is masterbation a sin? (belief, sexuality, grace, God)

[june 7th]

Originally Posted by denverian

I don't believe women can understand men either.

Men have reported:

It decreases stress, anxiety, helps modulate aggression...

Should I keep going?

[denverian]

Originally Posted by june 7th

Men have reported:

It decreases stress, anxiety, helps modulate aggression...

Should I keep going?

Well, yes, I'd agree with that. But for a women to understand how sexual feelings build if there has been no sex or masturbation for many days would be difficult to understand. How your mind, against your will, keeps straying to sexual thoughts. It's your body telling you it's full, and needs release.

[latte'lady]

Originally Posted by denverian

Well, yes, I'd agree with that. But for a women to understand how sexual feelings build if there has been no sex or masturbation for many days would be difficult to understand. How your mind, against your will, keeps straying to sexual thoughts. It's your body telling you it's full, and needs release.

Well I've been following this thread and do have to say something. I am a woman and when I was going through a divorce somethings started happening about a month into it.
Now mind you I am a christian woman and am only sharing this because men seem to think women don't have the problem and don't understand.
I was having dreams and waking to these same physical sensation that men have.
This bothered me for I was not aware of what was happening and talked to my counselor and was told that women also have the difficulty of a build up of stress and need to release as would a man.
I am embrassed to share this but men need to know that women do understand this type of situation.
I just believe women do not share such a thing..as it is very personal.
But men need to be aware and stop making excuses that women don't understand!! Because they do!
Women also have a chemical that releases through sexual experience. If it is the chemical same as a man, I don't know. But it is there and does happen.
Thanks

[denverian]

Originally Posted by latte'lady

Well I've been following this thread and do have to say something. I am a woman and when I was going through a divorce somethings started happening about a month into it.
Now mind you I am a christian woman and am only sharing this because men seem to think women don't have the problem and don't understand.
I was having dreams and waking to these same physical sensation that men have.
This bothered me for I was not aware of what was happening and talked to my counselor and was told that women also have the difficulty of a build up of stress and need to release as would a man.
I am embrassed to share this but men need to know that women do understand this type of situation.
I just believe women do not share such a thing..as it is very personal.
But men need to be aware and stop making excuses that women don't understand!! Because they do!
Women also have a chemical that releases through sexual experience. If it is the chemical same as a man, I don't know. But it is there and does happen.
Thanks

Thanks for the clarification.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

What the Bible says about masturbation

I have often found this website an interesting resource and one that I can't easily associate with any denomination, they give some understanding in to how people have interpreted the bible and what the bible actually says WITH a scholarly look into the origins of the language.

I believe there are two kinds of men in this world, those who do masturbate and those who lie. I don't have a problem with men doing this. My only concern when being in a relationship would be that I am pleasing my partner enough.

[Alpha8207]

Guys and gals,

Can we please keep the thread on topic.

It's specifically asking about the sin nature (or lack thereof) of masturbation.

Thanks all.

[moonsavvy]

Apparently to answer the question. It really depends on who you ask.

This is a very taboo subject so of course there will be differences in opinions. The bottom line is if you think it's a sin...don't do it. If you don't think it's a sin, no need to worry about it. The problem lies when you try to control someone by "guilting" them into your own beliefs. We can't control other people or their views (especially those we are involved with)

For the record I never said that any of you were bad or wrong for your belief's, I simply expressed my views on the subject. I expect to have the same respect when offering my views or opinion on the matter.

[Kratos]

The Bible states that through the Law is the knowledge of sin. Thus, there would have to be scripture stating that masterbation is a sin for it to be one according to the Law. After this, it is just a matter of what is written in our own heart in the area of conviction. The scripture in Gen. 38:9 which has been quoted seems to say that God was angry at Onan for "pulling out" instead of letting his seed impregnate his sister-in-law to raise up children for his brother as the law required.

The cause of the fall was man choosing to know good and evil for themselves instead of trusting God to tell us what is right and wrong. It would seem that this is another case where man's religion has exalted itself over the Word by declaring masterbation as a sin when the Bible does not say that.

I know as a married man, my body is not my own. I am commanded to not defraud my wife of what she needs. So, if a man masterbated to the point that he had nothing left when his wife needed him, this would be wrong. But nature has provided most men with more than enough for one women. Or so it seems. In fact, some wives might even wish that their husband handled a little more of his own business so she could get a break.

[june 7th]

Here's the difficulty I have with this whole topic:

It just makes no darn sense to me. Now granted, June isn't exactly walking around with a bible tucked under her arm, or storming churches on Sundays. By the same token, June has nothing against the bible, churches, or Christianity in general. No reason to be. However, there comes a point where even open minded June finds herself going: "WHAT!?"

Here's what is bugging me: We're all human beings, folks. And for the purposes of this post, I'm thinking gender neutral. Men do it, women do it, young kids do it. It's a part of human sexuality. Now granted, more often than not, people get freaked out over "human sexuality." (June does not, as she has to hear about it, deal with it, etc., etc., all the time. Hence, June has a dramatically different perspective.) --But June also seems to recall growing up and hearing how (mostly for men) masturbation would cause everything from blindness to a direct ticket to hell. That men who masturbated were "killing thousands of potential Christians." Even at a young age, June just couldn't wrap her mind around that one. So she didn't.

What June has an even more difficult time trying to wrap her mind around is the seemingly disconnected aspect between "belief" and acceptance of who we are as human beings. If, (according to the bible and Christianity) we are all made in god's image and likeness, and if god exists in each and every one of us, and if god truly loves us for who we are in our very human state, then I, for one, just don't get it...

I suppose I need someone to explain to me this whole notion/concept of sin and how one reconciles that with the fundamental, underlying aspect of our humanity. Explain to me why your god makes you fully human, and yet is somehow requiring you to deny your own humanity. --Because sexuality is nothing if not very, very human.

Are we actually confusing doctrine, dogma, and the accompanying notion of inherited shame with something altogether different? Explain to me how I should strive or remain open to a religious belief system that tells me such vastly contradictory things. Explain to me why I should be interested in something (this beautiful belief system that is based on nothing other than love) that at the same time asks that I deny a fundamental aspect of my own humanity, as well as label certain aspects of sexuality as being "sinfull."

June just doesn't get it.

If anything, June sees the "perils" of what transpires when people deny who they are and attempt to discredit their own humanity. Can people become addicted to masturbation? Yeah, they can/do. But it's not the act itself as much as what exists/drives it that is underlying the compulsion of the act. Human beings can become addicted to sex/pornography. Masturbation is the secondary behavior/act. This much June suspects: Try and inhibit that which is a natural, instinctual drive, label it as "sinful!" and then you're asking for difficulty...

Does god deem masturbation "sin?" Is every human being reading this thread going to hell? June hasn't got a clue. But this much I do know: Shame based belief systems seldom produce good results. Denial of who we are as human beings and the accompanying shame come out in other ways.

Perhaps that's the real "sin."

Take gentle care.

[little_thirsty]

June I couldn't agree more.