Masturbation, is it good for you?

[BigE]

Be careful when you make that leap, making a statement like this out of what I had typed is misleading and is simply you reading into something that is not there.

Simple answer to your question can be found in Genesis chapter 17 or Luke Chapter 1.

Are you sure I’m the only one reading that into your statements?

filmakers.com/indivs/ForbiddenWedding.htm

 

[BigE]

Masturbation is 100% healthy for you. Its just against Catholic teachings. And comparing masturbation to Alcohol is a weak argument because there is much more bad (health wise) in Alcohol then good. And Masturbation is healthy and decreasees the chance of getting prostate cancer. Sex on the other hand can transfer STD’s which could increase the chance of cancer.

I don’t agree with this.

I don’t think we can make a blanket statement on the “goodness” or “badness” of either masturbation or alchohol.

In both cases, I’m not convinced the “act” itself is objectively a sin.

If masturbation leads to porn, marriage problems, an inability to relate, etc etc - then it is a sin. No doubt.

But what if it doesn’t? What if it helps a relationship (my previously mentioned premature ejaculation problem). Where is the sin? (other than the declaration of the church).

Same with alchohol.

Having a glass of wine at dinner or a beer at the ball game is not objectively a sin.

But when drinking becomes excessive, leads to addiction, causes marriage or relationship problems, dwi’s etc etc - then it too is a sin.

 

[blessedtoo]

I don’t think we can make a blanket statement on the “goodness” or “badness” of either masturbation or alchohol.

You are trying to draw a comparison between two completely different things. It would be more appropriate to draw the comparison between SEX and alcohol. In themselves, there is no objective morality or immorality. It is the way they are used and the intention behind the activity which implies the morality. To drink excessivley for the purpose of drunkeness is a misuse of the thing itself. To masturbate, for whatever reason, is a misuse of sex.

In both cases, I’m not convinced the “act” itself is objectively a sin.

It is a deviation from the purpose of sex. It is an attempt to separate pleasure from purpose. It is akin to binging of food and then forcing oneself to vomit. In the former example, one if trying to get the pleasure without the unitive or procreative aspect. In the latter, one is trying to get the pleasure of eating without the calories or nutrients.

If masturbation leads to porn, marriage problems, an inability to relate, etc etc - then it is a sin. No doubt.

And it will. Whether the “porn” is the fantasy one needs to make the act “work” or actually viewing porn; whether the marriage initially appears to be impervious to one or both partners engaging in this act; whether it is obvious at first that the partners will suffer from this act of selfishness does not negate the fact that all these things will happen. A wife who discovers her husband engaging in these activies will eventually feel betrayed. Husbands who indulge themselves in this way are showing themselves to be selfish, lacking in self-control, and immature. Similarly, a man who discovers his wife has been indulging in this behavior will certainly feel his masculinity challenged. While it is possible to be temporarily decieved into believing “no harm, no foul”, eventually masturbation will erode the sacred bond that should exist between husband and wife. It has no place in a Catholic marriage.

But what if it doesn’t? What if it helps a relationship (my previously mentioned premature ejaculation problem). Where is the sin? (other than the declaration of the church).

Already answered. We are not to engage in instrinsically immoral acts to achieve some “alleged” good.

Having a glass of wine at dinner or a beer at the ball game is not objectively a sin.

See above. Your comparison is off. Alcohol = Sex. Having sex with your wife is clearly not a sin.

But when drinking becomes excessive, leads to addiction, causes marriage or relationship problems, dwi’s etc etc - then it too is a sin.

And when sex is misused, through masturbation, then it is a sin.

 

[Julian_Peters]

Thank you to all who participated. This thread is now closed.