Masturbation confliction

[andrewp13]

Actually, no, the Church has no such official teaching. Yes, both are considered sufficiently serious to cut one off from God’s grace, but that does not mean that they are just as serious as each other, it just means that they are both more serious than a certain threshold. If someone told you that 1 trillion and 1 thousand were both more than 100 would you then assume that 1 trillion is just as large as 1 thousand? No, of course not. Similarly it is wrong to claim that the Church teaches that these two sins are equally sinful.

Well they both are grave matter, therefore if you commit either one, you are subject to the same consequence when it comes to God. Of course in society they are not equal though.

 

[thewanderer]

Well they both are grave matter, therefore if you commit either one, you are subject to the same consequence when it comes to God. Of course in society they are not equal though.

The church makes no claims as to whether or not both will receive the exact same consequences. The Church says that they are both grave matter and can both result in a person going to hell, yes, but the Church does not claim that their experience of hell, if they ended up there, would be the exact same. 1 trillion does not equal 1 thousand.

 

[Do_Good_Then_Go]

The only way to put a stop to the gravely sinful act of masturbation is to stop cold turkey. A helpful way of doing this is to literally scare the hell out of yourself by looking at the damaging effects of masturbation - spiritual and physical.

… (parts of original post cut here as my response wouldn’t post otherwise)…

Contrary to what the popular, secular media and health professionals will tell you, masturbation is dangerous to your health. For one thing, it lowers your stamina and lowers your drive to accomplish things. Excessive masturbation (every day, or reguarly) puts a high amount of stress on your prostate. It’s also not good for your brain due to the feel-good chemicals (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, & serotonin among others) constantly being released. It’s basically like a drug that your brain gets hooked on and part of the reason why masturbation is so hard to stop. Again, see the above article by Dr. Hilton. If you ever tried to stop then you no doubt are familiar with the strong urge to masturbate again after a few days to a week. After this amount of time the effects of the feel-good chemicals wear off and you start going thru withdrawal symptoms. Frequent masturbation also weakens your immune system thus making you more succeptible to diseases, especially to colds and flus during the winter season. Frequent masturbation also weakens your tendons and ligaments, making it easier to strain a muscle or sprain a joint. Furthermore, you will start to get lower back pain if you continue to masturbate regularly. However you will most likely not experience this particular symptom until after you are past your teen years. Others will start to experience thinning hair on their heads as well. This is due to too much of your testosterone being converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which overloads your body. You also lose several miligrams of zinc every time you ejaculate. Zinc plays an important role in cell division and growth. It is essential for protein and DNA synthesis and helps in liver function and proper insulin activity and is essential for proper functioning of the sexual organs. Zinc is found in abundance in semen and the prostrate gland. Sexually active men require more zinc than women for the health of the reproductive organs and fertility Zinc is a component of many enzymes that help in the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins and helps in wound healing.

So as you can see, masturbation is extremely bad, not only for your soul but also for your health. Masturbation is NOT the same as having sex because when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman, certain trace minerals and prostaglandins are absorbed from the female vaginal secretions which balance the zinc-loss effect and also there is a sort of natural suction during normal sex that helps drain all the semen during an ejaculation. Contrast this with masturbation, where a small portion of semen does not drain and ends up remaining in your system, which is not good.

Don’t expect to get the truth from the popular, secular media or medicine. The Porn Industry is one of the biggest businesses in our country and in the world. They have a vested interest in the consumers of their products staying ignorant of the damage that their products cause.

Find a good Catholic therapist if you feel that you are a sex addict. But first of all, get to confession and keep in mind that the only way you will defeat a sex addiction is going to be by first turning to and utilizing the Sacraments - on a daily basis if possible.

Next time you “feel the urge,” instead of searching Google images for porn, get on to Google images and do a search for pictures of people who have committed suicide. This is what happens to those with a sex-addiction (which is really just another form of drug addiction): they end up dead or in a mental institution. It will give your psyche the needed jolt to reconsider looking at porn or masturbating. You could also consider the pains of hell, as this is the much more important consideration than mere physical death and injury. And also remember, when we engage in intrinsically evil acts, even when they are done in private, we are increasing and emboldening the total evil in the world. Innocent people that we may never meet will be harmed through our private sins. Society always gets damaged in some way by personal private sin. Just another thing to keep in mind when tempted to these sins of the flesh.

I don’t know where to start wondering about this post. Do you have any proof or other links that substantiate the claims that masturbation weakens the tendons and muscles, causes lower back pain, baldness, and makes a person more susceptible to colds and flu? That Judith Reisman believes it does not make it true.

I find it hard to believe that searching for pictures of people who have committed suicide is seriously suggested as a ‘jolt to reconsider’. I think that is a very bad idea!

According to the Church, masturbation is a sin. That’s enough reason not to do it although it’s true that many Catholics struggle with this sin. Those that do need good advice and practical suggestions, not over the top fear-based warnings (including warnings about possible demonic possession) that aren’t based in reality or fact.

 

[HansTrappist]

The church makes no claims as to whether or not both will receive the exact same consequences. The Church says that they are both grave matter and can both result in a person going to hell, yes, but the Church does not claim that their experience of hell, if they ended up there, would be the exact same. 1 trillion does not equal 1 thousand.

Hell is Hell. Once you get there it hardly matters how you got there.

For sex addicts, Hell begins during this life but if they repent they can go through a period of purification and be healed.

But pretending that things like masturbation and pornography are less of an evil than any other intrinsic evil is not helpful because it is not true. We must tell the truth regardless of how “uncomfortable” it makes us.

Our Lady of Fatima said more people go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than any other sin.

 

[HansTrappist]

I don’t know where to start wondering about this post. Do you have any proof or other links that substantiate the claims that masturbation weakens the tendons and muscles, causes lower back pain, baldness, and makes a person more susceptible to colds and flu? That Judith Reisman believes it does not make it true.

The link I cited is broken. For some reason I can’t edit that post. Here is the working link :salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo13/13hilton.php. The link cites the work of respected neurosurgeon Donald L. Hilton, Jr. The original link was thru Dr. Reisman’s site. Dr. Reisman has written extensively on sex addition and and she is predictably demonized because what she writes is not only true but threatens one of the biggest businesses in America - the Porn Industry.

I find it hard to believe that searching for pictures of people who have committed suicide is seriously suggested as a ‘jolt to reconsider’. I think that is a very bad idea!

That’s fine. You are entitled to your opinion. My opinion, having seen the firsthand consequences of sex addiction and having seen what happens to hardcore drug addicts, is that it is more productive to preemptively jolt the psyche with the hard truth, than it is to play softball. Just go Google the number of porn stars that have committed suicide. It is a travesty.

But “jolting the psyche” can only do so much. A sin as powerful as sex addiction can only be conquered by frequent reception of the Sacraments. In some cases an exorcism may be in order. Unfortunately, sex addiction is an epidemic and a majority of those afflicted do not or cannot get the spiritual help they need.

 

[HansTrappist]

The link I cited is broken. For some reason I can’t edit that post. Here is the working link :salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo13/13hilton.php. The link cites the work of respected neurosurgeon Donald L. Hilton, Jr. The original link was thru Dr. Reisman’s site. Dr. Reisman has written extensively on sex addition and and she is predictably demonized because what she writes is not only true but threatens one of the biggest businesses in America - the Porn Industry.

That’s fine. You are entitled to your opinion. My opinion, having seen the firsthand consequences of sex addiction and having seen what happens to hardcore drug addicts, is that it is more productive to preemptively jolt the psyche with the hard truth, than it is to play softball. Just go Google the number of porn stars that have committed suicide. It is a travesty. But “jolting the psyche” can only do so much. A sin as powerful as sex addiction can only be conquered by frequent reception of the Sacraments. In some cases an exorcism may be in order. Unfortunately, sex addiction is an epidemic and a majority of those afflicted do not or cannot get the spiritual help they need.

 

[Do_Good_Then_Go]

The link I cited is broken. For some reason I can’t edit that post. Here is the working link :salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo13/13hilton.php. The link cites the work of respected neurosurgeon Donald L. Hilton, Jr. The original link was thru Dr. Reisman’s site. Dr. Reisman has written extensively on sex addition and and she is predictably demonized because what she writes is not only true but threatens one of the biggest businesses in America - the Porn Industry.

That’s fine. You are entitled to your opinion. My opinion, having seen the firsthand consequences of sex addiction and having seen what happens to hardcore drug addicts, is that it is more productive to preemptively jolt the psyche with the hard truth, than it is to play softball. Just go Google the number of porn stars that have committed suicide. It is a travesty.

But “jolting the psyche” can only do so much. A sin as powerful as sex addiction can only be conquered by frequent reception of the Sacraments. In some cases an exorcism may be in order. Unfortunately, sex addiction is an epidemic and a majority of those afflicted do not or cannot get the spiritual help they need.

Interesting article but it’s about the porn industry and sex addiction, not the physical effects of masturbating which is what I was taking issue with. My point was that it’s not productive to make outlandish claims about harmful physical effects when there’s no credible evidence of these effects. It’s not okay to try to scare people with misinformation.

 

[mharren]

You are wrong.

Hearing the truth can be scary, especially the truth about mortal sin and hell.

From the spiritual standpoint, there is only one way to stop sex addiction: cold turkey. Masturbation and pornography are intrinsic evils. People who willfully engage in these activities knowing that they are intrinsically evil are not suffering from “psychiatric illness.” They are fully aware and in control of what they are doing. The fact that they get addicted to the behavior does not excuse them at all. You don’t resolve to defeat this spiritually and physically deadly “behavior” by resolving to gradually come-off it.

People don’t commit suicide because they are afraid of going to hell. They commit suicide because they become a slave to their vice. The demons want to destroy both soul and body. Guilt and the fear of hell are natural and a necessary part of the process in defeating vice.

Nothing in my post was ill-informed nor have you demonstrated it as such.

I’m a physician. And suggesting someone make associations with an act and suicide as a consequence or stating that masturbation leads to suicide is not only reckless and inaccurate, but potentially dangerous to an impressionable youth.

Really, if that were case, I’m thinking the human race would have all committed suicide…

You caution against the medical establishment however, so I did not expect you to agree. My response here is for the benefit of thread readers and I will not debate you’re lack of understanding about physiology.

Regards,

• Mharren

 

[HansTrappist]

I’m a physician. And suggesting someone make associations with an act and suicide as a consequence or stating that masturbation leads to suicide is not only reckless and inaccurate, but potentially dangerous to an impressionable youth.

Really, if that were case, I’m thinking the human race would have all committed suicide…

You caution against the medical establishment however, so I did not expect you to agree. My response here is for the benefit of thread readers and I will not debate you’re lack of understanding about physiology.

Regards,

• Mharren

The wages of sin is death, to body and soul.

But you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[HansTrappist]

Interesting article but it’s about the porn industry and sex addiction, not the physical effects of masturbating which is what I was taking issue with. My point was that it’s not productive to make outlandish claims about harmful physical effects when there’s no credible evidence of these effects. It’s not okay to try to scare people with misinformation.

Of course masturbation is harmful to your health. All mortal sin is harmful to both body and soul. But don’t expect to get the truth from secular, materialist medicine. Don’t expect the Porn Industry to be in a hurry to let that little secret out.

You probably also believe that AIDS comes from monkeys in Africa. LOL!

 

[HansTrappist]

The wages of sin are death, of body and soul.

But you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[HansTrappist]

Of course masturbation is harmful to your health. All mortal sin is harmful to both body and soul. But don’t expect to get the truth from secular, materialist medicine. Don’t expect the Porn Industry to be in a hurry to let that little secret out.

You probably believe that AIDS comes from monkeys in Africa. LOL!

 

[Do_Good_Then_Go]

Of course masturbation is harmful to your health. All mortal sin is harmful to both body and soul. But don’t expect to get the truth from secular, materialist medicine. Don’t expect the Porn Industry to be in a hurry to let that little secret out.

You probably also believe that AIDS comes from monkeys in Africa. LOL!

I would be happy to see the porn industry wiped from the face of the earth this very minute, I have no disagreement with you there. People would still masturbate though, people don’t need to have seen or heard about porn to masturbate.

Again, there are definitely reasons NOT to masturbate, the fact that it’s a sin is the main one, which is, as you say, harmful to one’s soul but physical symptoms such as back pain, joint weakness, losing one’s hair, susceptibility to colds, etc are not caused by masturbation.

This is getting silly, we’ll just have to agree to disagree and not derail the OP’s thread any further.

 

[HansTrappist]

I would be happy to see the porn industry wiped from the face of the earth this very minute, I have no disagreement with you there. People would still masturbate though, people don’t need to have seen or heard about porn to masturbate.

Again, there are definitely reasons NOT to masturbate, the fact that it’s a sin is the main one, which is, as you say, harmful to one’s soul but physical symptoms such as back pain, joint weakness, losing one’s hair, susceptibility to colds, etc are not caused by masturbation.

This is getting silly, we’ll just have to agree to disagree and not derail the OP’s thread any further.

Masturbation is harmful to one’s health and does cause all the things I mentioned. Just ask anyone who was once or is a chronic sex addict. Mainstream, secular medicine is lying about the harmful physical effects of masturbation. They continue to tell the Big Lie that masturbation is good for one’s health.

 

[Aeden]

Mastaurbation can be a venial sin? Wow, I never knew that! Some clarification would be appreciated here!

 

[silicasandra]

Mastaurbation can be a venial sin? Wow, I never knew that! Some clarification would be appreciated here!

It’s grave matter, but a person could do it and not be fully culpable for their actions.

 

[sw85]

So I’ve been having some real trouble lately.
I went on a retreat two weeks ago, had my reconciliation and told myself that I would stop masturbating cold turkey and never do it again so that I could receive the Eucharist.
This last weekend has been SO tough for me and i feel like my hormones have just been raging OFF THE WALL. I literally could not stop thinking about it. I would sit there and my foot could not stop tapping and I couldn’t stop biting my nails- it was bothering me that much.

I wouldn’t know if I would call myself an addict, but from my crazy behavior this last weekend, I dont know what I’d call myself anymore. It was just strange- even for me!

So I’m wondering what to do. I actually caved and gave in with the mindset that I just need this release, just this once and that once it was out I would feel fine- but now I feel absolutely horrible! I feel so absolutely guilty and I honestly don’t know why I thought that everything would be fine if I caved in just once- it wasn’t like myself at all.

Does anyone have any advice? I’m also confused on when masturbation is considered a mortal sin and a venial sin (i’ve always considered it a mortal sin, but I’ve read that it can be considered a venial sin… what is it in my case??)

A mortal sin requires three conditions: knowledge of its sinfulness, complicity of the will, and gravity of matter. Masturbation is always grave matter and you’re aware of its sinfulness so the only question mark is complicity of the will.

Now the will must be sufficiently complicit for a sin to qualify as mortal. “Sufficiently complicit” typically means that you were free from duress, in a right state of mind, and had sufficient control of your faculties to say with honesty that you performed the act. If someone held a gun to your head and ordered you to masturbate, that might attenuate your culpability (though yes, you’d be better off refusing). If you were having a psychotic episode or blacked out due to medication or something, that’d mitigate culpability completely. Etc. The Church teaches that force of habit may mitigate culpability too, and I can testify that, while kicking the habit myself after conversion, I had many lapses simply because my body was accustomed to regular release. I can also testify to the fact that the habit can be overcome and your body can be trained not to “need” the release.

The best advice is to pray continuously, especially the rosary. It’s also wise to approach it with the attitude that God alone judges culpability, so if you lapse again, treat it as a mortal sin and take it to confession.

 

[Catholic80]

I’ve struggled with the same issue and it took years before I could stop.

One thing I did learn, however, was no matter how “resolved” I was to not give in, it almost made the problem harder. Then, I read the Diary of St. Faustina, and there was a part in it where she resolved not to fall into some minor imperfection that day. But, after making the resolution, she fell into it twice as much. Later, she asked Christ why she fell more when she was so resolute not to fall into this imperfection. He replied to her that she fell more because she made the resolution without Him and tried to do it on her own.

This opened up a new understanding for me, not just in the case of impurity, but with every sin, that I cannot overcome sin by myself no matter how resolved I am. I must, I must, I MUST have Christ help me… and His mother

Give this struggle to Him. You may still struggle with it, and that’s okay. But know that it is in His hands now and you are not struggling with this alone. He loves you more than you can know and He loves us in our weaknesses… yes, even this weakness, and He loves us even more when we give our weaknesses to Him. Part of giving your weaknesses to Christ is giving it to others, namely, through the sacrament of Confession.

I used to treat Confession (and sadly still often do) as something that I had to get over with. “Oh great, I masturbated again, now I have to humiliate myself by telling this to a priest.” No matter how nice the priest was or how good his advice may have been, I’d leave the confessional all in a tizzy and so extremely embarrassed that I felt worse leaving than going in. What I came to realize is that my attitude towards Confession was wrong. Confession isn’t a place where I have to “own up” to my sins or go to hell, but it was a place of true reconciliation and healing.
You’ve already repented of this sin… you didn’t even really “want” to fall into it in the first place, but like everyone, you fell because of human weakness. The next time you confess, really try, as best you can, to offer this weakness to Christ. Tell Him you can’t do it alone and that you love Him so much. It’s not about your failure but about His love for you!

You are not alone and this is a struggle for many. I tell you it IS possible to overcome this even if it seems the struggle will never end.

A quick suggestion the next time you are faced with this temptation is, don’t dwell on the temptation. Relax and give it to Christ and Mary immediately. Trying to fight it just gave me more anxiety and made the struggle harder. It’s okay to acknowledge that the temptation is there and then give it away. Find something interesting to do to distract yourself in the meantime.

Don’t get discouraged. There is always hope!

Praying for you

 

[thewanderer]

Hell is Hell. Once you get there it hardly matters how you got there.

For sex addicts, Hell begins during this life but if they repent they can go through a period of purification and be healed.

But pretending that things like masturbation and pornography are less of an evil than any other intrinsic evil is not helpful because it is not true. We must tell the truth regardless of how “uncomfortable” it makes us.

Our Lady of Fatima said more people go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than any other sin.

so do you really think that 1 trillion and 1 thousand are equally large numbers? If you read what I said I made sure to say that both sins can get you to hell. My point is that just because they are both serious enough that they can get someone to hell doesn’t mean that they are of the same level of sinfulness. I really don’t understand why you don’t see that.

 

[HansTrappist]

so do you really think that 1 trillion and 1 thousand are equally large numbers? If you read what I said I made sure to say that both sins can get you to hell. My point is that just because they are both serious enough that they can get someone to hell doesn’t mean that they are of the same level of sinfulness. I really don’t understand why you don’t see that.

Intrinsic evil is intrinsic evil. Masturbation is just as intrinsically evil as murder.