# Which religions consider masturbation evil or a sin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 25, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062 "2003-12-25T22:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/41 "2003-12-28T17:24:52Z")
I am grateful to have some info on the buddists. Thank you. Wiccans? Zoroastrians? Jains? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/42 "2003-12-28T21:31:03Z")
Nothing I’ve read about Wicca addresses masturbation specifically, but the Wiccan Rede is “do what thou wilt, an’ it harm none.” Seeing as how masturbation itself is usually pretty harmless, it’s probably a safe bet that Wiccans are okay with it, as long as no one gets hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/43 "2003-12-28T22:07:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Persephone \* > \*\*…Wiccans are okay with it, as long as no one gets hurt. \*\* “_Stop that!_ You’ll put someone’s eye out!” ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/44 "2003-12-28T22:54:21Z")
My Wiccan Friend: “There is a great spell which requires you to masturbate” ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/45 "2003-12-29T03:41:52Z")
how can masterbation be harmless Persephone? according to the moslem site above 1. Being cautious not to develop any of the medical symptoms that may result from masturbation such as weak eyesight, weak nervous system, and/or back pain. More importantly, feeling of guilt and anxiety that can be complicated by missing obligatory prayers because of the need to shower (ghusl) after every incidence of masturbation. I had a sore back this morning. Had to tell my wife it was through giving the kids too many piggy-back rides ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/46 "2003-12-29T04:03:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*[hollering] **What about the Hindu position on masturbation? And the Shinto one! Buddhists? Mormons?** [/hollering] > > But thanks for the answers so far. \*\* I had a really nice answer all typed-up, but I lost it.☹ Anyway, to resume what I had written: Buddhist morals are relativistic. There is no absolute evil, there are no sins. There is a goal, however, and anything that stands in the way of that goal is considered harmful. As such, activities and practices that either cause suffering, foster passions, or produce environments that are not conducive for practice are to be avoided. As far as _lay_ Buddhists are concerned, I do not believe there are any specific injunctions against masturbation anywhere in the scriptures. However, according to the Vinaya Pitaka, monks are to refrain from it. The Vinaya was the code that regulated monastic life at the time of the Buddha. It is _extremely_ detailed, I read somewhere it is significantly longer than the Japanese civil code! The particular reference to masturbation is in the [Sanghadisesa chapter](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/vinaya/bhikkhu-pati.html#2): > [@](#): > > 1. Intentional discharge of semen, except while dreaming, entails initial and subsequent meetings of the Community. The purpose of the meeting in question is determining proper action towards the offender. In Shintoism, you are unlikely to find taboos concerning masturbation. The great impurities are death, blood and childbirth. Even though, in practice, Shintoism is mostly an amalgam of folk traditions, superstitions, and beliefs there is a book, the Engishiki that deals with ceremonies and to some extent rules of conduct. Incest and bestiality are forbidden, but I doubt masturbation gets a mention. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/47 "2003-12-29T04:08:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jovan \* > \*\*Anyway, to resume what I had written: \*\* By this, of course, I mean to _sum up_ what I had written. Not enough sleep. Linguistic wires crossing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/48 "2003-12-29T06:20:50Z")
Later Stoicism was opposed to it, but I don’t think earlier Stoicism was. Epicureanism didn’t take a postiion on it, I don’t think. ---
**Author:** ![petre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@petre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/petre)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/49 "2003-12-31T16:16:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*Later Stoicism was opposed to it, but I don’t think earlier Stoicism was. Epicureanism didn’t take a postiion on it, I don’t think. \*\* There seems to be a general [principal](http://www.epicurus.net/principal.html) that appears to cover the matter for Epicureans: 1. No pleasure is a bad thing in itself, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/50 "2003-12-31T16:48:56Z")
Right, and Epicurus was sceptical of sexual activity…any sexual activity, for just that reason. He also said…addressed to a young man, from the “Vatican Sayings” > [@](#): > > I understand from you that your natural disposition is too much inclined toward sexual passion. Follow your inclination as you will, provided only that you neither violate the laws, disturb well-established customs, harm any one of your neighbors, injure your own body, nor waste your possessions. That you be not checked by one or more of these provisos is impossible; for a man never gets any good from sexual passion, and he is fortunate if he does not receive harm. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/51 "2003-12-31T17:29:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Matchka \* > \*\*Bad **Cervaise** , BAD! > > Hey, Doc. Da Mormons–they no think it a good thing to do with your time. [Cite](http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/home%20and%20family.htm/for%20the%20strength%20of%20youth%20fulfilling%20our%20duty%20to%20god.htm/sexual%20purity.htm?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm) > > Idea is that sexuality is for married people only. Other uses of your junk or itts correct usage outside of the procreative bliss of wedlock is a not-good thing. \*\* [Here’s](http://nowscape.com/mormon/mormast.htm) a better site. Warning: not for the irony-impaired. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/52 "2003-12-31T19:07:35Z")
**Qadgop** - the reason for this thread wouldn’t be that you are looking to change your own religion to something more… tolerant… ? 😉 Presumably if Christianity and Judaism frown on masturbation because of Onan and “spilling seed” (or imaginary tiny foetuses) then there’s no problem with women doing it? Or, like Queen Victoria and lesbianism, did they simply assume women would never dream of doing such things? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/53 "2003-12-31T21:20:14Z")
You read my mind **istara** , about women being exempted. I was also wondering what the rules were for men who’ve had vasectomies (I realize that _getting_ the vasectomy might be a no-no, but once done, no seed can be spilled), or men who are naturally infertile. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/54 "2003-12-31T22:41:35Z")
istara: You are correct that in Judaism, at least, female masturbation (and lesbianism) is not considered sinful. (Can’t speak for Christianity.) It is considered “immodest,” but that’s about character refinement, not religious legality. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062/55 "2003-12-31T22:51:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by istara \* > \*\ ***Qadgop** - the reason for this thread wouldn’t be that you are looking to change your own religion to something more… tolerant… ? 😉 \*\* Yeah, my Unitarian faith has just been _soooo_ restricting to me! 😃 Thanks for all the replies, I have been educated. Hope to read more here! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religions-consider-masturbation-evil-or-a-sin/221062.md?page=2)