The HaPenis Project

Sufi view – a safety valve for the sexual energy
Sufi scholar G Bennett states that “for all those who are not committed to working on themselves for their transformation, masturbation acts like a safety valve for the sexual energy and allows it to be wasted without destructive consequences”.

Buddhism – vague and often debatable
The most used formulation of Buddhist ethics are the Five Precepts and the Eightfold Path, which say that one should follow the right view towards pleasures. These precepts take the form of voluntary, personal undertakings, not divine mandate or instruction. The third of the Five Precepts is “To refrain from committing sexual misconduct” However what defines “sexual misconduct” is vague and often debatable, and different Buddhist schools have different interpretations of the Five Precepts.

Wicca – do as thou wilt
Wicca, like other religions, has adherents with a spectrum of views ranging from conservative to liberal. Wicca is generally undogmatic, and nothing in Wiccan philosophy prohibits masturbation. On the contrary, Wiccan ethics, summed up in the Wiccan Rede “An it harm none, do as thou wilt”, are interpreted by many as endorsing responsible sexual activity of all varieties. This is reinforced in the Charge of the Goddess, a key piece of Wiccan literature, in which the Goddess says, “all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals”.

Catholicism – grave moral disorder
The Catholic Church teaches that “Masturbation constitutes a grave moral disorder” and that “both the Magisterium of the Church—in the course of a constant tradition—and the moral sense of the faithful have declared without hesitation that masturbation is an intrinsically and seriously disordered act.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity -distortion of the use of the gift of sexuality
The Eastern Orthodox Church or Orthodox Christian Church views sexuality as a gift from God that finds its fulfillment in the marital relationship, and therefore the misuse of the gift of human sexuality is sinful. Because the act of masturbation is self-directed, and by its nature is incapable of expressing love and concern for another person, it is viewed as a distortion of the use of the gift of sexuality. This is especially apparent when masturbation becomes an addiction.

Jehovah’s Witnesses – mentally corrupting
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that masturbation is a habit that is a “form of uncleanness”, one that “fosters attitudes that can be mentally corrupting

Hinduism – Grants complete freedom in sexuality
According to Hinduism, seeking Kama (sensual pleasures) is one of the four objectives of human life. Apart from a person who has taken vow of celibacy (Brahmacharya), Hinduism grants complete freedom in sexuality. The Hindu treatise on sex Kama Sutra (4th to 6th centuries AD) does not condemn masturbation at all and moreover explains in detail the best procedure to masturbate; “Churn your instrument with a lion’s pounce: sit with legs stretched out at right angles to one another, propping yourself up with two hands planted on the ground between in them, and it between your arms”.

Islam – except in extenuating circumstances
Scholars of Islam do not generally approve of masturbation, except in extenuating circumstances. There is a statement in Quran “And those who guard their chastity, Except their wives for then, they are free from blame; But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are transgressors.” (23:5-7)

Judaism harmless, natural and healthy
Orthodox Judaism will not agree, but, Rabbis from the Progressive movements (i.e., the Reform and Reconstructionist movements) have decided on more liberal conclusions. Reconstructionist Rabbi Alexis Roberts maintains that masturbation is “harmless, natural and healthy. It may provide release and pleasure, as well as self-knowledge that is useful for pleasurable sex with a partner. It may make it easier for young people to have sexual release in the years when they are too young for a mature, committed, loving relationship.

Taoism lowers energy levels

Some teachers and practitioners of Traditional Chinese medicine, Taoist meditative and martial arts say that masturbation can cause a lowered energy level in men. They say that ejaculation in this way reduces “origin qi” from dantian, the energy centre located in the lower abdomen. Some maintain that sex with a partner does not do this because the partners replenish each other’s qi. Some practitioners, therefore, say that males should not practice martial arts for at least 48 hours after masturbation while others prescribe up to six months because the loss of Origin Qi does not allow new qi to be created for this kind of time.