What is the reason for masturbation being a sin?

Question

Who can give me either:
A) an analysis of a bible passage and why explicitly masturbation is sinful

or

b) a historical reason for why masturbation has been demonized.

Thanks

Answer 1

In Genesis 38, you can read the story of Onan, the son of Judah. His brother had married a woman named Tamar but died before they could have children. According to levirate law, a man whose brother dies before having children owes it to the widow to provide children to carry on the deceased's name. The children are effectively his brother's.

In this case, Onan didn't like his dead brother, so on his way to fulfill the obligation, he practiced birth control by "spilling his seed on the ground". His sin was in defying his family obligation, but the story, as so often happens, has been misinterpreted so that the sin was in the specific act. (Masturbation has been in fact called "onanism".)

The historical reason for the demonization is the notion that everything should have a "natural" purpose. It's called "Natural Law" and its application here is the pupose of ejaculation, which is of course to produce children. In cultures where the infant and child death rate is high, birth control is seen as cultural suicide. In a world with adequate nutrition and health care, this argument makes less sense, but old ways die hard.

Incidentally, Tamar solves her problem in a bizarre but ingenous way. I recommend reading the story, with understanding.

Answer 2

There two ways a person can look at this.
(1) In Leviticus 15:16-18 it confronts the Discharge of Semen. Here a man is only considered unclean until evening and has to bathe and he clean again. Many will argue what I say, and, I not say I correct. When the men were fighting in battle and away from their women, well these things happen. May been masturbation, could have been a wet dream, I really not know.
(2) Now from this point of view; Galatians 5:19-21 it speaks of sexual immorality, but, is this in the context of masturbation? Their are places it say sex outside of marriage is a sin. So, does masturbation when a person single constitute sin? Can a married man/woman masturbate?
I not going to say it is right or wrong. I not sure and I not the Judge. A person needs to study these areas in the Bible and decide, you may decide wrong, but, that why we need Jesus so much. We make mistakes.

Answer 3

The Bible says in Colossians 3:5 to "Deaden therefore your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleaness, sexual appetites (read also: Romans 1:26, 27)Masturbation is a self centered act. The Bible states that sexual desires should be only between the husband & his wife (read Proverbs 5:15-19)

Answer 4

Lots of cultures have weird issues when it comes to anything relating to bodily-functions. I know from the Bible people like to cite the story of Onan where the Lord kills Onan because he "spills his seed on the ground" Hence, any waste of sperm became considered immoral to some people. Though, it's always struck me as odd, that anyone could actually read that whole story, and THAT's what they take away from it?

Basically, Onan's brother dies (actually, is killed for displeasing God) before he can get his wife pregnant. So Onan's dad orders him to have sex with his sister-in-law so they can have a baby and pretend it belonged to the dead brother. But when Onan goes in to the sister-in-law (repeatedly), he decides he doesn't want his own kid to be raised as someone else's, which is why he spills his seed (maybe that's also where people got the idea for the withdrawal method). And so that's why God kills him.

Which is funny because the whole point was so Onan's dad's bloodline could continue through his grandchildren, so SOL Onan's Dad.

Answer 5

There are many ways to look at Masturbation.........

Religion

Religious attitudes towards masturbation are varied. In some, such as Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Judaism, Islam, and some forms of conservative Protestantism, masturbation is regarded as an impure practice, and carries indications that it is taboo. In others such as Wicca and Vajrayana, it is encouraged as a healthy, normal practice that can lead to higher spirituality.

If you go to the link below there is good information there..........

Good luck

Answer 6

I've read a few books on this and most of them agree that masturbation in and of itself is not a sin, however the fantasies that tend to accompany it are. UNLESS you are fantasizing about someone you have a right to think about like that (a spouse is the ONLY example.) Otherwise it would count as adultry. (see the sermon on the mount)

Answer 7

Here's two reasons.

1) "You shall not commit adultery." (Deuteronomy 5:18)
Adultery can mean anything sexual outside God's covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. This includes masturbation. Your using a precious gift which God has given you for purposes that it wasn't intended to be used for.

2) Jesus said, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) when you usually masturbate you fantasize about women. You look at them lustfully. Therefore you've committed adultery in your heart, and that's sin.

Answer 8

Because back in Biblical times before the earth had 6 billion people on it we needed to procreate. This is why they said it was bad to "waste your seed." Same reason they didn't like gay people. It was still retarded then because we all know how easy it is to get somebody pregnant, but I can see the logical reason behind it.

But now our species is in no danger of dying out so wasting the seed is kind of a good thing to prevent over crowding. Better to spray in a sock than to create a child you don't have the $$ or time to raise.

Answer 9

Genesis 38:9:
Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.

I think this might have been bastardised to condemn masturbation. Don't know; I practice Kemetic religion / magic!

Answer 10

How about

C) Because it's a natural way to relieve stress and make you feel better about yourself, and God doesn't want you to love yourself.

Sins are nothing but self-imposed religious taboos, and as long as you're not hurting anyone else I don't see a problem.