Before puberty, I was taught that sex between a man and woman took place after marriage. Then I discovered masturbation on my own and just couldn't stop because it felt so good. For years, I felt like religion meant not giving into my lust for pleasure and I wanted to be good, but then, I always had my penis in my hand and couldn't say no once I had gotten the urge to masturbate. My church youth leaders, other adults, and Ann Landers were no help, so I figured I was going to be a lost soul or was gay (somehow, that felt like being lost, too) because I knew I couldn't resist my desires. Fortunately I was able to figure out that it was completely normal to masturbate and that it meant getting in touch with a normal, private part of me. I still consider myself religious and I accept masturbating as part of one of many great sides I have as a human being in creation.
- age 56, Maine
This Week's Wackiest Response:
Lots — I masturbate religiously every couple of days.
- age 29, United Kingdom
When I was young, my religion (Lutheran) cautioned about masturbating too much, and a couple of so-and-so's suggested to me, a young naive boy, that it was a grave sin. Later, our teaching suggested that it was normal but shouldn't become a bad habit. Our doctrine teaches that all sex outside a marriage is considered sinful (Genesis 2); however, no one can be completely sinless, and masturbation is quite minor compared to adultery or robbery — more like stuffing yourself at a meal.
- age 57, Illinois
Religion is just that — religion. I find this question a bit abstract, as I think religion has *nothing* to do with masturbation. I am a Wesleyan minister, and guess what? To be frank, yes, I still masturbate, although it's not a general topic of discussion in the church. And here's another reality: I, like every other man, will continue to masturbate until one of two things happens: I die; or I lose both of my hands.
- age 18, Indiana
Between ages 13 and 18, religion had no effect on how I viewed masturbation. When I became a devout Christian in college, it made me feel somewhat guilty every time I did it (typically several times a day). Then as I matured, it bothered me less and less. I've since accepted it as a gift from God. I am very happily married, and I'm happy that my wife accepts this part of my sexuality. I certainly hope to pass on a healthy view of sex to my own children and not to saddle them with any unnecessary guilt.
- age 30, Virginia
None, and I am a practicing Catholic.
- age 17, Indiana
I think my religion (Christianity) has had an important influence on how I view masturbation. For one, I think the fun of masturbation comes with some rules. I believe that lusting after a woman is a sin; therefore, I have never used porn in masturbation or for any other reason. I tend to see masturbation more as a pleasurable release than something to strive after and spend a lot of time doing. I also think one has to be careful with masturbation, because it can lead to sinful situations if you don't watch yourself.
- age 22, Kansas
I thought my grandmother had gone to heaven when she died, and that she might be able to see people on earth who were still living. I thought she might be able to see me masturbating and that she would be very disappointed in me. I worried about that when I masturbated because my grandmother had always liked me so much and thought I was a great kid.
- age 77, Indiana
None at all — I don't know about the rest of you Christians, but the Bible I've read (New International Version) doesn't say anything about masturbation. Certainly, passages could be misconstrued, but that's true of anything. Besides, those people who argue against masturbation using the Old Testament as a basis are obviously religiously uneducated. The New Covenant literally replaces the old with the new. In my opinion, the old is just there as background information.
- age 18, Virginia
A Roman Catholic priest told me during a retreat that masturbation was so evil he could not even talk about it. I was 13 and a compulsive masturbator. I went home from the retreat and figured I was going to hell, so I masturbated. Masturbating made me feel ashamed and inferior to other boys. My inferiority feelings stayed with me throughout adulthood. I thank God for JackinWorld. I am sure it will help young boys know that it is normal to masturbate.
- age 67, New Hampshire
Religion has had absolutely no influence on my masturbation. I am not a very religious person at all, so that is probably why. However, there are various medical aspects that argue for masturbation. You're less likely to get prostate cancer. It keeps your penis clean. It also keeps your urethra clear. It keeps your testicles working, so you can make more sperm. I mean, how could you *not* masturbate with those medical aspects working for you?
- age 18, Indiana
As a teen, I sometimes felt guilty about masturbating — but religion had nothing to do with the guilt, which came more from peer pressure. Unfortunately, several of the "jock" types in junior high school [ages 12-14] thought that masturbation was a "gay" activity, and I sometimes believed this. I often wondered if I was gay, and this fed my guilt more than any religious teachings. I know now that they were probably masturbating, too, but are way too embarrassed to admit it. I have taught my sons that masturbation is normal and a boy should be having sex *only* with his hand until he is ready to face the responsibility of being a father. It is important for parents to create a guilt-free atmosphere in the household and to allow their sons the privacy to masturbate in their own rooms.
- age 45, Washington
When I was a teenager, I always felt guilty because I was disobeying my parents, I potentially was lusting, and to avoid lusting about women, I thought about guys (bad!). In college, I lived in a Christian fraternity, and the whole house was basically struggling with what to do about masturbating. Once I graduated college, I talked with some Christian counselors and they helped me find ways to become comfortable with my 3-to-4-times-a-day practice. So now I can reconcile my strong Christian faith and masturbation!
- age 24, Illinois
When I was a teenager, I certainly felt a certain amount of guilt about masturbating, though any research I did to find out the religious view of masturbation led to the opinion that it wasn't prohibited in the Bible. I was more concerned about the fact that my masturbatory fantasies involved other boys and that I liked looking a photos of young males either naked or in tight pants. It took a long time for me to accept that I was gay and that it was all right for me to fantasize about other men when I masturbated, but, I eventually lost that sense of guilt and now masturbate without feeling guilty at all.
- age 47, Tennessee
I am a Roman Catholic and so I am told that masturbation is a sin. This did deter me for a while but then I came up with an argument, "Is it a sin if I don't consider it to be one?" I went to confession and spoke to my priest about it. He said that masturbation is a natural act that hurts nobody and it certainly does not take one away from God. Since having this conversation, I have decided that masturbation is not a sin because it hurts nobody and it does not take away my love of God, the Blessed Virgin, or Jesus Christ. Now, religion has no influence on my masturbation habits, and this should be the case with all those who masturbate.
- age 16, United Kingdom
As an active member of the Episcopal Church, a university professor, and the product of mixed ancestry (Irish, French, and Plains Cree), I regard masturbation as a gift from the Creator. Masturbation allows me to relax, to focus my energies, and to strengthen my already strong self-esteem. As a Christian and a Native American, I find that masturbation reinforces my deep spirituality. Often when I masturbate, I experience a sense of unity with the Creator and the Universe. Thanks to my Native heritage *and* my Christian affiliation with a liberal, broad-stream religious denomination, I regard masturbation as a natural part of my daily life. As I've learned more of my ancestry and my faith, I have overcome the guilt I once experienced in my youth during the 1950s. As an educator, I have counted on the intelligent, constructive guidelines provided by the editors of JackinWorld to further enlighten me about masturbation, much in the same way that they help many younger males discover their own sexuality.
- age 62, Michigan
I am a Hindu, so my religion does not hinder masturbation, but enhances it. It is viewed as a form of prayer, just as two-person sex. Thus, the spiritual high that also comes during masturbation for the Hindu enhances and adds to the physical sensation. Trust me, the difference between having sex with yourself and making love to yourself is noticeable!
- age 19, Wisconsin
For me, it's the other way around. My views on masturbation are so different from those held by most religious groups that I have come to question the validity of many of their other claims as well.
- age 39, Texas
None — I believe in God and I know He would want me to enjoy life and the benefits of having a penis.
- age 15, California
In my teen and early adult years, religion taught me that masturbation was a sin. I did it anyway, but with a strong feeling of guilt after every experience. In my 40s, I discovered a more universalizing church that explained sexuality as one of God's gifts that we were to enjoy — with ourselves and with others. This was a very liberating discovery. Now I am happily married with a great sex life. In addition to intercourse and oral sex, my wife and I both masturbate. We enjoy both watching and masturbating each other. And I sometimes masturbate with a close male friend. It all seems perfectly natural now and guilt-free.
- age 62, Washington
Religion played a large, negative part in my early masturbation experiences. I would often stop mid-way through and cry out of guilt. And afterwards, when I didn't have an orgasm, I would feel dirty, guilty, and ashamed. It wasn't until I was well into my 20s that I let go of that shame and could enjoy masturbation. I wish that I could have let go of it years before that. I had a lot of pent-up sexual needs that were never released!
- age 29, California (female)
As my country is strongly [Roman] Catholic, I had no background about this. I knew about masturbation only from surfing the Internet. In fact, most boys my age here don't even know what the word "masturbate" means.
- age 15, Philippines
When I was religious, I felt very guilty about masturbating. I stopped going to confession, because I couldn't imagine talking about it to the priest, which was probably a good thing, in the light of recent revelations! Eventually, I gave up religion, and lo-and-behold, now I don't feel guilty about masturbating at all. I recommend that solution to anyone who feels conflicted about it.
- age 41, Florida
I am a very religious person and this causes a lot of problems for me in my head. (I say that without trying to sound like a psycho.) This is because I am bisexual (I think — maybe I'm just plain gay) and it is against my religious beliefs for two men or two women to engage in sexual activity together. However, I am a man and as such, have the same urges as anyone else. When I masturbate, I usually watch porn. I don't particularly agree with porn, it just helps. I also can't stop watching it; it's addictive. But to compromise, I try not to masturbate on Sundays and religious holidays (like Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas). Sometimes, it is hard not to, because the more I restrain myself, the hornier I get!
- age 17, United Kingdom
I am a Muslim; so my religion often forces me to refrain as much as possible from masturbation because it gives me a clean and innocent feeling. I have to do five prayers a day with occasional visits to the Mosque, so I must keep my body in a clean state to present myself before Allah (God) and perform the prayers. Therefore, I regard masturbation as something for those who need not always be in a constant state of cleanliness, but I still see masturbation as the same form of pleasure that it always has been.
- age 22, United Kingdom
For a long time I masturbated every day at least once and sometimes even 3 times, but I always felt guilty afterward. I never knew what masturbation even was until after my health teacher talked about it one day. Still, even not knowing the word, I felt guilty. I believe the guilt came not from the act of masturbating, but from the lustful thoughts that went along with it. Once I realized what the problem was, I wouldn't masturbate if I were having lustful thoughts. You know what? I haven't masturbated for 3 years now and I really don't feel like I am missing out on anything!
- age 19, North Carolina
My religion not only does not forbid masturbation; it teaches that we should all take pride in our bodies and enjoy our natural state. I personally like to enjoy my natural state 10 to 12 times a week.
- age 26, New Hampshire
My family's Rabbi says that the body is the Temple of Yahweh and that we must treat it with all the respect due a temple. Well, I say that even the plumbing in temples needs flushing out every once in a while; otherwise, everything gets all backed up! I respect my body and part of that respect is enjoying its pleasures. I think I feel the need for a good flushing, so I better go pull my handle for a while.
- age 18, New York
For the first 23 years of my life, religion spoiled my post-ejaculatory moments. Guilt! I thought I was going right to hell if I should drop dead right then and there. I used to be able to hold off for weeks, but when I finally couldn't stop myself, I had a fabulous explosion all over my headboard, face, and chest. By twenty-three, I finally wised up. Religion thought masturbation was bad, but God didn't. Masturbation was my gift from God. I must admit that the greatest orgasms of my life have been those after three weeks of abstinence. I'm out of college now and living on my own, but there is still a spot above my headboard from one of those explosive nights.
- age 34, Pennsylvania
For a while, I was very serious about not masturbating because of religious beliefs. Then I got older — and hornier — and I thought that if I'm able to masturbate, then why shouldn't I? The whole purpose of my masturbating is to be good to my body and boost self-confidence. For me, religion simply sets guidelines for living, it does not control my every action or word.
- age 16, New York
None — I believe in the separation of church and penis, not hand and penis.
- age 48, Massachusetts
I find that my masturbation habits directly contradict my spiritual views. I've been able to keep these two relatively separate from each other, but as I become more concerned with my own salvation, the less interesting masturbation becomes. It's not that my religion tells me I can't masturbate; I just realize that masturbation in the grand scheme of things is of little consequence, so why should I waste my time doing it?
- age 23, Ontario, Canada
My family, and in fact our whole community, are very strict Catholics. Although I did not realize it at the time, my two brothers were influenced as much as I was regarding the warnings that we should not masturbate. Apparently, all three of us went for several years after reaching puberty without any form of masturbation. The obvious consequences of this were constant erections, wet dreams (sometimes as many as four per night in which the quantity of ejaculate was enormous), and general sexual frustration. It was only two years ago that the three of us started to discuss these problems openly among ourselves. We eventually decided that it was okay within our religion for us to masturbate. We actually had our first masturbation session together (my older brother was 16 at the time and my younger brother almost 14). We all felt a great sense of relief that we did this together, openly, and not secretly without telling anyone. We all found it a wonderful experience to do it in front of each other and we realized what pleasures we had been missing over the last four or so years.
- age 17, Ireland
Actually, I think it's the other way around — what influence has masturbation had on my religious views. I find it hard to believe that God would have created such a wonderful feeling (orgasm) and intended it to be restricted only to heterosexual activity. In other words, are we supposed to believe that we should only enjoy and experience orgasms with a partner? My wife and I have been married 33 years and masturbation is as important to us as any other (shared) sex. We try to get a good balance of intercourse, oral, and masturbation, but we enjoy whichever one we most desire at the time. Bottom line: We enjoy our masturbation orgasms (shared and private) and encourage all couples to do the same. God would not have made our arms that long and intended it only as a trick temptation.
- age 54, Wisconsin
None, whatsoever! Think of it this way: if the story of "The Virgin Mary" and how no one had sex with her and still, she became pregnant — her husband *must* have been masturbating! I mean not sleeping with your wife so not getting any action at all, he had to have, or else he would go on a killing spree! I am not a religion buff but I assume he gets into heaven all right.
- age 13, New Hampshire
None! I didn't care if it is sinful to masturbate. My father had a little chat with me and told me that there is nothing wrong in masturbating. He said that every man does it, and God probably as well, so why worry.
- age 20, Poland
Very timely question! I remember the first time I confessed to masturbation. I think I was given five Hail Mary's and told not to do it again. I did it again and was given the obligatory five Hail Mary's, and again told not to do it any more. But, I did it again and kept on doing it; so pretty soon, I got smart enough to stop confessing to it. Oh yeah — the priest I was confessing to? He was just murdered in prison while serving time for child molestation. I stopped being a practicing Catholic about the time I took a course in Philosophy of Religion in college and started realizing what hypocrites the so-called leaders of the church are.
- age 39, Massachusetts
My mom and our minister say masturbation is wrong and I shouldn't do it. One time I asked my mom where in the Bible it says it's wrong and she just got all mad at me and said, "It's there, so don't do it." I want to ask the minister, but I'm afraid and embarrassed to. I want to ask him because all my friends do it, I do it, and everywhere else I read, it says it's okay and even good for you. So I guess I'm just confused!
- age 13, Tennessee
Really, it has had no effect at all on me. The Bible doesn't actually state that the act of masturbation is wrong, and Onan was killed for withdrawing before he ejaculated while having sex with his dead brother's widow, rather than masturbating. Masturbation has physical health benefits, in that it can help prevent prostate cancer, and mental health benefits, in that it can stop teenagers from having sex too soon. Also, men can use it to help control ejaculation, which would lead to better sex sessions in the future. Masturbation is perfectly fine, and only becomes a problem if you spend too much time doing it, just like watching too much TV or working too much. The Bible mentions the problem of poverty hundreds of times throughout, so I believe that instead of worrying about masturbation, God wants us to be more concerned with the real problems in this world.
- age 20, United Kingdom
None whatever; as soon as I was told I'd been made in God's image, I naturally assumed God was also a gay masturbator. According to our glorious leaders, he's backing the Coalition in killing and maiming tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, so he's not going to be fussing about me wanking.
- age 62, Australia
I learned how to masturbate with friends after Hebrew School.
- age 23, Massachusetts
Until my voice broke, I was a member of our cathedral choir. The priest and his staff often warned us about the "dangers" of handling ourselves. This was at an age when most of us hadn't even started to think about masturbation. However, the repeated lectures led to us experimenting together in the toilets and also on the cathedral grounds. Most of us actually had our first ejaculation in a group session after one of the priest's warnings when we were all between ages nine and twelve. I often wonder what the priest would have thought or said if he had caught about ten of us with our underpants around our ankles and spraying each other with our semen.
- age 17, France
I'm a college student and because I'm not religious, religion doesn't have much influence on my view of masturbation. I've been a JackinWorld fan for several years — since 1997 or 1998, I think. My stepfather actually encouraged me to visit the site when I was a teen and never discouraged my masturbating. My biological father — who considers himself very religious — always told me that masturbation was wrong and that I would go to hell. My step-dad said for me to respect my father's opinions, but that I didn't have to agree with them. Now that I'm on my own, I still consider my mom and step-dad's house "home." I minimize my contact with my biological father. I think he's wrong about masturbation, sexuality, and a lot of other things, but I'm (practically) on my own now.
- age 21, Virginia
I have been a Christian for most of my life and used to have nothing against masturbation, so I did it all the time. But now when I think about it, it's lust, a sin. Maybe if you are thinking of the sensation instead of lusting for someone then it's okay. So that's what I try to do now. But God counts all sins the same, whether you've killed someone or lusted after someone. To God, a sin is a sin and I'm so glad He forgives me.
- age 16, New York
I remember when I was about 13; I promised God that I'd never masturbate again because I believed it was a sin. That lasted about four hours. Since then, I have come to understand that sexuality is God's gift to us. Thanks!
- age 55, California
None, because it was the minister's children who taught me how to masturbate.
- age 15, Canada
At one point (and sometimes still) masturbation has played a significant role in my spiritual life. Masturbation used in a ritual context is the perfect way to induce a trance state and coerce yourself into ecstatic bliss. At the moment of orgasm, the mind is wiped clean and is *very* open to suggestion. At this moment, one is enflamed in prayer and it is a good time to plant suggestions deep in the subconscious. I use symbols of desires that I construct beforehand, called sigils. Once a prayer or desire is planted in the subconscious, the only thing it can do is manifest itself. Lots of love!
- age 31, Massachusetts
I honestly don't think religion has influenced my masturbation any because masturbating is our natural way to want pleasure and to feel good about ourselves. I personally don't think God would mind if we have a little fun. I am Jewish and I feel that if He didn't want us to have fun, He wouldn't have given us what we have. So, enjoy your masturbation! Don't worry about what He thinks because I'm positive He would want us to get rid of our stresses from everyday life and engage in fantasies. But, be careful what you do and think wisely! Have fun masturbating and thank you JackinWorld for all the knowledge you have given!
- age 14, New Jersey
Every time I masturbate, I thank God for making me with opposable thumbs!
- age 23, Arizona
When I was younger, religion got in the way of my masturbating only a bit, but it certainly didn't stop me. Once at a church camp, one of the leaders got all the male students together for "our talk;" but by the time he was finished, we were all so turned on, we stopped in the woods on the way back to our cabins to have a bit of relief — so much for the "hands off" lecture. And I remember sitting in church wondering how often the preacher masturbated? Not *if* but *how often*. If others have found it much more stifling by being against their faith, I'm very glad that for me it was only a nuisance.
- age 68, Texas