5/22/2017 What'swrongwithMasturbation?<br>MasturbationintheBible<br>DoesMasturbationpreventprostatecancer?

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PerhapsI(Hugh)shouldtalkaboutmystatusregarding
themasturbationissue.Advocatesofmasturbation InthisArticle
figureanybodywhospeaksagainstitisahypocrite
becausetheyassumeeveryonemasturbates,even 1. Myth 1: It's only a physical release
thosewhospeakagainstit. 2. Myth 2: It curbs sex desire
3. Myth 3: It's impossible to stop
MytestimonyclearlyshowsIamnotonetojudge.Iwas 4. Myth 4: It's normal
5. Myth 5: If you don't, you'll go impotent
involvedinabortions,brokenhearts,andcrossed
6. Myth 6: If you don't, you'll explode
genderboundaries.Evenafterstoppingpremaritalsex 7. Myth 7: If you don't masturbate you will get
andafterbecomingChristianIhadperiodsofstruggle prostate cancer
withpornand/ormasturbation.BeforeIbecameCatholic 8. Why are only Catholics against it?
IthoughtmasturbationwasOK,exceptthisnagging 9. What does the Church say about it?
feelinginthebackofmymindthatsomethingwas 10. Masturbation in the Bible
wrong.IwasverymuchagainsttheCatholicpositionon 11. Video: How to Conquer Lust
12. How to stop masturbating
masturbation.Ialmostdidn'tbecomeCatholicover
masturbation.IthoughttheCatholicChurch'sposition RelatedArticles
onmasturbationwasastupidteaching.
1. Contraception
Theinterestingmiracleisthatthedayofmy 2. Abortion
Confirmation,Ibecamefreeofalldesiretomasturbate 3. Hugh's full testimony
forayear.ItwasagiftfromGod,andtrulya 4. Against gay marriage?
"confirmation"thattheteachingwascorrectandthat 5. What's wrong with IVF?
freedomfrommasturbationisthegreatgiftthatcomes 6. Chastity
7. Gay Sex in the Bible
withobedienceandaprofounddesiretoserveGod.The
8. Priest Sexual Abuse Cases
Catholicword"chastity"meansnosexwithselfor 9. Marriage, Divorce, Annulments
othersbeforemarriage.Ifyou'remarrieditmeansonly 10. Lust accountability group
sexwithyourwife/husband(oftheoppositesex).So
practisingchastityasasinglepersonmeansno Download Catholic Music
masturbation.Practisingchastityasamarriedperson $1.39 each
meansnomasturbation.
Music sales support this site
Ihavebeenfreeofmasturbationfor14years.I'malay
Catholic,whichmeansIliveintherealworld,Ihavea
job,andliveafairlynormallife.OnJanuary1,2011,afterover20yearsofbeingsingleand
celibate,Imarried.Wehada15monthengagementwithout"makingup"forourchastityby
masturbatingwhenalone.

Click"like"ifyoulovechastity! Like 1.8K Share

Mythsaboutmasturbation

WegotanemailfromasincereEvangelicalthatsaid:

Masturbation...isawayofmaintainingselfcontrolforbothsexes.Formenitallows
releaseofstoredspermandinawoman,itmaintainshervaginasenvironmentthrough
moistrenewal.

Thispoorfellowbelievesanumberofmyths.Herearesomeofthemythsyoumayhearabout
masturbationfromthosewhodon'twanttogiveitup.

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5/22/2017 What'swrongwithMasturbation?<br>MasturbationintheBible<br>DoesMasturbationpreventprostatecancer?Howtostopmasturbating

Myth#1Masturbationisaphysicalreleaseformen,orawaythatwomendon't"dryup"

Actually,thebodyisquiteintelligentanditadjustseasilytonotmasturbating.Italsoadaptsvery
welltheotherwayifthatpersongetsmarriedlater.ThebodyisanamazinggiftfromGod,andGod
lovesitwhenpeopletaketheirsexualityseriouslyandtrytoputitinorder.Thebodyabsorbs
unusedsemenveryeasily.It'snotlikeputtingabunchofsemeninabottleandleavingittherefor
ayear.Thebodyisalotsmarterthanthat.

MybodycanfigureouthowtoturnanapplethatIateintoalltheessentialenzymes,anditeasily
knowswhattodowithafewcc'sofseminalfluid.Justthinkaboutapimple(containingharmful
bacteria)thebodyhandlesitnoproblem,afterafewdaysitgoesaway.Anydoctorwillsay
squeezingapimplemakesitworse.

Iwasreallysurprisedthatmybodydidn'tfreakoutwhenitdidn'tgetsex.Itsimplyadjusted.I
foundtheissuereallyhasmoretodowiththemindthanthebody.Whenyoustopmasturbating,at
thebeginningtheremaybetheveryoccasionalwetdreamwhichisusuallymoreofamentalthing
thanaphysicalthing.

Themythisthatmasturbationispurelyaphysicalrelease.Thetruthisthatthephysicalstimulation
almostalwaysfollowssomesortofvisualormentalstimulus,notviceversa.Andthatstimulusis
moreoftenthannot,somekindof"unbiblical"imageorfantasy.(Mat5:28)Therealproblemisthe
mind,andthatisbesthandledbyJesus,whoisverygoodatremovingunwantedmentalimages.

Likewise,womendonot"dryup"iftheydon'tmasturbate.Theseareteenagemyths.Thebody
adjuststowhateverourstateoflifeandeasilyadaptsifthatchangesthroughmarriage.

Myth#2Masturbationputsoutthefireofsexualdesireithelpsselfcontrol

Iusedtothinkthatsexualdesirewaslikeasmolderingfire.IthoughtthatIcouldsatisfyitsimply
bymasturbating.Butthatisthemythofourmodernculture.

Masturbationisnotlikethrowingwateronthefireofdesire.
Itislikethrowinggasolineonafire.

Itleadstoinnerconflict,loneliness,emptiness,morecravingsforsex,anoverdevelopedfantasy
life,createsconflictinrelationships,andoftensendsthepersonintothe"headspace"thatlifeis
emptyandmeaningless.Itoftenbecomesanaddiction.Thebrainreleasesachemicalcocktailof
acetylcholine,dopamineandserotoninwhenitseesanimageandmasturbationbegins.These
chemicalsproducedbythebodyarehighlyaddictive.

Ifmasturbationbecomescompulsive,thebrain,motornerves,neuromuscularendings,andtissues
canbedrainedofacetylcholinewhichcanbereplacedwithtoomuchstressadrenalin,whichis
wherememoryloss,lackofconcentration,andeyefloaterscomefrom.Sothoseoldnunsinthe
1950'swhosaidmasturbationmakesyougoblindweren'tactuallythatfaroff.

Godisquitegoodatbalancingbodychemicals.Hemadethem.Thewaytoquenchthesmoldering
fireofsexualdesireiswiththelightofGod,withhisintimacy,hisloveandhispower.Asa
Catholic,IalsofindthatitisveryhelpfultoaskMarytoprayforme,becauseshelivedachaste
lifeandshelovesallherchildren.WhenIamtemptedtolookatawomanwithlustfully,Isense
Marysaying"hey,don'tyoudarelookatmydaughterthatway."Maryissuchagreatmother,and
allshewantsisfirustogiveourlifetoherSon.

Myth#3It'simpossibletostopmasturbation

I'mlivingproofthat,onedayatatime,itispossibletobefreeofmasturbation.Thepeopleinmy
accountabilitygrouparefreealso,asarethousandsofmarriedorsinglepeoplewholivehappyand
productivelives.

Myth#4Masturbationisnormal

Mostpeoplewhomasturbatefeeluncomfortableaboutit.Deepdowntheyknowthatsomethingis
wrong,andareconflicted.That'sastatistic.Itwascertainlytrueforme,althoughittookmeseveral
yearstoidentifywhatinmylifewaswrong.

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5/22/2017 What'swrongwithMasturbation?<br>MasturbationintheBible<br>DoesMasturbationpreventprostatecancer?Howtostopmasturbating

Iwouldalsocallintoquestiontoday'sconceptofnormal.Isaculturenormalwhenpornographyis
streamedintoyourlivingroomTV,24hoursaday,pornographyondemandoncellphones,anda
20secondGooglesearchwillrenderupthemostperverseimagesknowntohistory?Sittinginfront
ofacomputerwithunderweararoundyouranklesdoesn'tsoundnormaltome.I'dsaywereare
livinginatimeofperversionandapostasy,liketheRomantimes,actuallyworse.Thestatusquois
notnormal.Asacultureweareheadedoveracliff.

Below:ChristopherWesttalkingaboutthevalueofsinglecelibacy

An Introduction to the Theology of the Body: "Ce

Myth#5Ifyoudon'tmasturbateyou'llgoimpotent

I'mnotimpotentorsexuallyconstipated.Aftermanyyearsofbeingasinglepersonwhodidn'thave
premaritalsexandwhodidn'tmasturbate,I'mmarriednow.I'manormalmanwithnormalsexual
instincts,which,onedayatatime,IhavesurrenderedtoGod.Theresultwasverygood.IthoughtI
wouldgocrazyandhavewetdreamsallthetime.Butthiswasnotthecaseatall.Ittakesawhile
butthebodyadjusts.Contrarytopopularteenagebelief,refrainingfromsexandmasturbation
doesn'tmakeyouimpotent.

Myth#6Abstinencefrommasturbationwillleadtoahugesexualexplosion

Thatisonlytrueiftheabstinenceisdevoidofspiritualsubstance.IfwesurrendertoGod,wewill
findourselvesonanamazingjourneythateventuallyleadstoanewwayoflifethatwenever
dreamedpossible.Wewillrealizethatmasturbationwasadiversionthatwaskeepingusfromthe
fulfillmentthatGodwascallingusto.WegotonewdepthsandintimacywithGodwhenwe
surrenderthediversionandselfishnessofmasturbation.

Myspirituallifeismuchbetterthanever.Myprayerisdeeper,mysenseofconnectionwithGod
greater.Irealizenowthatmasturbationdullsthespirit.Itcloudsthemind.Thereisanoldjokethat
peoplewhomasturbategoblind.Well,inawayitistrue,ifwearetalkingaboutspiritualsight.

I'vebeentalkingtomenherebutthesameisbasicallytrueforwomenwhoaretemptedto
masturbate,whichhasbecomealmostascommonasmen.

Myth#7Masturbationhelpspreventprostatecancer

Therearearticlesfloatingaroundtheweb(i.e.,webMD)quotingastudyconductedin2009,
publishedintheBritishJournalofUrologyInternational.Theheadlinesreadsomethinglike
"Frequentmasturbationinyoungmenislinkedtohigherriskofearlyprostatecancer,butitlowers
prostatecancerriskformenintheir50s,astudyshows."

SoIdecidedtolookupthestudy.ThetitleisactuallyFrequentsexandmasturbationin20sand30s
linkedtohigherprostatecancer,butrisksdiminishwithage.Sowhatisthedifferencebetweenwhat
masturbationadvocatesquoteandwhattheactualstudyfound?Wellherearethefindings:
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5/22/2017 What'swrongwithMasturbation?<br>MasturbationintheBible<br>DoesMasturbationpreventprostatecancer?Howtostopmasturbating

Menwithprostatecancerhadmoresexualactivity(intercourseandmasturbation)thanmenin
thecontrolgroup,foreveryagegroup.40%ofmeninthecancergroupfellintothehighest
frequencycategoryintheirtwenties(20ormoretimesamonth)comparedto32%inthe
controlgroup.Similarpatternswereobservedinthemensthirtiesandforties.Bythefiftiesit
hadevenedout,with31%ineachgroupfallingintothemostfrequentcategory(tenormore
timesamonth).

Menwithprostatecancerwerealsomorelikelytomasturbatefrequentlythanmeninthe
controlgroup,withthegreatestdifferenceinthetwenties(34%versus24%)andthirties
(41%versus31%).Thedifferenceswerelesspronouncedintheirforties(34%versus28%)
andbythefiftiesthecancergroupwasslightlylower(25%versus26%).

Inotherwords,theoverarchingfindingswerethat:

Frequentmasturbationand/orpromiscuityislinkedtoprostatecancer,not
theotherwayaround.

Thisistrueformen20's40's.At50yearsolditevensout(1%isstatisticallyinsignificant,andfalls
withintheerrormargin).

Soabstainingfrommasturbationdecreasesyourchancesofprostatecancer,
nottheotherwayaround.

Note:ItisinterestingthatthewriteronWebMD,DanielJ.DeNoon,whoisspinningthestudytosay
it'shealthytomasturbateover50,isguesswhat...amanover50.Hmmm...(scratchinghead).

WhyareCatholicstheonlydenominationagainstmasturbation?

Theacceptanceofmasturbationisactuallyverynew,thenaturaloutcomeoftheAnglican's
acceptingcontraceptionin1930.Contraceptionisbasicallymutualmasturbation.I'vebeenthere.
Denominationswhichacceptedcontraceptioninthe1960'scavedinonmasturbationsoonafter.
Here'saletterbyC.S.Lewis,thegreatProtestantauthorof"TheLion,theWitchandtheWardrobe."

"Formetherealevilofmasturbationwouldbethatittakesanappetitewhich,inlawful
use,leadstheindividualoutofhimselftocomplete(andcorrect)hisownpersonalityin
thatofanother(andfinallyinchildrenandevengrandchildren)andturnsitback,sends
itbackintotheprisonofhimself,theretokeepaharemofimaginarybrides.Andthis
harem,onceadmitted,worksagainsthisevergettingoutandreallyunitingwithareal
woman.Fortheharemisalwaysaccessible,alwayssubservient,callsfornosacrificesor
adjustments,andcanbeendowedwitheroticandpsychologicalattractionswhichnoreal
womancanrival."

C.S.Lewis,MereChristianity,quotedinBausch,"Masturbation",35

SomemodernEvangelicalleadersarecatchingonalso.ThebestsellerEvangelicalbook"Every
Man'sMarriage"byStephenArterburnsays:

...Awife'sbody...istheonlylegitimatevesselofsexualsatisfactionforherhusbandon
theEarth.Asusual,whenGod'sstandardsgettough,wechoosetomixinourown
standardsofsexualconducttocreateamorecomfortablemixture,somethingnew,
somethingmediocre.Nowonderweleadmediocrelives...Godhasalreadyaddressed
thisin1Corinthians.It'snotyourhand'sdutytofulfillyousexually!...(pg241)

CatherineDoherty,agreatCatholicleaderwhohelpedthousandsofpeoplesaid:

"Theproblemwithmasturbationisthatitistheultimateinselfcenteredness,whichisa
hugeobstacletospiritualgrowth."

FatherBobBedardsaid:

"Masturbationdullsthespirit."

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WhatdoestheCatholicChurchsayaboutMasturbation

TheCatechismhasthistosayaboutmasturbation:

2352Bymasturbationistobeunderstoodthedeliberatestimulationofthegenital
organsinordertoderivesexualpleasure."BoththeMagisteriumoftheChurch,inthe
courseofaconstanttradition,andthemoralsenseofthefaithfulhavebeeninnodoubt
andhavefirmlymaintainedthatmasturbationisanintrinsicallyandgravelydisordered
action."138"Thedeliberateuseofthesexualfaculty,forwhateverreason,outsideof
marriageisessentiallycontrarytoitspurpose."Forheresexualpleasureissought
outsideof"thesexualrelationshipwhichisdemandedbythemoralorderandinwhich
thetotalmeaningofmutualselfgivingandhumanprocreationinthecontextoftrue
loveisachieved."139

Toformanequitablejudgmentaboutthesubjects'moralresponsibilityandtoguide
pastoralaction,onemusttakeintoaccounttheaffectiveimmaturity,forceofacquired
habit,conditionsofanxietyorotherpsychologicalorsocialfactorsthatlessen,ifnot
evenreducetoaminimum,moralculpability.

SotheCatechismisbasicallysaying"don'tdoit."It'sdifficultattimesbutwithGod'sgraceall
thingsarepossible.It'sagreatwaytolive,Ihighlyrecommendit.

MasturbationintheBible

Thereareseveralsectionsthatonecouldapplytomasturbation.InMatthew5:28Jesussays:

"Youhaveheardthatitwassaid,'Donotcommitadultery.'ButItellyouthatanyone
wholooksatawomanlustfullyhasalreadycommittedadulterywithherinhisheart.If
yourrighteyecausesyoutosin,gougeitoutandthrowitaway.Itisbetterforyouto
loseonepartofyourbodythanforyourwholebodytobethrownintohell.Andifyour
righthandcausesyoutosin,cutitoffandthrowitaway.Itisbetterforyoutoloseone
partofyourbodythanforyourwholebodytogointohell.

Thisisclearlyastatementagainstmasturbationeventhoughitencompassesmorethanthat.For
almostallmasturbationisaccompaniedby"lookingatawomanlustfully"(oraman)whetheritbe
porn,euphoricrecall,memory,fantasyorwhateverthesourceofthementalimagesthatdrivethe
action.St.FrancisofAssisiinthe1,200'stookJesus'counciltoheart.Ifhefeltanylust,he'dthrow
himselfinapricklybramblebush,ouch!

Fleefromsexualimmorality.Allothersinsamancommitsareoutsidehisbody,buthe
whosinssexuallysinsagainsthisownbody.Doyounotknowthatyourbodyisa
templeoftheHolySpirit,whoisinyou,whomyouhavereceivedfromGod?Youarenot
yourownyouwereboughtataprice.ThereforehonorGodwithyourbody.(1Cor6:19
20)

St.Pauladvises:

'Butiftheycannotcontrolthemselves,theyshouldmarry,foritisbettertomarrythan
toburnwithpassion.(ICor.7:9).

Hedidn'tsay"ifyouburnwithpassion,masturbateandrelieveyourself!"Thereisnoindicationthat
thispassageistalkingaboutsexualsinotherthanmasturbation.To"burnwithpassion"isclearlya
selforientedmanifestationofsexualsin.Godissayingsomethinglike"spiritually,it'sbettertostay
singleandcelibate,butifyoucan'tcontrolyourselfthengetmarried."WecouldalsosaythatGal.
5:23,2Cor.7:1andIThes.4:4implicitlycontainacondemnationofmasturbation.Thetraditionof
theChurchhasrightly,andformanycenturies,understoodittobecondemnedintheNew
Testamentwhenthelatterspeaksof'impurity','unchasteness'andothervicescontrarytochastity
andcontinence."ManyfeelthatthestoryofOnanispartiallyaboutmasturbation.Masturbationhas
oftenbeencalledOnanism,asanodtothispassage:

...[Onan]spilledhissemenonthegroundwheneverhewentintohisbrother'swife,so
thathewouldnotgiveoffspringtohisbrother.Whathedidwasdispleasinginthesight
oftheLORD,andheputhimtodeathalso.(Genesis38:610)

IntheBible,allinfertilemethodsofintercourseweresubjecttothedeathpenalty:bestialityin
Leviticus20:1516,homosexualityinLeviticus20:13,withdrawalinGenesis38:610.Other
passagestobeconsideredareDeuteronomy23:1,Luke23:2829.Masturbationisdefinitelyinfertile
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sex,andwhenweconsiderthepurposeofsexto"bond,andprocreate"aspresentedintheBiblewe
canseethewisdomoftheChurch'sconstantandconsistentpositiononthisoverthecenturies.

AtalkaboutHowtoConquerLust

What's wrong with sex before marriage, pornography, m

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Howtostopthehabitofmasturbation?

Surprisingly,orperhapsnot,thisisallaboutourspiritualgrowth.Ultimatelythisisaspiritual
journey.Butthetruthisyoucanstopmasturbatingrightnow.

1.Avoidingtemptation:TheLord'sprayersays"Leadusnotintotemptation."Forme,abig
challengeistoavoidlustingeneral.ThatmeansstayingawayfromTV,andracyscenesin
moviesoronYouTube,andofcourse,nopornoranythinglikethat.Itmeansmaintaining
"softeyes"atmalls,lookinggenerallydownwardinsteadofcheckingoutthe"sights."It
meansnotglancingatpeople'ssexualorganswhenyouseethemormeetthem.Itmeans
lookingawayfromprovocativebillboards.Itmeansnotspendingtimealoneinaclosed
environmentwithsomeoneoftheoppositesex(orsomeoneyouaresexuallyattractedto).It
meansrecitingaprayerwheneverIfeelatemptation.It'scalledtheshieldprayer,whichcan
beuseddozensoftimesaday:

"Lordcomeintothistemptation,pleaseremoveanydesiretolookor
fantasizeinthissituation."

2.SurrenderyourlifetoGod:Honestly,withoutGod,it'simpossible.ButforGod,allthingsare
possible.WithasurrendertoGod,youcandoit.Ihave,onedayatatime.

3.Getintoanaccountabilitygroup:Ifyoucan'tfindone,startone.Findsomeonewiththe
sameideasandmakedailyaccountabilityphonecalls.Thisbreaksahabitofisolation.
Gettinghonestwithotherswhoaresympatheticbutcommitedtoyoursuccesswillreallyhelp.
Ifyoudon'thaveone,westartedone.

4.Confession:ForCatholics,itstartswithmakingconfession.ForEvangelicalsIwouldsaytalk
toyourpastor,butunfortunatelymostpastorsthesedaysdon'tunderstandtheseriousnessof

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it.

5.Restitution:Cleaningupeveryaspectofourlives.Returningstolenthings,payingoffold
debts,stopcheatingontaxes,makingapologiestopeopleI'vehurt,stopcheatingonwork
hoursetc...

6.Eliminatingselfishness:anddishonestyandtryingtohelpothers,particularlyotherswith
thesameproblem.

7.Prayerandmeditation:SpendingalotoftimewiththeLord.IgotoMasseverymorning,
joinedaprayergroupandspendtimealoneinprayereveryday.

8.Ifyou'reCatholicstayclosetotheSacraments.Ifyou'reEvangelical,trytofindaChurch
wheretheyunderstandtheproblem.Ifyoucan'tfindone,perhapsjoinusintheCatholic
Church.

Thefollowingpoemsaysitall:

AutobiographyinFiveShortchaptersbyPortiaNelson

1.Iwalk,downthestreet.
Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.Ifallin.
I'mlost...Iamhelpless.
Itisn'tmyfault.
Ittakesforevertofindawayout.

2.Iwalkdownthesamestreet.
Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.
IpretendIdon'tseeit.Ifallinagain.
Ican'tbelieveIaminthesameplace.But,itisn'tmyfault.
Itstilltakesalongtimetogetout.

3.Iwalkdownthesamestreet.
Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.
Istillfallin...It'sahabit.
Myeyesareopen.
IknowwhereIam.
Itismyfault.
Igetoutimmediately.

4.Iwalkdownthesamestreet.
Thereisadeepholeinthesidewalk.
Iwalkaroundit.

5.Iwalkdownanotherstreet

ThepathofGodisanotherstreet.Abeautifuljourneytoawonderfuleternity.

LordJesus,letYourprayerofunityforChristians
becomeareality,inYourway.
Wehaveabsoluteconfidence
thatyoucanbringyourpeopletogether,
wegiveyouabsolutepermissiontomove.
Amen

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