Nicely said Shazbo

Thomas Jefferson’s nephew Peter Carr was an entering freshman at the College of William and Mary in Virginia when he asked for his uncle’s advice regarding his studies, including the study of religion. In a masterfully understated response, Jefferson advised the boy to “question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.” He went on to write that the world was full of books which their authors claimed were divinely inspired, and it is up to the individual to determine if such is the case through examination of reason and known history. As an example, he pointed to the story in the book of Joshua in the Old Testament that asserts the earth stood still for several hours before resuming its turn on its axis. He asked the boy to question the reasonableness of such a violation of the laws of nature, and, indeed, what havoc such an occurrence would cause. As for the New Testament, he describes it as “the history of a personage known as Jesus”, and says there are two contensions about him: “1, of those who say he was begotten by God, born of a virgin, suspended and reversed the laws of nature at will, & assended bodily into heaven; and 2, of those who say he was a man of illegitmate birth, of a benevolent heart, enthusiastic mind, who set out without pretensions to divinity, ending in believing them, and was punished capitally for sedition, by being gibbeted, according to Roman law…” In summation he tells young Mr. Carr that in his reasonings as to which things to believe and which to discard, “You are answerable not for the rightness, but the uprightness of your decision.”
So is masturbation a sin? The Old Testament tells us in Genesis 38:9-10 that a man should not spill his seed on the ground.
I tend to agree with you, Shannon, that there is much in such “inspired” works that are less than inspired and rather are brutish and outmoded, including the admonition in Leviticus 18:22 that man should not lie with man, on pain of death. Every time Christians claim the moral superiority and authenticity of their holy books as opposed to the Quran and the Hadith, they should be remind themselves that the Bible sanctions what the Iranians and Iraqis are doing to gays these days, and that none of that comports with the point of Jesus’ commandment that he who casts the first stone be without sin.

I think AussieSpaceTimeTraveler was very modest and restrained in his response. I can understand that, but I’m not sure I agree.

First let’s deal with Moral Authority. From the information I have, even the Catholic Church as now adopted the stance that morality is an issue between God and yourself. No one on earth has Moral Authority over you. You can read the Bible and decide for yourself. Certainly the Church, while they can guide you, actually have no Moral Authority. At least no more than you give them. That was the foundation for creating the Protestant movement, but I was told by a Catholic, that the Catholic Church now also endorses a similar view. And ABSOLUTELY Christian Fundamentalist have no moral authority. The Self-Righteous are the worst of the worst.

So, the only thing that matters, is what you think. What do you logically and reasonably thing about engaging in one of the most fundamental common and natural Biological Urges? Keeping in mind there are genuine measurable health benefits to frequent orgasms. As Woody Allen once said, “Masturbation is sex with someone I love”. Does this act seem to be morally harmful to you or anyone else? And does any theoretical moral harm you perceive override the very real and very positive benefits?

Frequently the Biblical story of ONAN is used to decry masturbation, but that story really has nothing to do with it. Onan’s brother died, and he has the moral responsibility to impregnate his brother’s wife so that his brother’s family line could go on. Onan ‘spilled his seeds on the ground’ meaning he willfully pull out so as not to impregnate his brother wife. His crime was not wasting his seed, his crime was NOT doing his moral duty.

Now certainly restraint and moderation in all things. If the act becomes so excessive that it begins to harm your life, just as it would with excess alcohol or drugs, or any obsession, then it is that harm and excess that are immoral and not the act itself. Drinking alcohol in moderation does no harm and has benefit. It is not immoral. Drinking in excess does harm the individual and does harm people associate with the individual, and can put other people at mortal risk. That is wrong, that is immoral.

I just can’t see something so natural and normal as being a sin; not in and of itself. In the end, both religiously and morally you have to find the high ground for yourself. You have to make a reasonable educated informed judgment, but don’t let the world or the forces in the world try to dictate your moral landscape. Especially when some of those forces are themselves wholly morally corrupt. (PS: That’s not a slam on the Catholic Church specifically.)

sorry..i am not done here…you say you are catholic…why? because your parents are? if they were muslim ,jew,or amish that ‘s what you would be…are you sure you are they , your parents, are probably straight…is that mean you have to be?? that’s what i meant as growing as an adult …keep all the good things they tech you and get rid of what doesn’t make sense to you…that is hoe you become who you are..doesn’t mean that you have to fight or go to war…is just like you feel it..trust in your feelings…that’s the best you can do for yourself…you know you are a good person and that’s all what matter…there is universal “laws” that you know by yourself and there rules that religions try to impose you to rule you and have control on you..that’s just humans….your mother pri=obalby told yo not to lie, which is good, and allow her to have control on what is going on with you as a kid to protect you…there is a time that lying is not bad to me…because explaining what you did to people who don’t understand mean that you have to justify of something that in act you don’t have to, it is just the process of growing and understanding your self…and judging yourself..you’ll know if you have to do that again or not…don’t need to got the blaming of anybody..that’s mean that you are responsible for yourself and becoming and adult…