Human sexuality/controversial topics

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Masturbation: All points of view

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Many adults find masturbation -- particularly when performed by youth -- to be a very sensitive topic.

Many individuals -- particularly teens -- have been taught that masturbation is a serious sin and suffer from immense guilt when they do it. Some religious denominations even teach that people who masturbate are in great danger of spending eternity in Hell under very some uncomfortable circumstances -- flogging, worms, intolerable heat and thirst, and darkness.

On the other hand, many sources of sexual information recommend masturbation for:

	Males because it lowers their incidence of prostate cancer later in life,
	Females because it can relieve menstrual cramps, and
	Both male and females because it helps them to learn their body's sexual responses, helps them relax, and feels really good.

We have tried to be objective in our treatment of this issue, and to describe fairly from all viewpoints.

This essay is dedicated to the past U.S. Surgeon General, Joycelyn Elders. When asked a question about sex education in public schools, she stated: "perhaps masturbation was something that should be taught." Within hours, she was asked to resign. Within days, she was gone from public service.

Definition:

According to the FAQ at alt.sex.masturbation, masturbation  is "sexual activity involving only one person." ₁ Other widely used emotionally neutral terms are: "self-stimulation," "auto-eroticism" and "self-pleasuring."

Masturbation topics covered in this section:

	Quotations and an overview
	Medical beliefs by: The medical profession in past centuries The medical profession, currently
	Various religious beliefs: Past Christian teachings, Wiccan, Religious liberals, Mormons Conservative Protestants The Roman Catholic church Acceptance by some conservative and mainline Protestant groups   Islam and Hinduism. Buddhism and Judaism.
	Masturbation and the Bible Passages which have been interpreted as forbidding masturbation Did Jesus forbid masturbation in Matthew 5:28? Meanings of the Greek words "Pornea" and "Akatharsia" ("fornication" and "uncleanness") in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament)
	Links to other websites

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Reference used:

1.  "President Kimball Speaks Out," Deseret Book Co., (1981), Page 10.

Copyright ©1997 to 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2008-SEP-24
Author: B.A. Robinson

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