Is this a sin?

[Black_Angel_1]

It really isn’t. Masturbation is, clearly, a sexual act. To deny this is simply lunacy. And if it is indeed a sexual act, then it defies the ultimate purpose of sexuality, which is again the expression of love towards another human being.

Masturbation IS NOT a sexual act. Unless it is Mutual masturbation (which involves another)

Sex in all its forms requires another person.

Have you ever wondered why there are pedophile priests?

It makes sense if you look at the fact that they are forbidden to masturbate.

If you don’t masturbate, you will have sexual urges that will increase.

Over time, these urges will drive you crazy. Which is why we masturbate. To control primal desires.

Masturbation is not a Sexual Act, and is not violating the purpose. Because can you really show your love to yourself, and impregnate yourself?

No. Therefore, it isn’t sex.

Masturbation existed long before the invention of products that stop pregnancy.

The only way to avoid the purpose of sex is to use such devices (IE: Condoms, Birth control, etc.)

Masturbation clears Sexual Urges. Given that you don’t do it too much.

And don’t delude yourself. Pray to Jesus all you want. If you avoid masturbation, you’re gonna have those sexual desires at one point that are going to be very strong…

On a related note: If your urges involve masturbating, then of course that is wrong.

But most urges have to do with being extremely attracted to someone of the opposite sex.

To control said desires you masturbate. Masturbate to fulfill the urge to, only makes your urges stronger.

 

[phoenix3212]

Sex in all its forms requires another person.

Indeed. And if it is right and proper that the sexual organs should be used to convey love to another person, as is their purpose, then it must be true that it is not the purpose of such organs to direct what is supposed to be a selfless love towards the self.

Have you ever wondered why there are pedophile priests?

It makes sense if you look at the fact that they are forbidden to masturbate.

If you don’t masturbate, you will have sexual urges that will increase.

Teaching self-control would obviously enable a person to more easily master their desires than act upon them. I have, yes, wondered why there are pedophile priests, but I submit to you that the reason they exist is because of a failure to understand and live by moral philosophy and theology regarding sex and the nature of sexuality.

Quite frankly, masturbation will not help decrease sexual urges. It’s like putting gasoline on a fire; those urges are being satisfied and fed—and as such, they grow.

Over time, these urges will drive you crazy. Which is why we masturbate. To control primal desires.

Didn’t you try to claim in an earlier post that masturbation itself was a primal desire? That it is “natural,” and can be demonstrated to be such because animals do it? If so, then you’re not really controlling primal desires by masturbating. You’re just giving in to them.

And don’t delude yourself. Pray to Jesus all you want. If you avoid masturbation, you’re gonna have those sexual desires at one point that are going to be very strong…

Whether you masturbate or not you will have sexual desires. They are, after all, part of being human, and they are supposed to be strong. But these desires are meant to satisfy a particular end; they are meant to give love. You can’t give something to yourself, and to try do to so would be a violation of not only the natural order of things but also of rationality itself.

 

[Lypher]

Umm. Masturbation is not a violation of the natural law as other mammals who follow the natural law with no choice also masturbate…

Natural law does not mean Nature…It means laws that God has written on our hearts. Laws which we know that when we violate them it is wrong. We know killing others without grave and just cause is wrong. We know stealing is wrong and lying. One of the reasons sex outside of marriage is wrong is because it makes the partner an object of just pleasure, For this and other reason Masturbation is against natural law because it too is selfish and while masturbating one usually has images in ones mind that again creates objects out of a women.

SEX is solely for reproduction and is an act to show your spouse you love them. But Masturbation is different…

Yes it is… I agree.

Just because the Church says its immoral and wrong doesn’t mean it is. Due to it being 100% natural.

You are wrong and you know so even in your own heart. The Church is correct in calling it immoral as it is against the Natural law. In your previous statement you acknowledge Church teaching on the Unitive portion of the sexual act, as well as the reproductive act. By accepting Church doctrine on these points you are agreeing with the Natural Laws which God has written on your own conscience, which the Church also understands and teaches. If it were not true then you would just go and have sex with as many women as possible to pass on your genes, but you understand that it would be wrong. Why would it be wrong? For one it would damage the women and children that you left, causing pain and misery, which you understand is wrong (Natural Law) for another it hurts you, because in order to do that you would have to ignore the Natural Law of your own conscience and you would thereby corrupt yourself, making you less of a person.

The above being said applies also to Masturbation because when you participate in that act you objective women and when you are finished you know in your heart that what you have done is wrong. The reason for your understanding that it is wrong is why this thread is here. Your own conscience understand that it is wrong. That is a good thing because if it did not cry out then it would mean that you have separated yourself so far from God, and corrupted your conscience, that you no longer feel.

I think that you may understand the wrongness of masturbation, as you definitely understand the teachings of the Church on Sex. I would also bet that when you masturbate you don’t feel proud or have a sense of accomplishment. Likely you feel somewhat dirty and detached, as if you know you have done something wrong?

God Bless You in your search…

 

[Black_Angel_1]

Natural law does not mean Nature…It means laws that God has written on our hearts. Laws which we know that when we violate them it is wrong. We know killing others without grave and just cause is wrong. We know stealing is wrong and lying. One of the reasons sex outside of marriage is wrong is because it makes the partner an object of just pleasure, For this and other reason Masturbation is against natural law because it too is selfish and while masturbating one usually has images in ones mind that again creates objects out of a women.

Yes it is… I agree.

You are wrong and you know so even in your own heart. The Church is correct in calling it immoral as it is against the Natural law. In your previous statement you acknowledge Church teaching on the Unitive portion of the sexual act, as well as the reproductive act. By accepting Church doctrine on these points you are agreeing with the Natural Laws which God has written on your own conscience, which the Church also understands and teaches. If it were not true then you would just go and have sex with as many women as possible to pass on your genes, but you understand that it would be wrong. Why would it be wrong? For one it would damage the women and children that you left, causing pain and misery, which you understand is wrong (Natural Law) for another it hurts you, because in order to do that you would have to ignore the Natural Law of your own conscience and you would thereby corrupt yourself, making you less of a person.

The above being said applies also to Masturbation because when you participate in that act you objective women and when you are finished you know in your heart that what you have done is wrong. The reason for your understanding that it is wrong is why this thread is here. Your own conscience understand that it is wrong. That is a good thing because if it did not cry out then it would mean that you have separated yourself so far from God, and corrupted your conscience, that you no longer feel.

I think that you may understand the wrongness of masturbation, as you definitely understand the teachings of the Church on Sex. I would also bet that when you masturbate you don’t feel proud or have a sense of accomplishment. Likely you feel somewhat dirty and detached, as if you know you have done something wrong?

God Bless You in your search…

Actually no. When I masturbate. I have no feeling or sense that it is wrong. In fact, since I have lots of anxiety, After masturbation, I feel relief. And my sexual thoughts and urges are immediately gone.

The sole reason why you feel it is wrong, is because your religious beliefs say it is. So when you think of masturbation, you feel a sense of wrong.

That is how the human mind works. You feel its wrong not because it is, but because you believe it to be.

Natural Law and Nature are still the same in the respect that they are natural.

If you feel it is wrong, then you simply think it is. That applies to all things. Of course somethings are obvious.

Masturbation helps clear impure thoughts which HAPPEN before the act, and during to help the process.

You only think its wrong because a group of people you deeply trust tell you it is. And that alone is enough to alter perception of reason.

 

[BuddyinStL]

Ok, now I’m confused. My priest says it’s a mortal sin to masturbate. Some of you agree, while others are stating that, if animals do it, that means it’s natural, and therefore ok. Then, if that’s the case, why do I, and always have, felt guilty about it? Is it because I’m Catholic? Or a Christian? My personal feeling is that God doesn’t want me to masturbate, and surely, if the Virgin Mary was present, I wouldn’t even consider it. I’m getting the feeling that it is the devil’s temptation and I should do my best to avoid it. Am I close to the truth?

 

[chazk728]

Ok, now I’m confused. My priest says it’s a mortal sin to masturbate. Some of you agree, while others are stating that, if animals do it, that means it’s natural, and therefore ok. Then, if that’s the case, why do I, and always have, felt guilty about it? Is it because I’m Catholic? Or a Christian? My personal feeling is that God doesn’t want me to masturbate, and surely, if the Virgin Mary was present, I wouldn’t even consider it. I’m getting the feeling that it is the devil’s temptation and I should do my best to avoid it. Am I close to the truth?

Don’t worry about others who post on this forum and deliberately challenge Catholic teaching. It is of course their right to disagree with the Church, but it is unfair of them to do so in a way that causes confusion for those who are seeking the truth. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (scborromeo.org/ccc.htm) to know what the Church teaches on any given topic. The Church has always taught and continues to teach that masturbation is a grave sin, and its reasons are clearly outlined in the Catechism.

 

[Podo2005]

First off. It isn’t right for Masturbation to be a sin, due to the fact that Animals, who have no way of knowing right from wrong and who act on base instinct also Masturbate.

Animals also kill each other, does that mean we ought to start killing each other?

Humans are the same. Aside from the fact, that if you Masturbate the correct way (only 2 times a week, at least 20 minutes both times) you are gonna be much healthier, and if you do it the right way, masturbation helps fight urges to have sex.

On the contrary masturbation increases the craving for sex
You will be healthier if you abstained from all sexual activity all together

Although Humans have the ability of reason. We may choose to Masturbate or not, while animals don’t so they Masturbate whenever it appears in their instinct.

Masturbation is natural. Believe it or not, it makes you healthier.

Yes its a very “natural” thing for human beings to be attracted to things that that bring pleasure & to be repelled by things that bring pain… but that says nothing about whether the act in question is right or wrong. Example: It may be very “natural” for an obese man to indulge in his favorite foods, but it will affect his health because he will remain obese.

My advice to the OP: Masturbate the right way, which is the restraining method of masturbating no more then twice a week, 20 minutes each. If you do that. You will have less sexual urges, and you will further your development in certain areas,

Bad advice… my advice to the OP would be to not masturbate at all… in fact do whatever you can to get away from masturbation… it is addictive, harmful to your life & selfish.

Not to mention, masturbation can relieve Anxiety and Depression.
Yeah for 2 seconds after you’ve “relieved” yourself… then the anxieties & fears all come back… I wonder why?

It isn’t a sin, if you look at it logically. because it wouldn’t make sense for God to count it as bad when it is natural and can in turn, prevent more sins based on sexual desire.
2 wrongs don’t make a right!

 

[Podo2005]

Actually no. When I masturbate. I have no feeling or sense that it is wrong. In fact, since I have lots of anxiety, After masturbation, I feel relief. And my sexual thoughts and urges are immediately gone.

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I’m sure you would have alot less anxiety if you quit masturbation altogether!

The sole reason why you feel it is wrong, is because your religious beliefs say it is. So when you think of masturbation, you feel a sense of wrong.
No there are many logical arguments against masturbation, one being that it goes against the natural law because a man is made for a woman not for himself. Thats why masturbation can really be seen as a denial of a real sexual relationship with a woman.

That is how the human mind works. You feel its wrong not because it is, but because you believe it to be.

Natural Law and Nature are still the same in the respect that they are natural.

There is a certain ambuiguity to the words “Nature” & “Natural”… in one sense we could mean by “natural” that which nature ought to be (1)…or we could be referring to the state of nature as it now is(2)

If you feel it is wrong, then you simply think it is. That applies to all things. Of course somethings are obvious.

Masturbation helps clear impure thoughts which HAPPEN before the act, and during to help the process.
Yes & then you have to keep coming back to masturbation to “clear” ( I don’t believe it clears impure thoughts but rather enflames them) & slowly but surely it becomes an addiction & ruins you

You only think its wrong because a group of people you deeply trust tell you it is. And that alone is enough to alter perception of reason.

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How do you come to the conclusion that if a group of people tell you someone that you must automatically distrust them simply based on the fact that they are a group of people that you trust?

 

[stealthy1]

Lurker on the forum here for a while, but saw this thread and I thought I’d post for the first time!

By the way, I just got Baptized/Confirmed/First Communion this Easter.

Yeah, I have the same issues. But I can tell you, masturbation is no natural issue. It’s natural to some animals, but the issue for humans is addiction. Not only is there the sexual stimulus to do it, but eventually it is a habit, as so many know.

One of the things you should know is that oxytocin IS released when you masturbate. All the hormones associated with normal sexual intercourse is involved when you masturbate, there is no physiological difference between sexual stimulus.

Nevertheless, because of brain learning, masturbation IS a very difficult habit to break. I’m just glad God’s given me the strength to beat this sin. Not that I don’t have slips now and then, but luckily the Holy Spirit still guides me to discern when I’m being attacked by demons to sin.

I pray that all of you will be able to have the strength to be pure. And I hope that those of you not Catholic will eventually realize how destructive masturbation can be to relationships and to yourself.

Benson