what does christianity say about masturbation?

Question

jus curious to know.

Answer 1

They believe that any sex is bad, therefore they hate it even though studies show that masturbation is good for you.

Answer 2

It says in the OLD TESTAMENT, that a man would be better to plant his seed in the belly of a whore, than spill it on the ground.
There is no reference to this in the New Testament that I am
aware of.
Considering that survival was very difficult back then, I could see
where it would be better for the child to be born. But in this day
of population explosion. I can't be so sure.
We have a natural ability to release when we get backed up. A
nocturnal emission, or wet dream. But having to clean up can be
a drag. If someone isn't a fiend about it. It might even be preferable to using another human being just for sex.

Answer 3

You may want to rephrase that to "what does the bible say about it", or "what does denomination "x' say about it. Because there seems to be a lot of different ideas here.

For example, here's what Catholicsm says about it:

By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action." "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects' moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

Answer 4

Depends on which branch as to what is said.

The Bible says Onan spilled his seed on the ground and denied his brother children (complex story about the fathering brother's kids part), but the story likely refers to his withdrawal before the pivotal moment.

For women, it speaks to the use of what we'd call a dildo today. "You have taken graven images of man and done whorish things unto you." This is identified as wrong in the Bible, but it's also done with an instrument and no one else but the person masturbating being present.

Answer 5

Nothing really. It does talk about sensuality and self control though. There is one Old Testament case in which a man masturbated and spilled his semen on the ground and God struck him dead, but the reason was because by doing so he did not get his "wife" pregnant and he disobeyed God. I can't find chapter and verse at the moment.

Answer 6

There is no consensus of opinion.

Some groups denounce masturbation on the grounds that the Bible seems to say that it is wrong to have sexual fantasies about a woman that you are not married to.

Answer 7

1Th 4:2-8
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.

Answer 8

The main problem with masturbation is that it is an act of selfishness and egoism, meaning that you should give pleasure to your wife.

Answer 9

It goes away with age and prayer.

Answer 10

I believe Jesus said, "are you still master of your domain?"
... wait maybe that was on Seinfeld.