Sexual Sins are Bull

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Our attitudes towards food are extremely fucked up, too. It's just food. There are so many things that affect our health, the obsession with food choices is just... fucked up.

Sex is not a sin. 'Your' guy or girl does not own you or your genitals. If you are capable of cheating on your SO with YOURSELF, time for SO to reexamine their own control freakiness. If you are seriously obsessing about 'cheating' on a theoretical future SO with your own right hand... dude. Lay down the bible and get some fresh air.

It is hotly debated whether or not the Bible prohibits masturbation. Some believers point to the story of Onan, who "spilled his seed" to avoid impregnating a woman against Gods wishes and then was killed for it, as evidence it does. On the other hand, others(including myself) believe that Onan was punished for defying God, the masturbation was simply a means to an end and not an offense in and of itself.

Many modern Christians do not have an issue with masturbation. Telling a young man that he can't have sex until he is married and can not masturbate either is a recipe for disaster in my view.

As for me, I was a virgin until I was 24. I lost it to the woman I am now married to and don't feel bad for waiting.

[Kheldarson]

Our attitudes towards food are extremely fucked up, too. It's just food. There are so many things that affect our health, the obsession with food choices is just... fucked up.

Sex is not a sin. 'Your' guy or girl does not own you or your genitals. If you are capable of cheating on your SO with YOURSELF, time for SO to reexamine their own control freakiness. If you are seriously obsessing about 'cheating' on a theoretical future SO with your own right hand... dude. Lay down the bible and get some fresh air.

Sex is not a sin, true. But sex in the wrong circumstances is, depending on your belief system, of course. Catholic Church teaches that sex is to be part of marriage as the sharing and opening up of oneself to all of the gifts and graces that come within a marriage (big one being possibility of children) has to be within the framework of a stable committed relationship...and there's none more stable than a marriage. Add in the belief of making a covenant with God, and there you go.

As for masturbation...well, I can think of a few ways it could be cheating with yourself. If you do have a SO and prefer spending time by yourself with your porn of choice rather than your SO, wouldn't that be a form of cheating? Since your obviously giving your intimacy to something else.

[Andara Bledin]

within the framework of a stable committed relationship...and there's none more stable than a marriage.

*giggle*

That is, I think, the funniest thing I've read all morning.

^-.-^

[Kheldarson]

Yeah...but that's still the common view of the Catholic Church. And considering the amount of counseling and support a lot of dioceses are trying to develop to make sure it stays that way...*shrugs*

Besides. I just got married. I got to believe that one right now, right?

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

As for masturbation...well, I can think of a few ways it could be cheating with yourself. If you do have a SO and prefer spending time by yourself with your porn of choice rather than your SO, wouldn't that be a form of cheating? Since your obviously giving your intimacy to something else.

Well in my case it's approached as such. Masturbation WITHOUT porn and only IF my partner has indicated she is not interested in sex at whatever time I try to start it. She always gets the first shot in other words. After that, it's usually fair game. But I never use porn because I want my sexual thoughts to be of my wife.

[HYHYBT]

Makes sense. Now, if your wife is ready and willing but you'd rather entertain yourself... well, *something's* probably not right. (Though of course I'm the wrong person to even *try* to say what that would be.)

[Skunkle]

A friend of mine has interpreted the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, interestingly, as complete and total allegory, not directly about anything described but actually about losing innocence as one grows up - the point at which one breaks free from the innocence of childhood and their eyes are opened to the horrors of the world and of what we can really be and do, and to responsibilities and the deeper kinds of fears adults have. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it's a noteworthy interpretation that meshes with my own idea that a lot of the stories in the Bible are almost completely allegory - that they were ways of putting morals and the like into working examples that people of the time in which they were written could understand.

And yes, Leviticus and the like seem to me to be government or society rules of the time. I've never found anyone yet who can explain why it's still important to follow some of these rules, while others are "outdated" and left behind. Why are they outdated? Who says so? Who chooses what we should still follow? My personal opinion is that many of these rules in the Bible were recorded as God's laws on the following principle: "We created these laws. We are Godly people. Thus, by proxy, we're sure these must be God's laws."

[Nyoibo]

Well in my case it's approached as such. Masturbation WITHOUT porn and only IF my partner has indicated she is not interested in sex at whatever time I try to start it. She always gets the first shot in other words. After that, it's usually fair game. But I never use porn because I want my sexual thoughts to be of my wife.

Pretty much this, although I do look at porn, I have a fairly large collection (which my partner teases me about frequently ) however we have very different sex drives, 3-5 times a week is fine for her but I have, shall we say larger appetites, but I'm deffinately not cheating on her.

[Ipecac Drano]

But sex in the wrong circumstances is, depending on your belief system, of course.

That's the key. If consenting people don't get caught up in religion and all of its trappings, they can enjoy sex of all kinds and not have to worry about sinning.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Pretty much this, although I do look at porn, I have a fairly large collection (which my partner teases me about frequently ) however we have very different sex drives, 3-5 times a week is fine for her but I have, shall we say larger appetites, but I'm deffinately not cheating on her.

Damn, I think most guys would be thrilled to get 3-5 times a week from their partner.

[Rageaholic]

You know, the more I think about this, the more I think it's pretty harmful to make people for guilty for having sexual thoughts or masturbating to those thoughts. Especially with teens, who are just devoloping their sex drive. I remember when I went through this and it was already pretty scary. Had I been threatened with eternal damnation for not repressing those desires, I would have been even more of a nervous wreck than I was at the time!

I stand by what I say. You'd think an all powerful diety would have other things to worry about than what people do with their private parts. Especially since he created them that way. If God's going to punish someone for not repressing those desires, than he is one mean son of a bitch!

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I stand by what I say. You'd think an all powerful diety would have other things to worry about than what people do with their private parts. Especially since he created them that way. If God's going to punish someone for not repressing those desires, than he is one mean son of a bitch!

A lot of people believe that is an apt description of the Old Testament God. I'm not sure I'd call him a mean SOB, but you certainly didn't want to incur his wrath that's for sure.

[telecom_goddess]

Damn, I think most guys would be thrilled to get 3-5 times a week from their partner.

*I* would be thrilled at that. Or even less but nothing in 2 years is what I'm stuck with.

Not to derail ....I tend to agree with the OP. Thoughts do not equal actions. They should not be treated the same way. And I don't have any religious beliefs and think making sex a sin for any reason is just ridiculous.

[crashhelmet]

I just thought I'd add that every time I read this subject line in the list, I think it says "Sims" and I automatically picture Sims 3 woo hooing in the elevator, shower, or hot tub

[DrFaroohk]

I would think having the thoughts, but restraining yourself, shows more character than simply not thinking about it.