Masterbation? (mysticism, procreation, creation, genesis, dogma)

[Jonathan Rex]

I asked this same question in the Islam forum. Is there a law against masterbation?

I know that in Christianity you're not supposed to do it.

[yuvgotmel]

Genesis 38:1~11: Around this time, Judah left his brothers. He became friends with a man of Adullam by the name of Chirah. There Judah met the daughter of a merchant named Shua. He married her and came to her.

She became pregnant and had a son. She named him Onan. She gave birth once again to a son, and she named him Shelah. [Judah] was in Keziv when she gave birth to [this child].

Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. Judah’s first-born Er was evil in God’s eyes, and God made him die. Judah said to Onan, ‘Marry your brother’s wife, and thus fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. You will then raise children to keep your brother’s [name] alive. Onan, however, realized that the children would not carry his name. Therefore, whenever he came to his brother’s wife, he let [the seed] go to waste on the ground, so as not to have children in his brother’s name. What he did was evil in God’s eyes, and He also made him die.

Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, ‘Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah is grown.’ He was putting her off because he was concerned that [Shelah], too, would die like his brothers. Tamar left and lived in her father’s house.

Now if that story sounds hokey to you, then it is as it should be. Does God really kill people for masturbating? No. However, what the story entails has a far greater mystical meaning of two becoming one flesh, as seen from Genesis 2:24. And it gives a deeper meaning to Genesis 32, when Jacob wrestled with an angel. And it also describes how the ‘sons of god’ were able to come to the daughters of man, as seen in Genesis 6.

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On a lighter note, with less mysticism, a friend of mine said that he was upset because his wife wouldn't have sex with him. So he went to his rabbi for advice; and the rabbi told him, "Well you can masturbate can't you?"

There are varying interpretations of the scriptures above. Most of the interpretations are very physically-oriented and meant to deter masturbation over sexual procreation, in order for survival of the race/religion. And maritial relations are considred a great mitzvah (blessing).

[Mister_T]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Rex

I asked this same question in the Islam forum. Is there a law against masterbation?

I know that in Christianity you're not supposed to do it.

Pure dogma my friend.

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by Mister_T

Pure dogma my friend.

Check out the CCC on this subject. It does well to explain the theological, and reasonable explantions for this topic, its relevance to Chrsitians and its relationship with the Christian faithful as whole. Paragraph 2352, pages 564-565.

[yuvgotmel]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Check out the CCC on this subject. It does well to explain the theological, and reasonable explantions for this topic, its relevance to Chrsitians and its relationship with the Christian faithful as whole. Paragraph 2352, pages 564-565.

I thought this post was listed under Judaism.

[Mister_T]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Check out the CCC on this subject. It does well to explain the theological, and reasonable explantions for this topic, its relevance to Chrsitians and its relationship with the Christian faithful as whole. Paragraph 2352, pages 564-565.

I've done my reasearch. Including researching the Bible itself. I'll check it out, but I highly doubt that it'll present something that I haven't heard before.

[Hacker]

I've always wondered this too..Is there versus(s) in the bible that supposively prohibit such practice?

[NoahideHiker]

It's more of a broad prohibition against coitus interuptus and ha-sh'cha'tat zerah (destruction of the seed). In Genesis 38 we find it.


8. So Judah said to Onan, "Come to your brother's wife and perform the rite of the levirate, and raise up progeny for your brother."
9. Now Onan knew that the progeny would not be his, and it came about, when he came to his brother's wife, he wasted [his semen] on the ground, in order not to give seed to his brother.
10. Now what he did was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and He put him to death also.

While there is no outright prohibition for women it is also in the area of impure thoughts.

[yuvgotmel]

Originally Posted by Tlcmel

I've always wondered this too..Is there versus(s) in the bible that supposively prohibit such practice?

Hey Mel!

Yes, the story (excerpted above) and the post by NoahideHiker are the verses that are interpreted to speak about masturbation. Those are the only known verses (to my knowledge) with such clear definition on the matter. And, from my view, even those verses allude to a very mystical code and not a literal meaning.

[Jonathan Rex]

Originally Posted by Mister_T

Pure dogma my friend.

"If you even look at a woman with lust in your eyes, then you've commited adultery with her in your heart." - Yeshua (Jesus)

How can you masterbate without thinking of something?




According to Christ, it would be wrong.