Pornography And Masturbation Are Horribly Evil
Table of Contents
Self-Abuse Is Common And Pornography Is Everywhere
Pornography and masturbation (which will be referred to from now on as self-abuse because that is exactly what it is) are evils that affect most people in today’s world.
Self-abuse is an actual pandemic that affects 92% of men and 76% of women in the US (TENGA 2018):
Of course, one reason self-abuse has become so common is the ubiquity of pornography.
Pornography is extremely accessible:
The amount of pornographic material available on the web is staggering. As introductory economics, search engines, and other online data repositories tell us, the market for such material is just as large.
Every Second:
28,258 users are watching pornography on the internet.
$3,075.64 is being spent on pornography on the internet.
Every Day:
37 pornographic videos are created in the United States.
2.5 billion emails containing porn are sent or received.
68 million search queries related to pornography- 25% of total searches- are generated.
116,000 queries related to child pornography are received.
How Online Pornography Affects Americans
About 200,000 Americans are classified as “porn addicts.”
40 million American people regularly visit porn sites.
35% of all internet downloads are related to pornography.
34% of internet users have experienced unwanted exposure to pornographic content through ads, pop up ads, misdirected links or emails.
One-third of porn viewers are women.
By focusing on the data behind the creation and consumption of pornographic content, the dangers facing people can be easily overlooked. The sheer magnitude of available online pornography is merely one aspect of a larger issue that plagues society.
Internet Pornography by the Numbers; A Significant Threat to Society
There is also undoubtedly a strong correlation between increase in self-abuse frequency with the availability and use of pornography.
Thus, it is hard to separate the pandemic of self-abuse from the ubiquity of pornography.
So we will cover why both self-abuse and pornography are bad in this article.
Pornography And Self-abuse Are Bad, According To THE SCIENCE™
Let’s look at why both pornography and self-abuse are bad, according to THE SCIENCE™.
Why Self-abuse Is Bad, According To THE SCIENCE™
Firstly, abstinence raises testosterone levels (which improves the overall health of men):
The purpose of this study is to gain understanding of the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men… On the 7th day of abstinence, however, a clear peak of serum testosterone appeared, reaching 145.7% of the baseline…
A research on the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men
Since self-abuse causes ejaculation (usually), it follows that choosing not to abstain “resets” your serum testosterone whenever you commit the act.
Likewise, another study showed the same thing after 3 weeks of abstinence:
This current study examined the effect of a 3-week period of sexual abstinence on the neuroendocrine response to masturbation-induced orgasm… In contrast, although plasma testosterone was unaltered by orgasm, higher testosterone concentrations were observed following the period of abstinence. These data demonstrate that acute abstinence does not change the neuroendocrine response to orgasm but does produce elevated levels of testosterone in males.
Endocrine response to masturbation-induced orgasm in healthy men following a 3-week sexual abstinence
Thus, self-abuse lowers your testosterone (by keeping it significantly lower than its peak).
So keep your testosterone high (improving your overall health) by not masturbating.
Secondly, abstaining from self-abuse increases sperm quality:
Increasing ejaculatory abstinence length was positively correlated with semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, total motile sperm count and sperm DNA fragmentation index.
Revisiting the impact of ejaculatory abstinence on semen quality and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes
This means if you want to have children, abstaining from self-abuse is useful to keep your sperm quality optimal.
Thirdly, self-abuse causes unhappiness in relationships:
Results from both the 2012 New Family Structures Study (NFSS; N = 1,977) and the 2014 Relationships in America survey (RIA; Ng = 10,106) show that masturbation is negatively associated with relational happiness for men and women.
Is the Link Between Pornography Use and Relational Happiness Really More About Masturbation? Results From Two National Surveys
Thus, if you want to be happy in your relationship with your spouse, you shouldn’t self-abuse.
Fourthly, self-abuse increases the chances of prostate cancer in young men:
Frequent masturbation activity was a marker for increased risk [of prostate cancer] in the 20s and 30s… Intercourse activity alone was not associated with the disease.
Sexual activity and prostate cancer risk in men diagnosed at a younger age
The interesting thing here is that self-abuse increases the risk of prostate cancer but not copulation.
Thus, if you want to decrease your chance of getting prostate cancer, don’t masturbate.
Fifthly, self-abuse causes guilt, embarrassment and shame in many men.
This is more anecdotal, but I don’t think anyone actually denies this.
Worldly scientists and doctors say that it is just because of religious influence. I don’t buy that.
I grew up in a non-religious environment, and everyone told me that self-abuse is normal.
However, I still experienced shame and guilt for doing it, and I had this feeling of embarrassment for anyone finding out.
Why would I feel that way, living in a non-religious, liberal environment?
The only answer that makes any sense is that I was hardwired to feel guilt, shame and embarrassment for masturbating.
Thus, the immorality of the action was naturally written in my heart, in spite of everyone in my life saying that self-abuse is “normal.”
I am sure I am not alone here.
Why Pornography Is Bad, According To THE SCIENCE™
Firstly, pornography use increases self-abuse frequency, desire for unrealistic sex and decreases relationship satisfaction:
Frequent pornography use was associated with sexual dissatisfaction, greater preference for porn-like sex, and more frequent masturbation in both studies. Pornography use was associated with relationship dissatisfaction…
Pornography, preference for porn-like sex, masturbation, and men’s sexual and relationship satisfaction
Secondly, adolescents that consume pornography are more likely to engage in reckless sexual behavior:
More frequent exposure to sexually explicit Internet material is associated with greater sexual uncertainty and more positive attitudes toward uncommitted sexual exploration (i.e., sexual relations with casual partners/friends or with sexual partners in one-night stands).
Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Internet Material, Sexual Uncertainty, and Attitudes Toward Uncommitted Sexual Exploration: Is There a Link?
Thirdly, watching sexual content increases the chance of pregnancy in teens:
Teens who were exposed to high levels of television sexual content (90th percentile) were twice as likely to experience a pregnancy in the subsequent 3 years, compared with those with lower levels of exposure (10th percentile).
Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregnancy? Findings From a National Longitudinal Survey of Youth
Fourthly, pornography use lowers body esteem among men:
As predicted, significant negative correlations were obtained between exposure to pornographic imagery on the Internet and levels of genital and sexual esteem.
Exposure to Sexually Explicit Material and Variations in Body Esteem, Genital Attitudes, and Sexual Esteem among a Sample of Canadian Men
Fifthly, cyberporn use has a strong correlation to irreligion, unhappy marriages and sexual deviance:
The results of a logistic regression analysis found that among the strongest predictors of use of cyberporn were weak ties to religion and lack of a happy marriage. However, past sexual deviance (e.g., involvement in paid sex) was also a strong predictor of cyberporn use.
Adult Social Bonds and Use of Internet Pornography
Sixthly, pornography use causes depression in people:
Higher pornography consumption at baseline predicted pornography consumption at follow-up as well as psychosomatic symptoms. By contrast, depressive symptoms were predicted by less pornography consumption at baseline. It appears that pornography consumption may, for some individuals, be associated to mental health issues.
Pornography consumption and psychosomatic and depressive symptoms among Swedish adolescents: a longitudinal study
And this isn’t necessarily because of religious attitudes:
Religiosity was not related to self-perceived problematic pornography use.
What Is the Relationship Among Religiosity, Self-Perceived Problematic Pornography Use, and Depression Over Time?
Seventhly, pornography use causes sexual dysfunction:
Traditional factors that once explained men’s sexual difficulties appear insufficient to account for the sharp rise in erectile dysfunction, delayed ejaculation, decreased sexual satisfaction, and diminished libido during partnered sex in men under 40… Internet pornography’s unique properties (limitless novelty, potential for easy escalation to more extreme material, video format, etc.) may be potent enough to condition sexual arousal to aspects of Internet pornography use that do not readily transition to real-life partners, such that sex with desired partners may not register as meeting expectations and arousal declines. Clinical reports suggest that terminating Internet pornography use is sometimes sufficient to reverse negative effects, underscoring the need for extensive investigation using methodologies that have subjects remove the variable of Internet pornography use.
Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports
Eighthly, pornography use causes men to objectify women:
Consistent with expectations, associations between men’s exposure to objectifying media and attitudes supportive of violence against women were mediated by their notions of women as sex objects. Specifically, frequency of exposure to men’s lifestyle magazines that objectify women, reality TV programs that objectify women, and pornography predicted more objectified cognitions about women, which, in turn, predicted stronger attitudes supportive of violence against women.
Men’s Objectifying Media Consumption, Objectification of Women, and Attitudes Supportive of Violence Against Women
And pornography causes women to objectify men:
In a correlational study, 266 participants (78.2% women; MAge = 30.79, SD = 8.89) responded to demographics, whether or not they were in a relationship, whether or not they used online pornography and how much they attributed primary and secondary emotions to their sexual partners. The results showed that people who consume pornography dehumanize their sexual partners but only when they are not in a romantic relationship.
Pornography and the process of dehumanizing sexual partners
Finally, pornography use is addictive:
We reviewed available neuroscientific literature on Internet pornography addiction and connect the results to the addiction model. The review leads to the conclusion that Internet pornography addiction fits into the addiction framework and shares similar basic mechanisms with substance addiction.
Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update
And this addiction makes all the aforementioned problems worse because if you cannot shake this addiction then you are more likely to experience those issues.
What Does The Bible Say On Self-abuse And Pornography?
The Bible addresses self-abuse and pornography, but only indirectly.
We can still come to the conclusion that self-abuse and pornography are morally wrong, just by the implications of certain passages.
I will show a few of these below. The Bible says:
He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in to his brother’s wife, spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother’s name. And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing.
Genesis 38:9-10
In other words, intentionally withholding the male seed from the natural sex act, like one would do in self-abuse, is a grave sin.
Christ says:
You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:27-30
You can infer from this passage that both pornography and self-abuse are gravely sinful.
When one looks at pornography, they are looking lustfully, which Christ compares to adultery.
Moreover, even though Christ was speaking hyperbolically, His point was rather clear: don’t lustfully look at anyone or anything (except your husband or wife), and don’t masturbate.
St. Paul says:
Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
This passage is important because it helps you understand that you can overcome your temptation to masturbate and/or look at pornography.
God will not give you any temptation that you cannot overcome.
He will help you fight your addiction if you let Him.
St. Paul also says:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
Uncleanness refers to any sexual act which doesn’t end as a natural sex act (self-abuse qualifies).
Immodesty means sexually indecent, which pornography would fall under.
And St. Paul makes it clear that those who engage in such things, without repentance, will not go to Heaven.
St. James says:
Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man. But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured. Then when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death.
James 1:13-15
God doesn’t tempt anyone. But the weakness of our flesh does (along with the demons and the world).
We must turn to God, so that our sins don’t drag us to Hell!
St. Peter says:
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul.
1 Peter 2:11
Self-abuse and pornography are temptations that the demons use against us in a spiritual war.
Pray to God for His help to win the war!
St. John says:
For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:16
Realize that these urges come from the fallen world in order to enslave you to sin.
Flee the snares of the world, and embrace God!
The Catholic Church On Self-abuse And Pornography
The Catholic Church condemns self-abuse and pornography, as part of the Sixth Commandment.
Firstly, according to the Catechism of the Council of Trent, written in AD 1566:
In the same class are to be numbered soft and obscene books which must be avoided no less than indecent pictures. All such things possess a fatal influence in exciting to unlawful attractions, and in inflaming the mind of youth. In these matters the pastor should take special pains to see that the faithful most carefully observe the pious and prudent regulations of the Council of Trent.
Catechism of the Council of Trent, Sixth Commandment
This can obviously be applied to pornography.
Secondly, The Douay Catechism of 1649 says (note: “pollution” means ejaculation outside of the natural sex act):
Q. WHAT is the sixth commandment?
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q. What is prohibited by this precept?
A. All carnal sin with another man’s wife, or another woman’s husband, and chiefly adultery; as also fornication and pollution.
Q. How prove you fornication and pollution to be mortal sins?
A. Out of Col. iii. 5, 6. “Mortify, therefore, (saith St. Paul,) your members, which are upon earth: fornication, uncleaness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols: for which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief.”…
Q. What more is here prohibited?
A. Unchaste touching of ourselves or others, with delight in lustful thoughts and kisses.
Q. What is the heir of unlawful lust?
A. Death and damnation; for, “neither fornicators nor adulterers, nor effeminate,” (that is such as defile themselves with voluntary pollution,) “shall possess the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor. vi. 9.…
Q. What are the daughters of lust?
The Douay Catechism of 1649 by Henry Tuberville, D.D.
A. Fornication, whoredom, adultery, voluntary pollution, unchaste signs and touches, wanton kisses and speeches.
Q. How prove you voluntary pollution to be a mortal sin?
A. Out of Gen. xxxviii. 9, where we read, that Onan was struck dead by God in the place, for shedding the seed of nature out of the due use of marriage to hinder generation, which fact the holy text calls a destestable thing. He also who was eldest brother to this Onan, was slain by God, as we read in the same chapter, ver. 7. And it is generally thought by expositors, that his sudden death was in punishment for the like sin of pollution.
Q. Why are the lustful kisses and touches mortal sins?
A. Because they vehemently dispose to fornication and pollution.
Thirdly, the Baltimore Catechism, written in the late 19th century, states:
Q. 1286. Does the sixth Commandment forbid the reading of bad and immodest books and newspapers?
A. The sixth Commandment does forbid the reading of bad and immodest books and newspapers.
Q. 1287. What should be done with immodest book and newspapers?
A. Immodest books and newspapers should be destroyed as soon as possible, and if we cannot destroy them ourselves we should induce their owners to do so.
…
Q. 1289. What places are dangerous to the virtue of purity?
A. Indecent theaters and similar places of amusement are dangerous to the virtue of purity, because their entertainments are frequently intended to suggest immodest things.
Baltimore Catechism
Fourthly, in the Catechism of St. Pius X written in 1908, Pope St. Pius X writes:
8 Q. What must we avoid in order to preserve ourselves chaste?
Catechism of Saint Pius X
A. To preserve ourselves chaste we must shun idleness, bad companions, the reading of bad books and papers, intemperance, the sight of indecent statues or pictures, licentious theatres, dangerous conversations, and all other occasions of sin.
You can include online pornography, in addition to the explicitly mentioned printed and public theaters.
Finally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.” “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of “the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.”
…
2354 Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.
…
2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
Self-abuse And Pornography Are Evil
In conclusion, self-abuse and pornography are evil. Both science and Christianity agree here.
The only reason people even want to disagree is out of their own concupiscence.
As St. Paul says in Romans 2:15: “The [moral] law is written on our hearts.”
I think that if we are all honest with ourselves, we know that self-abuse is wrong.
Why else would it make even irreligious people feel guilty, ashamed and embarrassed?
Also, we know deep down that pornography is wrong.
Would you like to watch pornography with your parents or grandparents?
Probably not. And the reason is because there is something about it that makes you feel dirty.
(Alternatively, if they walked in on you pooping you may be embarrassed, but you wouldn’t feel dirty for doing it).
So we must be humble and honest with ourselves here.
If anyone actually wants to argue that these things are fine to do in the presence of loved ones, be my guest.
Most people will think you are crazy (even though Clown World is corrupting people in unbelievable ways).
But to those that struggle to get over these evils, my advice is this:
Obviously, God needs to be a part of this, so pray often, and get a good confessor to help you.
Also, find other people that have these addictions.
Support and help each other as you overcome them.
These things are problematic mostly in young men, but young women are starting to struggle too.
Men, find other men, and help each other. Women, find women, and help each other.
Pray a rosary every day for this struggle, and mortify your flesh as much as possible.
May God help you and reward you for overcoming your struggles!