# When Was Masturbation First \[Explicitly\] Regarded as Sinful? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940 "2012-10-26T15:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/21 "2012-10-26T23:13:44Z")
What if you’re having gay wet dreams? Would they want you to jerk off while thinking about girls as the lesser of two evils? ---
**Author:** ![Pinmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@Pinmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pinmin)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/22 "2012-10-27T00:09:30Z")
Of course it depends on the religion/sect/denomination; however in traditional Christianity, many things are sinful not by the act itself but by the attitude and intent behind it. The underlying sinful attitude here is lust - under Christianity the only good sexuality is between a husband and wife. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/23 "2012-10-27T02:34:05Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > All of religion is based on the preachings of reformed sinners. My understanding is that Jesus Christ is considered as having been uniquely sinless. Paul, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/24 "2012-10-27T05:38:52Z")
Nocturnal emissions are described in the Torah, and it is assumed that this covers wet dreams, if not also masturbation. Either way, it does make the person unclean for a short period. Leviticus 15:16 > [@NIV](#): > > When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. > [@King James Version](#): > > And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. > [@JPS](#): > > And if the flow of seed go out from a man, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. > [@Masoretic Text](#): > > וְאִישׁ, כִּי-תֵצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ שִׁכְבַת-זָרַע–וְרָחַץ בַּמַּיִם אֶת-כָּל-בְּשָׂרוֹ, וְטָמֵא עַד-הָעָרֶב ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/25 "2012-10-27T14:04:56Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Ok. I guess I’ve read that close to 100% of men/boys do masturbate. But, let’s say that only 90% of men/boys have masturbated or do it on some regular basis. It seems unlikely that these various screeds denouncing the practice as dangerous were all written by the 10% of abstainers, doesn’t it? Certainly, they weren’t all read by the 10% of abstainers. If I’m reading a pamphlet that tells me I’m blind and deformed, and I’m not blind and deformed, wouldn’t I tend to doubt the rest of it? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/26 "2012-10-28T07:06:14Z")
Why do people believe that high-fructose corn syrup or Aspartame (or gluten or MSG or . . .) cause every malady under the sun? Why do they believe homeopathic tinctures will cure them? For that matter, do you believe smoking causes cancer and heart disease? Because I’ve smoked and I don’t have either one. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/27 "2012-10-28T07:27:58Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/28 "2012-10-28T12:17:44Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > This is an entertaining view on how the Mormon leadership viewed masturbation. > [http://www.moonmac.com/Mormon\_masturbation.html](http://www.moonmac.com/Mormon_masturbation.html) I didn’t even have to click on that to know it was Mark E. Peterson, one of the more uh, interesting apostles. When we went on our missions, we had to confess our grave sins, including if we masturbated. They define grave sins as those related to sex or murder. So, you could have swindled thousands of old ladies out of all of their money, and wouldn’t have to confess, but wack off one, and you can’t go on a mission until you get forgiveness from your bishop. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/29 "2012-10-28T17:00:18Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > My understanding is that Jesus Christ is considered as having been uniquely sinless. Paul, on the other hand… I believe Catholics also think Mary was ‘immaculate’. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/30 "2012-10-29T04:29:31Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > We don’t know that that’s true. Some men have self-control. Masters of their domains. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/31 "2012-10-29T11:07:29Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > We don’t know that that’s true. Some men have self-control. Name one. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/32 "2012-10-29T14:52:56Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Nocturnal emissions are described in the Torah, and it is assumed that this covers wet dreams, if not also masturbation. Either way, it does make the person unclean for a short period. > > Leviticus 15:16 So… ready to go by nightfall, but no nooner for you…? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/33 "2012-10-30T07:32:38Z")
> [@SmartAlecCat](#): > > I believe Catholics also think Mary was ‘immaculate’. That dogma ( Immaculate Conception) only asserts that Mary was _immaculate_ (free of original sin) at the time her mother Anne conceived her. It does not assert that Mary did not commit any sins during her life. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/34 "2012-10-30T11:53:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It’s not, originally, but [Cecil’s article](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2205/what-exactly-was-the-sin-of-onan) on it includes some discussion of evolving Christian attitudes toward masturbation, which is at least tangentially related to what you’re asking here. Minor correction: That’s not Cecil’s article, but a staff report by yours truly. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/35 "2012-10-30T14:13:48Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Minor correction: That’s not Cecil’s article, but a staff report by yours truly. Oops! Sorry, you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/36 "2012-10-30T14:40:09Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Masters of their domains. Is that what kids are calling it these days? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940/37 "2012-10-31T06:52:05Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Is that what kids are calling it these days? Far from it; it’s a reference to _Seinfeld._ [The Contest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Contest) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-masturbation-first-explicitly-regarded-as-sinful/638940.md?page=1)