Now abstinence is unhealthy

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svoboda:
I don’t know. Maybe you’re harming yourself more by demonizing your natural sexual desires than you would if you masturbated.

Is it evil? About as much as eating ice cream for pleasure. If you are looking at pornography or thinking pornographic thoughts, you can make an argumentn for it being bad. But if you’re just doing the physical act for pleasure … it’s kind of neutral, I wouldn’t see evil in it. Maybe a lack of self control

But going to hell because of a lack of self control over the most powerful human instinct? That sounds excessive to me.
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This is kindly but grossly unhelpful/negligent advice to give to a fellow Catholic. It is a gross misrepresentation to remove the objective sinfulness of masturbation which the Church teaches “is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action” (CCC 2352). By downplaying the sinful behavior of masturbation as “it’s kind of neutral” and comparing the illicit seeking of sexual pleasure outside the sanctity of marriage to “About as much as eating ice cream for pleasure”, does a monumental disservice to directing and promoting one to the virtue of chastity and the necessary task of self-mastery.

2345 Chastity is a moral virtue. It is also a gift from God, a grace, a fruit of spiritual effort. The Holy Spirit enables one whom the water of Baptism has regenerated to imitate the purity of Christ.

2395 Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.

2342 Self-mastery is a long and exacting work. One can never consider it acquired once and for all. It presupposes renewed effort at all stages of life. The effort required can be more intense in certain periods, such as when the personality is being formed during childhood and adolescence.

2339 Chastity includes an *apprenticeship in self-mastery * which is a training in human freedom. The alternative is clear: either man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy.
 
You know, ultimately I don’t think it even matters if abstinence IS unheathy. Better sick than damned. After all, martyrdom isn’t healthy either, is it?
 
:rolleyes:

My godmother and all her 4 sisters NEVER married, lived chaste/celibately, 2 even became nuns and one died aged 95, one died aged 94, one was 92 when she died and the 2 surviving sisters are still alive and enjoying (for their age) good health aged 90 and 94! Abstinence unhealthy? Not for them, obviously 😃

Anna x
 
Does this mean King David is in Hell for having 300 wives and 100 concubines?
 
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svoboda:
Chances are that the only celibate persons are also deeply religious and are celibate for precisely that reason.

How might deeply religious people differ from the general population? Well, chances are they will not be involved in drugs that lead to bad health and death, chances are they will not be involved with multiple sexual partners that leads to STD’s and death, chances are they will not be alcoholics, won’t overeat etc.

Maybe if those people in addition had healthy sex lives they’d live even longer and better lives, who knows?
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I really doubt haveing a sex life will in any way increase the life of an individual, or their health. Yes people who are celibate are religious people, but those things are wrong in general, it shouldn’t take a very religious person to turn from such bad things as drugs and what not. I know more people who are upset and disturbed by their sexual activities then not, this is a sign to me that it really increases stress and what not, and hurts individuals spychologically, in the long run damaging their physical health.
 
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svoboda:
Where does the Bible forbid masturbation?
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:confused: “lust” remember that sin? Masturbation is a form and release of lust, thus being sinful and wrong.
 
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svoboda:
I don’t know. Maybe you’re harming yourself more by demonizing your natural sexual desires than you would if you masturbated.

I agree that there’s nothing holy or lofty about masturbation, it’s pretty basic seeking of physical pleasure and a lack of self control in response to the most powerful instinct we have.

Is it evil? About as much as eating ice cream for pleasure. If you are looking at pornography or thinking pornographic thoughts, you can make an argumentn for it being bad. But if you’re just doing the physical act for pleasure … it’s kind of neutral, I wouldn’t see evil in it. Maybe a lack of self control

I think it is good to abstain from masturbation and save sexuality for spouse alone. It’s something people should try to do precisely for marriage/spouse etc.

But going to hell because of a lack of self control over the most powerful human instinct? That sounds excessive to me.
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Masturbation is a sin and the Church stands by that. Self control is the most important force one has of their own to live faithfully, when you fail there you fail everywhere else. An alcoholic who looses their self control and drinks an had wanted to stop, feel terrible and defeated for loosing control and for many of them that is just as big a natural instinct as sex. I could go into so many others, abortions and suicide and murder, instictual to some and nonjustifiable.
 
I thought it was an interesting article and see nothing wrong with it. It’s not saying go out and sleep with everyone, but if youre married and sexually active, you can take a lot from it. sex can be a lot of fun between two married consenting adults, it doesnt always have to be taken so seriously. I dont find anything wrong with the article, its simple sex ed and its on Forbes not like on Barneydotcom or anything so its targeted at adults. Just my :twocents:
 
The scientific basis for the author’s assertions seems to be very weak. Perhaps there’s a positive correlation between “frequency of sexual relations” and “bodily health”… but that doesn’t prove that the former CAUSES the latter. It could just as well be the other way around. Very healthy people tend to be more attractive and energetic than less healthy people. Therefore, it would make sense that they tend to have more opportunities and desire for sexual relations.

Maybe people who could have an active sex life, but choose to sacrifice this for a higher calling, are the healthiest of all. I guess it would be hard to do a randomized controlled study on that, though! 🙂

For what it’s worth, here’s a study that showed some physical benefits to abstinence in rats.

cron-web.org/sex-restriction-calorie-restriction-and-longevity-part-1.html
 
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SpiritIsWilling:
Does the Bible directly forbid masturbation. . .Not that I know of.

But is it a good thing that causes you to think lustful and immoral thoughts about a woman. . .Potentially making an object out of them? Does masturbation bring you closer to God? Does it add to the sanctity of martial sex? No, it’s just a cheap thrill that will lead you to Hell.

At Fatima the Blessed Virgin said that most people go to Hell due to sexual sins.

I’m 16 and struggling with masturbation. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.
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I’m fifteen…and it’s not the most easiest thing to do…to obstain from any sort of sexual behavior. Not that I would know much about anything, but it’s easier said that done, i suppose.
 
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BlindSheep:
You know, ultimately I don’t think it even matters if abstinence IS unheathy. Better sick than damned. After all, martyrdom isn’t healthy either, is it?
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HA! Very good point. There are worse things than physical death.

Although I’d replace “abstinance” with “chastity” because we all know that a chaste marriage is usually anything but abstinant! 🙂 And chastity outside of marriage is abstinance. Sorry… I know I’m picking bones. 😛
 
Its findings, published in 1997 in the British Medical Journal, were that men who reported the highest frequency of orgasm enjoyed a death rate half that of the laggards.
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It has always been my understanding that death is the inevitable end to life (at least here on earth).

Have we stumbled upon a fountain of youth here?

I love the missuse of statistics.

Z
 
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Consecrated:
HA! Very good point. There are worse things than physical death.

Although I’d replace “abstinance” with “chastity” because we all know that a chaste marriage is usually anything but abstinant! 🙂 And chastity outside of marriage is abstinance. Sorry… I know I’m picking bones. 😛
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Yes, that’s true. I was thinking of those of us who have to abstain: single people, religious, divorced or seperated people, people with SSA, people who have/whose spouse has some illness that requires it - a lot of people, really.
 
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