Some Helpful information On Masturbation

There have been lots of arguments on masturbation from the psychological, religious, medical and philosophical views. I will take my time to visit those views for a better understanding. First, we will have to to look at the meaning of masturbation;

Act of Masturbation

The word masturbation is believed to be derived from these three Latin words mézea (genital), manus (hand), turbare (disturb). It can be defined as the manual/artificial stimulation of one's genitals, exclusive of coitus of another's genitals, for sexual satisfaction or orgasm. It is a common form of Autoeroticism as termed by Havelock Ellis (a British sexologist). There is also Mutual Masturbation, which involves partners touching one another genital simultaneously.

The Origin Of Masturbation:
Lots of people started masturbating without been initiated into it. It is a natural practice that is normally effective at puberty mostly in females, which is very addictive. There have been lots of arguments on the origin and history of masturbation but the truth remains; it is a natural phenomenon since even other animals apart from human beings masturbate. Studies has dated it to 4th millennium BC, having cited a temple in Malta as old as that, depicts a picture of a woman masturbating.
Egyptian history has it that the ebb and flow of River Nile was attributed to frequency of the ejaculation of a god called ATUM by masturbation. They also believe that atum created the universe by masturbating to ejaculation. Other countries like Greek and India has a history attributed to the origin of masturbation.
Biblically, there is no trace of the origin of masturbation but homosexuality and the two are different.
                                       
         "it is a natural phenomenon since even other animals apart from human beings masturbate"

Presently, 7 out of 10 people masturbates or once masturbated, while 8 out 10 people started masturbation naturally. During Puberty in human, taking a female for instance, once she discovers change in her body, her mentality changes and some sexual chemistry overtakes her. A play with her new found body could lead to a tap on the apple and once she has found pleasure there, it becomes very difficult to stop. The same is applicable to the male though it is very easy in females.  This further proves that masturbation is a natural practice and there is still no known person that masturbated first in history.

Reasons for Masturbation: 
People masturbate depending on their own personal reasons. These reasons could due to stress, sex-starvation, loneliness/idle, faithfulness, pleasure, sexual abstinence, sexual satisfaction, or to boost sexual performance. Like I said it depends on individuals.

What is good about Masturbation: 
I will take this from various studies;

* Religiously:

Though the bible did not say anything about masturbation, but there are some verses in the Bible that can still show God's thought about the act. For instance, Matt 5:28-29 "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." From the verse, it is very clear that God does not approve masturbation. If a lustful sight is an adultery then, a lustful imagination is also adultery also. We can see also the same at 1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body." If masturbation is sexual based act, therefore it is a sin and it is not allowed for Christians.

Then in Islam, it is not an acceptable act unless in extenuating state. This can be found in Holy Quran 23: 5 - 7 “And they who guard  their private parts. Except on their wives..., for indeed they will not be admonished. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.”

 Religiously, it is a sin to masturbate. The question now is between masturbation and fornication, which one is better. The truth is that masturbation is better since it corrupts only one person (You). It is lesser of the two evils. Jesus having noted that as humans, we are all sinners stated in the book of John 8:34-36 "Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

* Psychologically:
  Masturbation solves a lot of problem psychologically but few disadvantages which examples includes; feeling of guilt after the practice, lost of ego and personality when caught mostly by someone of the same gender. These feelings often leads to sexual dysfunction. Finally, Addiction. Most people mostly the male who have once engaged in masturbation hardly leave the act. This could interfere in your relationship if it is enjoyed more than normal sex with your partner.

The Advantages includes:
- Masturbation eases you from psychological stress and tension
- Enhances self confidence and esteem
- Reduces body fatigue 
- Enhances mental strength
- Saves energy
- Relaxes your body which can lead to a good sleep
- Saves relationships because it can keep spouse out from cheating.


*Medically:
Though there have been arguments on the medical disadvantage of masturbation in the past but present studies proves otherwise. Samuel-Auguste Tissot, a Swiss physician in 1760 stated that; masturbation would cause "a perceptible reduction of strength, of memory and even of reason; blurred vision, all the nervous disorders, all types of gout and rheumatism, weakening of the organs of generation, blood in the urine, disturbance of the appetite, headaches and a great number of other disorders."  due to lost of semen which he argued was an "essential oil" and "stimulus". He made this assumption at a time when experimental physiology was practically nonexistent. Modern studies proves that nothing about masturbation is medically wrong. Though excess practice of masturbation can weaken the penis in male dues to over stress. 
Medically masturbation;
- Stimulate the immune system.
- Is an ultimate practice of safe sex.
-  Cures insomnia .
- Decreases incidence of prostate cancer.
- Enhances sexual performance
- Eases PMS and menstrual cramps in women.
- Improves cardiovascular health and lower risk of type-2 diabetes in women.
- Have you heard that ""an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away"?

*Philosophical
 It is seen as a violation of moral law as stated by Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher.  Philosophically, masturbation is not encouraged for instance, it is seen as a squandering of human time and physical energy that could otherwise be used for Godly worship, self-improvement, or good works. It is said to inflame carnal lusts, leading to worse sexual vices.

Causes of Masturbation:  There is no known cause of masturbation since it is not a sickness. It is a natural and psychological sexual practice.

How to Stop Masturbation: Since masturbation is a practice, certain practices can limit the practice to a certain degree. With time, you may lost count to days you did not masturbate. Examples of this practices:
* Get your mind busy with useful things
* Stay away from pornographic movies, photos and magazines

Get rid of Pornographic Magazines

* Get married as soon as you find out you have a high libido that you can't control.
* Be more religious in thinking and action.
* See the act as an irresponsible act and apply self discipline.

If you need more help or questions, kindly write me on sylconcollins@yahoo.com