Masturbation and religion...

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ok i have some kinda conflicting feelings here. i love to masturbate...ha as im sure everyone else does too. but im a christian and go to church weekly. and i need to know if jackin off is a sin...i dont really know. and yes i looked in the religous veiwpoint of the masturbation section...and didnt really find what i was lookin for...is yankin on my wang a sin???

There have been discussions on this before, but not for a while. The Bible doesn't say much on the subject - the story of Onan isn't about masturbation. Different churches have taken different views, if they have pronounced on the matter at all.

As far as I know, Catholics are the only christans who are against it completely.

I dont share your views on there being a god but have a question for you to answer for yourself...assuming god is real why did he make it so damned easy to reach and give a tug if its not meant to be touched?

Good point.I don't think masturbation would count as a "sin" either, because in the end it is just pleasuring yourself and relieving stress after a hard day or something. There's nothing wrong with that, in my point of view. Even if your religion counted it as a sin, I think they would try and make the fact as clearly as they can. I also think that if they don't say anything about it in the bible, and there's so much uncertainty on whether "God" wants us to do it or not, he probably just doesn't care anyway.Also, if I was in your position, and I had to decide right now, I'd do it anyway, because of the fact that there is such a debate on it just means that its a conflict between many people's opinions, and people's opinions shouldn't matter when you're deciding what you like to do. So yeah, if it were up to me, I'd do it anyway. Without guilt or doubt.

After some similar discussion, I think no conclusion would be made. But for factual information, maybe you can ask "Any Christians here and you masturbate?"You can get solid answers for this question, I believe.

I'm probably one of the more "conservative" Christian-type folks here, and I don't believe that masturbation in itself is at all sinful. I've heard folks try to make a case for it being so, but I just don't see it anywhere. I've not made my decision based on what I want or what feels good to me, but based on a careful look at what the Bible and others say. I think masturbation can be problematic if it becomes obsessive or addictive, or is involved in a pattern of other things you believe to be sinful, but not the masturbation itself.I have seen so many good kids get all torn up over this issue. Myself included when I was younger. They can be doing everything else right. They stay pure, don't have sex, don't watch porn...whatever...but are made to feel like they're not "holy" because part of the way they avoid those things is by masturbating. Don't listen to that lie.Here's a link to a great book that helped me get some understanding on all of this: The Struggle

Originally Posted By: Tanis

ok i have some kinda conflicting feelings here. i love to masturbate...ha as im sure everyone else does too. but im a christian and go to church weekly. and i need to know if jackin off is a sin...i dont really know. and yes i looked in the religous veiwpoint of the masturbation section...and didnt really find what i was lookin for...is yankin on my wang a sin???

The Bible, which is the only place I am aware of where actual words from God or Jesus are written down, says absolutely NOTHING about it. The moderator is spot on. Onan, the traditional Biblical reference quoted forbidding it, wasn't masturbating, he was screwing his brother's wife and pulled out early to avoid getting her stuffed. Thus, the reference to "casting his seed on the ground." Likewise, there is NO reference anywhere in the Bible where God or Jesus, either directly or indirectly, says anything about homosexuality. Two types of hetero sex are mentioned in the 10 commandments, but nothing about gays. Do you suppose it was too unseemly a topic for God to bring up, or that he was ashamed to discuss it?

The long and short is that any and all pronouncements on these subjects are by MEN who have no more clue than you or I do about what God might think. Keep in mind that what is written in the Bible is 99,8% what men decided to write (often conflicting)to keep the faithful in line and ,2% is directly attributed to God or Jesus and neither one of them ever brought the subjects up.

Wank on mate, enjoy yourself, you're not hurting anyone just having fun. The minister is a hipocrit because you know damn well he did it himself - and if he didn't he's a retard.

Originally Posted By: HelmsmaNDon't think about masturbating in church, don't even bring it up....and don't think about church when you masturbate, and all will be fine. Advice I could've used 20 years ago!!!

Too many people would go to hell if it was a sin. But i would advise doing it in school or in another public establishment; people have a right not to catch you doing that kind of.... stuff.

Actually, I think the rules in my church were don't get caught and clean up your mess.

Hi Tanis!! I hope you're OK. As a Christian - I believe that masturbation CAN become a sin but only IF it becomes more important to us than our relationship with God. But that could be said of anything we do. If playing baseball becomes more important to us than our relationship with God - then playing baseball - for us - would become a sin. God insists that HE be the main focus of our lives. Not because He is vain - but because He knows all to well how easy it is for us to become lost, confused and hopeless in this often troublesome world we live in. It's important to know that we need God far more than He needs us. So - masturbate - if you like. [I certainly do] Just don't become obsessed with it. Have a great day. GREAT BIG HUGCraig!!

hellonice one craig. i am also a christian: I reckon God loves us (all).anyway, i also struggle with masturbation. so you know it doesn't explicitly mention it. here are some things to be aware of though: lust towards other human beings (matthew 5), abuse of your body as a beautiful temple (1 corinthians 6:18-20), taking a sneak peek at married life (Genesis 2:24).make sure you get your reasons for not wanting to sin the right way round. i'm sure you get grace, but it seems like lots of people are adding to the confusion by misinterpreting the most basic bit of the bible's message: going to hell or heaven isn't dependent on what we do! we are forgiven in Christ. i am still trying to get my head round that but basically now i don't want to sin because i am freed to be able to give glory to my Father God. remember his ideas/plans for our lives are a blessing, from Him to us! and that you're loved deeply as a son! (this also goes for anyone who's not too sure about this religion stuff. i believe you also, are the beloved son or daughter of the living God!)be repentant, and be radical. it's hard but it's worth it!God bless you,max

mmm, every time i've seen this topic brought up here, it turns into a firefight between athiests and religious ppl, i hope that doesnt happen here, anyway, in answer to your question, i figure that if there is a god, he really shouldnt care, and since he didnt say jack about it (excuse the pun), and the only people who condem it are the pope and catholics, i guess its up to you, i never feel bad for doing it, and i think if there was a god, there is alot worse things you could do than masturbate, i mean, the 10 commandments are a list of basic moral principles, so if you really feel that you are uncomfortable with it and that it goes against your religion, then add an 11th commandment, thout shall not jack off. otherwise, i think your in the clear, and if if I am wrong, all us sinners will burn for jacking off, but i realyl dont know, so simply put, my theory is, its your choise, whatever your personal view is, thats what you should go with

i am not trying to pick a fight or anything, just asking for a little clarification on your point of view. Do you mean by "going to hell or heaven isn't dependent on what we do" that you think it is dependant on what you think and feel? doesnt a person have more control over what they do than what they think? and if so, do you mean that masturbation is not a sin if you are say, thinking of your girlfriend as aposed to some other person? just wondering.

It's up to interpretation. How do you interpret the bible? By your interpretation, is it a sin?

Quote: going to hell or heaven isn't dependent on what we do! we are forgiven in Christ.I have to disagree I have been struggling with this quote for quite a while now unfortunately.However what about hebrews 6 in general? reading over that it seems to say "intentional sin" is unforgiveable =/.I haven't made an illegal download, masturbaited, looked at porn or done much since I read that part.

I'm sure you've sinned MORE than enough to ensure a snug place in hell; as we all have (evil deeds, thoughts, words etc) I'm sure you've sinned in ways you didn't even know existed, or did them intentionally even if you knew they existed. And all in all; if the sin is unforgiven, why do you think it'll mean a rats ass if you stop anyways? That's like apologizing after you murder someone; they're still dead, and you're still going to jail!- Ever feel a touch of excitement when you look at a pretty woman? Lust..- Ever feel jealous when you see someone drive by in a nice car, or has a better job than you? Covet...- Ever talk back to your parents or disobey them? (you see where I'm going with this)Anyways, personally I've done some bad things; I stopped doing them because I felt bad about it; but I'm not so foolish to believe that I am now blameless because I ceased doing them.The bible (among pretty much every other religious book) is very loosely translated from a dozen dead languages, has been edited, and changed according to the whims and guesses of various translators, scholars etc. My point being; take the stories of the bible for their good, not every word is true, and no one will agree on what is right or wrong; you cannot take it word for word. I don't seek to bash your religion, or even your interpretation of the bible, I just want to realize the bible and the interpretations you've been presented with are not 100%...otherwise you might end up like Fred Phelps shudder

lost sheep is quite correct about Christian theology. Whereas in some religions good actions accumulate merit (and bad actions may lose it) that gets you to heaven, in Christianity no-one can gain heaven by his own merit, which always falls short. Christ takes us in regardless.However, the follower of Christ will attempt to follow Christ's teachings, so it's not as if Christians can do what they like.I think Hebrews 6:6, in speaking of "falling away", cannot be referring to ordinary sin, because then who would be saved? (Though the view was very common in the early church that sin after baptism was unforgivable, so people left baptism until their deathbed.)

I would not call it a sin, but for different reasons than interpretations of different bible quotes. I think that, if God(assuming he exists) had not wanted us to jack off, and/or have any kind of sex before we marry, then why the hell would we want to do it so much?! I didn't masturbate until I was 17, but not because I thought it was a sin or anything like that, it's kinda complicated and I don't feel like going into it now. Anyway, until that time, it was just an endless series of embarrassing moments, i.e. looking at a hot chick or thinking about something sexual, and getting a hard-on for the next ten minutes in the middle of class. Not to mention wetting the bed, sometimes a couple times a night. Try being in a foreign country and living in a stranger's(very nice) house having to worry about messing up their sheets every night! I think that, if all of those things were meant to be a test of faith, it's a little overkill. But, if you still feel very uncomfortable about it then stay on the safe side and just don't do it. If nothing else it'll save you some very unnecessary worrying further down the line.That's all, I hope I've said something...remotely useful.