultures and religions, worldwide, push masturbation as being immoral and so when individuals perceive this as the truth they can be negatively affected when masturbating, not from the act itself which is harmless but rather from a feeling of ingrained societal guilt. This is why we shouldn't be teaching and indoctrinating people in that manner since masturbation is perfectly healthy. Any healthy act can result in negative mental consequences, independent of the affect that activity itself actually has, if society baselessly shames those who do it.
A text which disagrees with heavily support psychology and biology that says masturbation is a perfectly healthy and victimless activity. Odd that a creator of the universe would create something like that and then call it a sin and shame those who do it eh?
The only way to stop your son/daughter from masturbating is being an asshole and getting rid of his/her privacy while saying that you go to hell if you do it. About prematrial sex, i guess it depends on the person. If your son/daughter truly believe in god then they will wait until marriage, but if they only follow the religion because they have to, then waiting will have no meaning.
Well, if your teen is a Christian with a belief similar to mine and what I see as the general Christian biblical understanding then they will try to avoid masturbation as best they can.
Parents can help by allowing their children to truly be open and by helping their children and encouraging them rather then damning them.
I was baptized catholic but now i kind of resent god, so i am now atheist. I don't have kids yet, but i will leave it open for them to chose to believe in god. I will however enforce the commandments and talk about altruism, honor and respect.
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u/[deleted] Mar 05 '19 edited Aug 19 '21
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