is it masturbation considered a sin?

Question

you know cause of the whole "lustful thoughts thing?" I mean most people when they're horny are having lustful thoughts.

so yeah is it or is the church too strict?

Answer 1

What does the Bible say about masturbation?

The Bible does not say anything directly about masturbation. However, there is one Bible passage that is sometimes interpreted as a condemnation of masturbation:

Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight; so he put him to death also. (NIV, Genesis 38:8-10)

What Onan did was not masturbation, but a form of birth control known as coitus interruptus. Onan's primary sin was probably his resistance to the custom of providing offspring for his dead brother by impregnating his widow. However a parallel is drawn between Onan's act and the wasting of the semen that occurs when males masturbate. Thomas Bokenkotter, a Catholic priest and historian, explains the traditional church opposition to masturbation this way:

Data from the sciences have also severely challenged the traditional condemnation of masturbation, which to some extent was based on outmoded views of human reproduction. At one time it was believed the male sperm was the only factor in human reproduction and the sperm was regarded as humans in miniature. Hence spilling it out was tantamount to abortion as well as a waste of a precious element. Other myths also played a role. Masturbation was blamed for a whole host of physical and spiritual ills such as acne, asthma, heart murmurs, lethargy and even insanity. From Thomas Bokenkotter, Essential Catholicism, Doubleday, 1985, p. 334.

It is now known that sperm cells are not miniature humans; a man's sperm must unite with a woman's egg before a baby can be formed. Furthermore, sperm cells not ejected from the body simply die after a few weeks anyway, and are continuously replaced. It is also now known that masturbation does not cause acne, insanity or any of the other ills it was blamed for in the past.

Today, the Roman Catholic Church still considers masturbation to be a sin. However, many other churches have accepted it as normal for young unmarried people of both sexes and an acceptable alternative to the very real dangers and evils of promiscuous sexual intercourse. Even many Roman Catholic theologians say that the potential sin of masturbation is not the act itself, but in becoming obsessed with it to the point of blocking normal social and sexual development.

Answer 2

You are onto something, especially when you bring in the "lustful thoughts" issue.... Here's the "low down" on the matter from that great site, "gotquestions.org"...

The Bible never specifically mentions masturbation or states whether masturbation is a sin. There is no question, however, as to whether the actions that lead to masturbation are sinful. Masturbation is the end result of lustful thoughts, sexual stimulation, and/or pornographic images. It is these problems that need to be dealt with. If the sins of lust and pornography are forsaken and overcome - the problem of masturbation will become a non-issue.

.... for the rest of the article... see the link below.

Answer 3

I hope not. As I can't get laid until I'm married, I give my fluffy tuft a tickle from time to time. Either that or I get my girlfriend to do it for me.

As for lustful thoughts, well let's just say I think I might have confirmed my place in hell millions of times over. I'm constantly horny, and I can't help it.

Answer 4

a lot of things are sins simply because they involve neglecting the spirit by being distracted by the flesh, but sins are not like criminal acts. Sins are like getting dirty. When you go to a fancy restaurant they wont let you it if you are filthy and stink. Some sins make you dirty more then others. Some are barely perceptible but add up over time. Others are immediate and are very hard to wash off. Luckily we have church to wash our sins away.

Answer 5

Listen, Christianity is not about a list of do's and don'ts! It is a lifestyle of trying to please God and seek his face in all matters. If you are truly interested in the answer to this question pray about it and think very carefully about the impact masturbation has on your life.

Check this out - there is no law in the bible that says "do not masturbate"

If you want my take on it - the important thing is that you realize the purpose for the gift of sexuality - to bond you to another human being. When you dissociate sex from intimacy and you seek to control your own sexual gratification you are robbing your body of the ability to bond with another person. You may not see what I'm saying now, but if you think about it you will. We can train our bodies to be aroused by anything we want, especially if we are stimulating ourselves.

Do you really want to train your body to be sexually aroused by your own hand? By your mind? By pictures of strangers? By fantasy stories?

Think about it, make a moral decision based on where your conscience is leading you, not based on what other people tell you.

Answer 6

I think it's considered a sin based on something like "thou shall not spill thy seed" or something like it.

"Lustful thoughts" is completely different than masturbation. The action is a sin.

Although I guess "coveting thy neighbor's wife" kinda falls under "lustful thoughts", which is also a sin.

Answer 7

According to the Roman Catholic Church, yes.

Answer 8

No. Liking your body and how it feels is normal. Lusting is considered a heart issue that needs to be dealt with to have a realistic perspective of the opposite sex. It can also create unrealistic expectations of your future sex with a partner.

Answer 9

Yes, it is.

Sex and/or Sexual feelings belong between a man and woman and are there for procreation and should be used only in the bounds of matrimony.

Anything outside of that is sin and against the law of chastity as given to us in the holy scriptures.

Answer 10

The best way to get under your skin and control you is to tell you that your most heartfelt desires are taboo. Doesn't matter what religion you belong to, whatever you like the most is forbidden.
Booze, sex, thinking about sex, asking questions about sex, laughing, singing, listening to music, looking at pictures - - - - - -

All forbidden by one stupid religion or another.

If we lived in a truly well-balanced society, no one would have to masturbate. We don't, so we do. All of us.