Masturbation Ii

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Dr_Asik' post='1833324' date='Apr 12 2009, 09:49 PM']I have the greatest respect for the Catholic religion. As I read the Catechism and other books, I realised how deep it is, how well it adresses the fundamental questions of human life, how respectful it is of nature and reason.

Some issues started bugging me though. At first I thought I would eventually find answers and shouldn't doubt anything coming out of the Magisterium. As Aquinas said, rejecting one article of faith immediately makes you a heretic. But the more I investigated into those issues, the more absurd they seemed to me. I gave up my faith altogether. I'm presently trying to see what good I can take out of the Catholic religion without having faith, or if there's no chance I was mistaken on those issues. I've recently decided to ask all these questions here as there seems to be some very knowledgeable Catholics on this board. You'll see me in Questions & Answers forum for a while.[/quote]
This is a good approach for the time being, if you're sincere in your desire to find the Truth. If you're sincerely looking, you'll find it.

Anyway, no more hijacks from me.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Dr_Asik' post='1833324' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:49 PM']Some issues started bugging me though. At first I thought I would eventually find answers and shouldn't doubt anything coming out of the Magisterium. As Aquinas said, rejecting one article of faith immediately makes you a heretic.[/quote]
Well, the problem with rejecting any one article of the Faith is that then you're doubting a (probably) larger and more important facet of the Church: that what She holds and teaches, and what the Vicar of Christ says ex cathedra are not, and cannot possibly be errant or fallacious. By saying that the Church is wrong on one thing is then saying that She is not inerrant and is thusly a false church.
It's kind of an "all-or-nothing" deal.
And once everyone starts to come together (the purpose of Sex that God intended, the inherent dignity of the Human person, etc), then her teachings that would on the surface just seem like some old guy with a big, funny hat trying to boss people around start to make sense.
May you have a blessed Easter and I hope find what God wants for you.

[Dr_Asik]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1833394' date='Apr 13 2009, 12:21 AM']Well, the problem with rejecting any one article of the Faith is that then you're doubting a (probably) larger and more important facet of the Church: that what She holds and teaches, and what the Vicar of Christ says ex cathedra are not, and cannot possibly be errant or fallacious. By saying that the Church is wrong on one thing is then saying that She is not inerrant and is thusly a false church.
It's kind of an "all-or-nothing" deal.
And once everyone starts to come together (the purpose of Sex that God intended, the inherent dignity of the Human person, etc), then her teachings that would on the surface just seem like some old guy with a big, funny hat trying to boss people around start to make sense.
May you have a blessed Easter and I hope find what God wants for you. [/quote]Yes, that's exactly why I gave up my faith. I would be incoherent for me to reject some articles of faith and still think I am in communion with the Church. "[url="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3005.htm#article3"][b]Neither living nor lifeless faith remains in a heretic who disbelieves one article of faith.[/b][/url]", as St. Thomas Aquinas said.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Dr_Asik' post='1833426' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:35 PM']Yes, that's exactly why I gave up my faith. I would be incoherent for me to reject some articles of faith and still think I am in communion with the Church. "[url="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3005.htm#article3"][b]Neither living nor lifeless faith remains in a heretic who disbelieves one article of faith.[/b][/url]", as St. Thomas Aquinas said.[/quote]
As much as that saddens me, at least you're honest with yourself and the Church, as opposed to the so-called "Cafeteria Catholics".

[Guest]

Alright this is graphic so you may not want to read I dunno.
But anyhow,
I never masturbated until I was about 21 or 22 ? ( Im a odd odd kid I dunno)
I was a virgin all through highschool and I think even when I hit 20. (not postive)
I was no saint and not even close to being pure as I did mess around with girls as i thought that is what you were supposed to do and didn't see nothen wrong with it.
I just never masturbated I dont know why.
At any rate I have struggled with the sin of masturbation ever since the first time I tried it.
I also find that when I do commit this grave mortal sin I always find a female to fantasise about ( thank God it's a female right ? ) whether she be lustfully dressed in a magazine or lustfully dressed on tv. ( I ussually blame it on her since she is putting herself out there like that) ( flawed I know)
I have even tried to justify masturbating as ok if I dont look at a picture or something on tv and just try to imagine a female that will be my future wife and try to keep it a "pure" fantasy.
Well that doesn't work and it seems my mind always wants to fantasise about a female with a boyfriend or something to make it even more forbidden and lustfull.
Since starting to masturbate it has deffitenly led me to look and interact with females I meet now and in the past in a more jaded and lustfull way.
I can plainly see now how big of an issue masturbation is and how it can become such a mortal sin.
I'm going to confession for this sin now often and who knows how long it will take to rid myself of it.
Pray for me.
I woudnt say im addicted but at the same time even if I do it once a week it still involves looking at a woman with lust and having a fantasy about her that is not holy. As Jesus says to even look with lust is to commit adulty in your heart. I have often argued that it shouldnt be a sin but when it comes down to it I dont think there is no denying how selfish and evil it really is.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Guest

[Guest]

[quote name='Delivery Boy' post='1833435' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:41 PM']I woudnt say im addicted but[/quote]

wow just reread this and realised im lieing to myself.
of course im addicted.

[Guest]

My advice would be humble yourself to confess this sin to a priest even if you have to do it over and over. I thought it would be to weird to do the first time but it wasnt. I have confessed far worse stuff and even then God has gracefully been with me ( 4 days ago the stuff i built up the courage to confess i thought i would never get through and be told to go home) and the priest nonchalently forgave my sins and told me how much God loved me.

Prayers bro
Godbless,
Josh

Edited April 13, 2009 by Guest

[Nihil Obstat]

Delivery Boy, I admire your strength in saying that. That clearly shows you have the right attitude.

Dr_Asik, I get the distinct impression that you want to believe but are getting hung up on the tricky parts. Is that fair to suggest? If that were the case, keep in mind that there's nothing that doesn't have certain things that are accepted on faith, that aren't always easy to reconcile. In science, atheist, and theism, there's always going to be things you will have a hard time understanding, and some things that will make it difficult to believe.

[Guest]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1833480' date='Apr 12 2009, 11:11 PM']Delivery Boy, I admire your strength in saying that. That clearly shows you have the right attitude.[/quote]

thank you pham hopefully my actions can mirror the attitude even if it's by little amounts everyday.
i think the worse think you can do is convince yourself something isnt a mortal sin when the church teaches it is because then you are rejecting grace.

i can only imagine how long and how often i have frustrated the grace of God. it saddens me and depresses me but God is good and His love is undescribable and He still fills my heart with more joy then I deserve.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Guest

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Delivery Boy' post='1833496' date='Apr 12 2009, 11:18 PM']thank you pham hopefully my actions can mirror the attitude even if it's by little amounts everyday.
i think the worse think you can do is convince yourself something isnt a mortal sin when the church teaches it is because then you are rejecting grace.

i can only imagine how long and how often i have frustrated the grace of God. it's saddens me and depresses me but God is good and His love is undescribable.[/quote]
It's... interesting. I've never struggled with masturbation.
I don't for a second think it has anything to do with me; this is God's grace. What I do think though, is that I've got a different cross that I'll have to face either now or later.
I count myself extremely blessed right now not to struggle with it.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Nihil Obstat

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1833505' date='Apr 13 2009, 12:23 AM']It's... interesting. I've never struggled with masturbation.
I don't for a second think it has anything to do with me; this is God's grace. What I do think though, is that I've got a different cross that I'll have to face either now or later.
I count myself extremely blessed right now not to struggle with it.[/quote]
Count yourself amongst the blessed, indeed.
It's one that I have, and continue to struggle with, very much. It's a nasty bugger of a habit to break, too.

[Guest]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1833505' date='Apr 13 2009, 12:23 AM']It's... interesting. I've never struggled with masturbation.
I don't for a second think it has anything to do with me; this is God's grace. What I do think though, is that I've got a different cross that I'll have to face either now or later.
I count myself extremely blessed right now not to struggle with it.[/quote]

Godbless you pham and I would look at it differently.
Last week God gave me this and I typed it on my phone and saved it.
"Don't let your selfishness be the reason for your distress and cross for then what is your reward ?"
Masturbation and lust for me is a selfish cross and one I shouldn't have as is fornication.
Im celibet for a year and a half now but iv'e fallen over and over again in being pure.
And it all comes down to me being a selfish selfish person.
Godbless you and your virtue as it's admirable and something people need to see more of from faithfull men and women of God.

[Dr_Asik]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1833480' date='Apr 13 2009, 01:11 AM']Dr_Asik, I get the distinct impression that you want to believe but are getting hung up on the tricky parts. Is that fair to suggest? If that were the case, keep in mind that there's nothing that doesn't have certain things that are accepted on faith, that aren't always easy to reconcile. In science, atheist, and theism, there's always going to be things you will have a hard time understanding, and some things that will make it difficult to believe.[/quote]I have seen how my life can make sense in the light of Catholic religion. It is easier for me if I can stay within that framework of thought. However, I'm not sure I want to stay in it as I'm not sure it's true. If it's not true, then I need to understand how my life can make sense outside of Catholic religion, in a much more independent way. This has a lot of moral and intellectual implications I will have to sort out, and I'd rather not have to do that. I am ready to do it, though, I can't lie to myself.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Dr_Asik

[Dr_Asik]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1833511' date='Apr 13 2009, 01:24 AM']Count yourself amongst the blessed, indeed.
It's one that I have, and continue to struggle with, very much. It's a nasty bugger of a habit to break, too.[/quote]I'm much better off since I decided to stop struggling with it. I don't count days where I don't do it anymore, and I don't count how many times in this week I've done it anymore, and really, it occupies a much smaller place in my life now that I simply don't care. Actually I have noticed that I do it less often now that I don't struggle against it. Since then I have peace of mind and better self-esteem. I realized it was the struggle that was hurting me, not masturbation.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Dr_Asik

[Guest]

[quote name='Dr_Asik' post='1833605' date='Apr 13 2009, 01:16 AM']I'm much better off since I decided to stop struggling with it. I don't count days where I don't do it anymore, and I don't count how many times in this week I've done it anymore, and really, it occupies a much smaller place in my life now that I simply don't care. Actually I have noticed that I do it less often now that I don't struggle against it. Since then I have peace of mind and better self-esteem. I realized it was the struggle that was hurting me, not masturbation.[/quote]

in my humble opinion (sp??) i dont think no 1 should beat themselves up over it.
just confess it and recieve the forgiveness and the grace God will give.
that was the missconception i had about confession, like the priest was going to give me **** or you know, make me feel stupid or talk down to me.
and i have confessed some messed up stuff. some really messed up stuff.
but this has never been the case not even once. and for that im very gratefull for confession and realise how lucky i am to be able to exercise this sacrament.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Guest