Christians: Is Masturbation a Sin?

That is not true. One thing I don't understand is why people who know little to nothing about something (Islam) and pretty much every bit of that little they do 'know' is false like to talk about it so much? Everyone I've met in the US seems to have these opinions on Islam and Muslims and maybe .01% those people even knows the first thing about Islam or Muslims.. even fewer have ever actually met Muslims or traveled through any of "their" countries. As a person who does know a little about these things, the best way I can describe Islam is by saying that it's pretty much Judaism 2.0. One of the main differences between Judaism and Islam is that Jews absolutely ashore Jesus. They consider him the ultimate villain of history. Muslims, on the other hand consider, Jesus to be prophet, just like they consider Mohammed. That's really one of the only big outward differences between Muslims and Jews, Islam and Judaism.

That's right, it isn't.

[HR][/HR]

As an educated Western man born Orthodox, but non-practicing;

First of all I think it's important to remember the definition of addiction: Addiction is the continued repetition of a behavior despite adverse consequences. But what's paramount in that definition? Is it the "adverse consequences" or is it the "behavior" of the addict him/herself? I believe this distinction is the key to this discussion.

I'm a big fan of pragmatism over dogmatism and logical though over emotional thought. I also think it's important not to "externalize" responsibility. For example I absolutely hate it when atheists make claims or statements like "religion is evil." No, religion is not evil, man is evil when man does evil. "Pot ruined my life and made me do things I regret." No, you are responsible for ruining your own life. The fact that are you still refuse to take responsibility for your own actions by externalizing the blame suggests you will probably continue to make regrettable choices. So it's important to remember that the masturbation itself is not the problem and the porn itself is not the problem. The problem is somewhere inside of each and every one us and until we accept full responsibility for own internal dysfunction we will be doomed to repeat this cycle with new objects replacing the old ones.

I think maturation is neutral. I think it's a tool and like all tools it depends on how, why, when, where, at what frequency, etc. Everyone should know that, for instance, medically there are proven health benefits for males to occasionally masturbate, but let's focus on the other side of this discussion. For one example let's consider "when," if you're masturbating instead of doing your homework and your flunk out of a class, then you have problem. On the other hand "where," if you've flunked out of a class because you were masturbating in that class.. well then you have a whole different problem, don't you? There's an upside and downside to any and everything. It's up to each of us to do good and avoid bad. If and when you do 'do bad,' then it's important to take responsibility and not shift the blame to objects outside of the subject of yourself. Psychologically, I think masturbation can be unhealthy if it's done too much or compulsively or for the wrong reasons. If you're compulsively and/or impulsively masturbating then you obviously have a problem. But what is that problem? Is is the masturbation itself or the obsessive and/or compulsive behavior?


Also on a side note..
I think Orthodox Christianity and the way many Orthodox Christians practice might come of a surprise to many Protestant types. Much of modern Orthodox Christianity is devoid of the sorts of superstition that's common place in many Protestant circles. For example, well scratch that.. Let's just say that most of us don't apply literal interpretations to a lot of the stuff that's commonly presented literally in Protestant circles. We don't have any problem with science, evolution, or the world being billions of years old.

 

Wonderful inputs, TheWriter. Thanks!

Just to follow on some other comments: sex is far more than baby creation process. Sex is the consummation of marriage, confirmation of oath. Not just the first night, but every time the partners do it. It is up to the partners to choose how many children they want to have (and it is up to God to choose how many they WILL have). From what I know sex is only sinful when they leave God out of it (perversions aside, that could also be the pill, condom etc.)

I know happily married catholic couples who are sexually active well after they kids left home and started their own families. But these people are also so much devoted to God and each other, they are active not only sexually, but emotionally, with compassion and acts of love being done every day. What you put in, you get out.

One priest told me that an orgasm is a peek hole to heaven. That nice feeling... But there is no heaven without God or without your loved ones. Our temptations are bound to the feeling of heaven, God understands them. They key here is to start longing for the real heaven, not just for the feeling of it. It will make us much more fulfilled and happy.

So, instead of "abstaining" the goal here is to make things real. It can be a healthy relationship with a partner, acts of compassion and love, what ever fills your heart with joy, whatever makes you feel the God more nearly. Healthy sex life, when possible, is just as important part of this as your Sunday mass. But it is not the goal, the goal is always unity with the God (and with one self).

To have your brain, your heart and your balls walking in one direction and that direction being Him, that is heaven on Earth right here, right inside you.