Historical Perspectives On Masturabtion: Biblical Times

Historical Perspectives
Today we are in the 21st century and despite what prime time television may indicate, masturbation remains either a taboo subject or one big secret. According to the Kinsey Institute's statistics from 1948, 92% of men and 64% of women admitted to engaging in masturbation. Playwithyourself.co.uk indicates that 99% of men and 98% of women masturbate in 2003. The truth lies somewhere in between, but one thing is certain, people are masturbating but they aren't admitting to engaging in masturbation. Masturbation has a history of being a taboo activity and the negative misconceptions surrounding masturbation have their seed in history.

Masturbation in the Bible
The Bible, like its predecessor the Torah, is the basis for the western code of conduct and thought despite many people's lack of affinity for the Church doctrines. One cannot ignore that the Bible and its interpretations have modeled western train of thought in regards to sexuality, in particular masturbation. Why God really slayed Onan (Genesis 38:3-10) is a frequent debate in the Christian community. Bibletools.org concludes that "God slew Onan because the man contemptuously refused to fulfill his familial responsibility under the Old Covenant. This particular practice is called levirate marriage, in which a dead man's closest unmarried male relation (usually a younger brother, as in this case) married the widow to produce an heir for the dead man." Differentiating between coitus interruptus/masturbation and disobedience is pivotal in understanding the story of Onan and in determining whether God really slew Onan for coitus interruptus/masturbation or for neglecting his familial and divine duty:

"So [Shuah, the wife of Judah] conceived and bore a son, and [Judah] called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan…. Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD killed him. And Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.' But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also" (Genesis 38: 3-10).

Although masturbation is never specifically mentioned in this passage, Catholic doctrine interpreted this passage referring to disobedience actualized through coitus interruptus to prohibit the use of birth control—whether coitus interruptus, masturbation, contraceptives or the pill—as it was thought that sexual relations between a man and woman occurred for the sole purpose of procreation and that any derivation from that purpose displeased God. However, under closer inspection, it is revealed that "God's anger against Onan had everything to do with his failure to fulfill his covenantal obligation, and nothing to do with his method of birth control" (Bibletools.org) for he consciously neglected to fulfill his divine duty of levitate marriage outlined in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Also, as "scripture does not directly contemplate the use of birth control,… it is a matter of personal preference within what God has revealed as proper Christian living" (Bibletools.org) whether it be in reference to masturbation or any other form of birth control.