Skip to main content
Log in

Masturbation: Vice or virtue?

  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Kinsey, A., et al.,Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1953, p. 133.

    Google Scholar 

  2. —, et al.,Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1949, p. 473.

    Google Scholar 

  3. “Onanism,” In Palazzini, P., ed.,Dictionary of Moral Theology. Westminster, Maryland, Newman Press, 1962.

  4. Niddah 13a; Genesis 38:8–10.

  5. Epstein, L.,Sex Laws and Customs in Judaism. New York, Ktav Publishing House, 1948, p. 146.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ganzfried S. ed.,Code of Jewish Law. New York, Hebrew Publishing Co., 1927, 151, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Edwardes, A. “Self-stimulation among Arabs and Jews.” In Masters, R. E.,Sexual Self-Stimulation. Los Angeles, Sherbourne Press, 1967, p. 308.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cf. Noonan, J.,Contraception. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1965, p. 226.

    Google Scholar 

  9. McNeill, J., ed.,Medieval Handbooks of Penance. New York, Octagon, 1965, p. 253.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ibid.,. p. 185.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ibid., p. 113.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Leo IX, Letter to Peter Damian (1054). In Migne, J. P.,Patrologica Latina. Paris, 1878–90, Vol. 143.

  13. Thomas Aquinas,Summa Theologica, 2-2, q. 154, 11–12.

  14. Thomas Aquinas,Summa contra Gentiles 3, 122.

  15. Thomas Aquinas,Summa Theologica, 2-2, q. 10, 11; Augustine,De Ordine 2, 4.

  16. Thomas Aquinas,Opuscula 16, 14.

  17. Tissot, S.,Onanism, or a Treatise upon the Disorders Provoked by Masturbation. London, 1766.

  18. Ibid., Tissot, S.,Onanism, or a Treatise upon the Disorders Provoked by Masturbation. London, 1766, p. 61.

  19. Cf. Comfort, A.,The Anxiety Makers. New York, Dell, 1970, p. 74.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hare, E. H., “Masturbatory Insanity: The History of an Idea,”J. Mental Science, 1962,108, 11.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kant, I.,Lectures on Ethics. New York, Harper & Row, 1963, p. 170.

    Google Scholar 

  22. —,Education. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 1960, p. 117.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Acton, W.,The Functions and Disorders of the Reproductive Organs. London, Churchill, 1857.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rush, B.,Medical Inquiries upon Diseases of the Mind. Philadelphia, 1812, pp. 33, 347.

  25. Cf. Taylor, G. R.,Sex in History. New York, Harper & Row, 1970, p. 223; for pictures of these devices see Comfort,op. cit. The Anxiety Makers. New York, Dell, 1970, p. 74.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Quoted in Comfortop. cit., p. 93.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kampmeier, A., “Confessions of a Psychasthenic,”J. Abnormal Psychol., 1907,2, 116–117.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Cf. Stekel, W.,Auto-Erotism. New York, Liveright, 1950, pp. 72–76; Gordon, D.,Self-Love. Baltimore, Penguin, 1972, pp. 30–32, 70–71.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Freud, S., “‘Civilized’ Sexual Morality and Modern Nervous Illness” (1908).Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. London, Hogarth, 1959, Vol. IX, pp. 199, 201.

    Google Scholar 

  30. —, “Sexuality in the Aetiology of the Neuroses” (1898).Standard Edition, Vol. III, p. 268.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Kinsey,Sexual Behavior in the Human Female op. cit., p. 170.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Mortimer, R.,The Elements of Moral Theology. London, Adam and Charles Black, 1947, pp. 182–183.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Thielicke, H.,The Ethics of Sex. New York, Harper & Row, 1964, p. 256.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Miller, J. W.,A Christian Approach to Sexuality. Scottdale, Pennsylvania, Herald Press, 1973, p. 54.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Cf. Jone, H.,Moral Theology. Westminster, Maryland, Newman Press, 1962, p. 149; Farraher, J. J., “Masturbation,”New Catholic Encyclopedia. New York, McGraw Hill, 1967, Vol. 9, pp. 438–440.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Häring, B.,Morality Is for Persons. New York, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1971, p. 143.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Ginder, R.,Binding with Briars. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 1975, p. 172.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Quoted in Masters, W., and Johnson, V.,The Pleasure Bond. Boston, Little, Brown, 1974, p. 64.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Decree of the Holy Office, August 2, 1929; cf.New Catholic Encyclopedia, op. cit., Vol. 9, p. 440.

  40. The Pope Speaks, 1976,21 (1), p. 67.

  41. The New York Times, January 16, 1976, p. 10.

  42. Handbook for Boys. New Brunswick, New Jersey, Boy Scouts of America, 1934. The 1948 edition (p. 412) of this official guide for Boy Scouts of America states that occasional masturbation is wrong and that such a habit should be broken. The 1968 edition (p. 425) asserts that it may cause worry and that “any real boy knows that anything that causes” worry should be avoided.” Logically this would also exclude for many boys such anxiety-related activities as competitive sports.

  43. Ford, C., “Culture and Sex.” In Ellis, A., ed.,The Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior. New York, J. Aronson, 1973, p. 308.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Hettlinger, R.,Sex Isn't That Simple. New York, Seabury Press, 1974, pp. 13, 17.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Kinsey,Sexual Behavior in the Human Female op. cit., p. 173.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Cf. Masters,Sexual Self-Stimulation op. cit., p. 105; Klausner, S. Z., “Islam, Sex Life in,”The Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior, op. cit., pp. 550–551.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Cf. Kinsey,Sexual Behavior in the Human Female op. cit., p. 135.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Cf. Masters and Johnson,Human Sexual Response. Boston, Little, Brown, 1966, p. 201.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Ibid., p. 202.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Raboch J., “Men's Most Common Sex Problems,”Sexology, 1969, Nov., 60–63.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Stekelop. cit., p. 54.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Masters and Johnson,The Pleasure Bond op. cit., p. 67.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Stekelop. cit., pp. 43–44, 63–104.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Ellis, H.,Studies in the Psychology of Sex. New York, Random House, 1941, Vol. I, p. 262.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Kinsey,Sexual Behavior in the Human Female op. cit., pp. 172, 391.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Ibid., p. 143.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Masters and Johnson,Human Sexual Response op. cit., pp. 313–314.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Brecher, E.,The Sex Researchers Boston, Little, Brown, 1969, p. 127.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Masters and Johnson,The Pleasure Bond op. cit., p. 65.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., 1970. Philadelphia, Office of the General Assembly, p. 902.

  61. Brecherop. cit., p. 318.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Ibid., p. 318.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Bibby, C., “Loving, The Art of,” In Ellis, A., ed.,The Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior, op. cit.,, p. 660.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Cf. Kluckhohn, C., “Values and Value-Orientations.” In Parsons T., ed.,Toward a General Theory of Action. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1951, p. 418; Linton R., “Universal Ethical Principles.” In Anshen, R., ed.,Moral Principles of Action. New York, Harper, 1952, p. 651.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Mailer, N.,The Presidential Papers. New York, Putnam, pp. 138–141.

  66. Gordon,op. cit.,, p. 39

    Google Scholar 

  67. Stekel,op. cit., p. 53.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Kinsey,Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, op. cit., p. 512.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Roy, R. and Roy, D.,Honest Sex. New York, New American Library 1968, p. 170.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Reuben, D.,Everything You Wanted to Know about Sex-But Were Afraid to Ask New York, David McKay Co., 1969, p. 172.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Ibid., p. 147.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Ibid., pp. 310–313.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Pfister, O.,Die psychanalytische Methode. 1927. p. 476.

  74. Stekel, —op. cit., p. 245.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Weatherhead, L.,Psychology, Religion, and Healing. Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1951, p. 329.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Gebhard, P., “Sexual Behavior, Human,Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chicago, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 1974, Vol. 16, p. 593.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Menninger, K.,Whatever Became of Sin? New York, Hawthorn Books, 1973, pp. 31–37, 140.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

He is author ofWas Jesus Married? (Harper & Row, 1970)The Sexuality of Jesus (Harper & Row, 1973), andRecovering Biblical Sensuousness (Westminster Press, 1975).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Phipps, W.E. Masturbation: Vice or virtue?. J Relig Health 16, 183–195 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533319

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533319

Navigation