Poll: Do you think masturbation is a mortal sin?

[distracted]

Its meaningless to talk of something the Church has declared (could be) a mortal sin to not be a mortal sin. Why? Because the Church itself is responsible for the definition of mortal sin! It is not as if the concept of mortal sin exists separate form the Church, and we can debate whether it happens to include masturbation. Mortal sin by definition includes masturbation (when other elements of mortal sin are present). It is rather like asking “Who thinks a crow is not a bird?”

Now, if you want to debate whether masturbation is wrong, that is a different matter, because the concept of “wrong” is not a term created by the Church. But as long as we use the Church’s lingo, we have no power to try to change what the Church means by it.

i agree but i asked the question because, well, i wanted to argue with people…

seriously, i think this is the most common mortal sin committed… even married people do it which is disgusting (more so, in my opinion… )

anyway… when i am in the Presence of Christ (the only thing that can be trusted in this Satan ruled world)… i see very clearly taht i am still in need of “fixing” because of my past sins… whether it is this one or whatever… I am in Purgatory, as all sincere Christians are…

the usual stay in Purg is 40 yrs… so uh… i guess i have a ways to go…

but in any case, again… without holiness it is impossible to please God…

i also kinda wanted to know how Protestants see this sin… although i alreayd kinda know…

 

[Scoobyshme]

Actually, the poll is based on a trick question. (Well, okay, not a “trick” but easy to misunderstand and leave out some facts.)

Mortal sin, remember, requires not just serious matter (masterbation is, of course). But it also requires full knowledge and full consent. Given the fact that so many American Catholics are sooooo poorly catechized, I don’t know how one can say that it’s “always” a “mortal” sin. Always wrong, of course! But to always meet all the criteria of a mortal sin for everyone? Smart money says not.

What really needs to happen is a lot of serious catechesis. Really. American Catholics go out and get bachelor’s, master’s, and Phd’s at colleges in business, science, etc., and have a 2nd grade education in their faith! Yet, they may live to be 100, but their souls will live forever! Anyone else see something wrong with where they’re spending their educational efforts?

 

[distracted]

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***i love this!! ***

What really needs to happen is a lot of serious catechesis. Really. American Catholics go out and get bachelor’s, master’s, and Phd’s at colleges in business, science, etc., and have a 2nd grade education in their faith! Yet, they may live to be 100, but their souls will live forever! Anyone else see something wrong with where they’re spending their educational efforts?

 

[Alindawyl]

A better way to word the question would be “Do you think masturbation is always grave matter?” Then you could ask it as a yes/no and not worry about all these qualifications

 

[tjm190]

I assumed what you meant was is masturbation a grave matter- I went with sometimes because it was closest to ‘no’

 

[phoenix3212]

i think it is dangerous to believe this and to teach it to others… although everyone has a consicience so maybe i need not worry so much…

No, it is not dangerous to believe this because this is largely the attitude of the Church in regards to mortal sin on the whole. We are not to judge men’s hearts, you know. It would be arrogant on our part to immediately assume that a person is in mortal sin for taking any action, masturbation or otherwise, whatsoever. So many other factors are in play that the only real judge of whether or not someone is in mortal sin is God himself.

I would say that masturbation is usually a mortal sin for people who have been informed of the fact it is grave matter, but until then the question is more vague. If someone started this habit at an early age, before being able to recognize what lust is, and without experiencing an intrinsic repulsion to the action, then I would argue it would be hard for the factors of mortal sin to be met.

 

[distracted]

No, it is not dangerous to believe this because this is largely the attitude of the Church in regards to mortal sin on the whole. We are not to judge men’s hearts, you know. It would be arrogant on our part to immediately assume that a person is in mortal sin for taking any action, masturbation or otherwise, whatsoever. So many other factors are in play that the only real judge of whether or not someone is in mortal sin is God himself.

I would say that masturbation is usually a mortal sin for people who have been informed of the fact it is grave matter, but until then the question is more vague. If someone started this habit at an early age, before being able to recognize what lust is, and without experiencing an intrinsic repulsion to the action, then I would argue it would be hard for the factors of mortal sin to be met.

i don’t disagree with what you say but it could be dangerous to not be clear when you define what is mortal sin… just becuase something you do does not fit the total description of mortal sin doesn’t mean it is OK to do it sometimes… yet some may think this when reading some posters’ comments… and that may lead to them thinking it isn’t such a big deal EVER… (?)

especially young, uncatechized people will tend to do this…

 

[Monica4316]

i will reserve my own statement of opinion on the subject, although some already know from reading my posts…

could you please also state what religion you are and maybe your age, and whether you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position on the subject.

thanks.

Hi, I’m Catholic, 23, female…

and I totally agree with the Catholic view, I believe masturbation is always a sin.

 

[Monica4316]

***the saints tell us that more people go to Hell over sexual sins than any other…

this sin is not like drinking pop rather than water… ***

Our Lady of Fatima said this too!!

masturbation is not “entertainment” lol it’s a grave sin… sex exists for TWO married people (male and female) to express their love for one another and have children…

 

[curl]

could you please also state what religion you are and maybe your age, and whether you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position on the subject

Lifetime Catholic, age 51. Although I didn’t really develop this habit until a few years into marriage, I’d say I went through the most of my life not really knowing (or perhaps “not paying attention to” ) the Church’s teaching in this area. Sadly, once I realized it was a moral issue, it took two years of reading and arguing with myself to finally accept the Church’s teaching. (And I’d glad I did!)

Therefore, I answered “sometimes” in consideration of a young person who is not properly informed of the moral issues in this area. It is still a disordered act, but (IMHO) without the element of intent to commit a mortal sin. :twocents:

Praying for us all,

• curl

 

[Shlomey]

Opted for: usually

Masturbation is always a grave sin: a sin of grave matter, but that is only one of the 3 requirements for a mortal sin.

 

[teachccd]

the usual stay in Purg is 40 yrs… so uh… i guess i have a ways to go…

huh?? Like it rained for forty days and forty nights??

 

[TedDC]

Its meaningless to talk of something the Church has declared (could be) a mortal sin to not be a mortal sin. Why? Because the Church itself is responsible for the definition of mortal sin! It is not as if the concept of mortal sin exists separate form the Church, and we can debate whether it happens to include masturbation. Mortal sin by definition includes masturbation (when other elements of mortal sin are present). It is rather like asking “Who thinks a crow is not a bird?”

Now, if you want to debate whether masturbation is wrong, that is a different matter, because the concept of “wrong” is not a term created by the Church. But as long as we use the Church’s lingo, we have no power to try to change what the Church means by it.

Good point; the really interesting question is, as you say, whether masturbation is wrong apart from being a violation of Church rules, and why. I have yet to hear a convincing argument that it is.

 

[Fidelis_Unus]

that was what i call a “Freudian oversight”…

you know you’re Cathlic when you make such mistakes

but even if you dont’ think its a sin… or a mortal one, i should say… you have to admit doing this kind of thing doesn’t do much good for anyone and is, at best, a waste of precious time…

right?

Don’t know that it’s a mistake. If sin is anything that separates us from God than “NOT A SIN” would not be one of the choices, regardless.

IMHO

 

[AndyF]

i will reserve my own statement of opinion on the subject, although some already know from reading my posts…

could you please also state what religion you are and maybe your age, and whether you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position on the subject.

thanks.

What has been written into Law can never be open to my opinion, as the Law IS the clarification.

Andy

 

[Sir_Knight]

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, sin is a moral evil. Thus, masturbation is ALWAYS a sin and since it involves grave matter, it is ALWAYS a serious sin. Whether or not it is a mortal sin, depends on the maturity of the individual, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors which can lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

 

[Ignatius]

It doesn’t matter what you think, that does not necessarily coincide with reality. The Church has declared that it is gravely sinful, that is the fact.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Mortal sin, remember, requires not just serious matter (masterbation is, of course). But it also requires full knowledge and full consent. Given the fact that so many American Catholics are sooooo poorly catechized, I don’t know how one can say that it’s “always” a “mortal” sin. Always wrong, of course! But to always meet all the criteria of a mortal sin for everyone? Smart money says not.

+1.

What really needs to happen is a lot of serious catechesis. Really. American Catholics go out and get bachelor’s, master’s, and Phd’s at colleges in business, science, etc., and have a 2nd grade education in their faith!

Please don’t paint everyone with the same brush.

 

[Fidelis_Unus]

seriously, i think this is the most common mortal sin committed… .

This may be true, however, the number of people sinning has nothing to do with the severity of the sin and, in fact, our society, our children, have suffered greatly because of it.

The gravity of the sin is a Truth and does not change based on the fluxuating morals in society. Masturbation is a serious sin and should never be regarded as anything less. Those who deal with it should be treated with understanding and compassion, but it is important to recognize the gravity of such choices.

the usual stay in Purg is 40 yrs… so uh… i guess i have a ways to go…

Where in God’s name do you hear this? ? What an odd thing to say. I wouldn’t bet on it.

The only thing that kept me from saying “always” is that I can never know the mind and heart of another human being, that is up to God; however we should always consider it a mortal sin so as not to give others the impression that masturbation is EVER an ok thing to do. Doing that would be contributing to another’s sin.

 

[Holly3278]

Sometimes it is a mortal sin. It is only a mortal sin though when a person has full knowledge of the gravity of the sin, full consent of the will, and the sin itself is grave which it is.