Journal

of Religion

and Health,

Vol.

24, No.

2, Summer

1985

Masturbation to Victorianism
MICHAEL
ABSTRACT: 38:7-10, was

from

Judaism

S. PATTON
of Genesis the foundation historically to the "secret sin," a threat Pope Leo IX. so of religion and science, of and the cause practice, Mastur and neurasthenia. attitudes. a misconception

on This article how masturbation, based demonstrates in both Judaism and Christianity, judged harshly laying sex. Masturbation, as for social and religious toward known hostility the human in 1054 by race, and an ontic evil, was condemned officially era to Victorianism new distortions From the medieval there evolved a diabolical as unnatural was that masturbation sex, murder, regarded of all diseases two-thirds and disorders neurosis, insanity, including as the catalyst has historically in sexual served bation for social change

Introduction A few scholars at least since the dawn have beUeved that Western civilization, aU forms of has been a sex-negative of Christianity, since nearly culture, sexual with the of for the sake of coitus marital exception expression, been have with and other However, regarded hostiUty. procreation, suspicion scholars beUeve that the real origin in Western of sex-negative attitudes to the philosophical has been civilization traced of certain beUefs Persian, the development influenced of Greek, and Roman groups which most probably Testament post-New Christianity.1 These in the various beUefs were such as duaUstic expressed philosophies which and Stoicism, Zoroastrianism, Gnosticism, Neo-Platonism, separated matter from spirit, body from soul, women from men, pleasure from reproduc as evil from good.2 This the social tion, and sex from God, script became in which historical context and condemn Judeo-Christianity began to prohibit all forms of sex not leading to reproduction. One nonprocreative form that was masturbation, became since it was unconventional feared as a greatly to the survival was Masturbation sin" and became the It became civilization.4 the image the next threat of the human race.3 as the "secret in Judaism condemned and Christianity in Western basis for social taboo as a sexual deviation of transmitting the primary means from one culture to to be feared that sex was rather than enjoyed.5 The

tradition has thus existed for nearly masturbation two m?lenia, concerning the counter-tradition while has existed since 1960. in at Social only change titudes toward masturbation has occurred at the professional level only since 1960 and at the popular level since 1970.6 Masturbation has been a "common means of sexual pleasure," yet it has
Michael S. Patton, Ph.D., is an anthropologist who lives in Ogdensburg, ? New York.

133

1985 Institutes of Religion and Health

134

Journal

of Religion

and Health

and misunderstood and medical harshly judged by religious no been form has other There of has been sexual that professionals.7 activity more more more and discussed, condemned, roundly frequently universally it is in the roots of the Judeo-Christian than masturbation.8 Thus, practiced can be traced for the entire that the real significance of masturbation heritage Western heritage.

been

Judaism The real prohibition which has of masturbation been perennially the began with used to prohibit based story of Onan masturbation in Genesis in Jewish

38:7-10,

tradition, and which prohibition eventually spread to Christianity

era.9 The Onan medieval story was act of wasting the seed is explicitly to produce who would be offspring was precisely for this violation of However,

during the

Onan's sexual activity rather than masturbation. Onan's sudden Thus, death, interruptus" upon to perform refusal sexual with his brother's wife to continue intercourse the has become the root for Judeo-Christian toward attitudes family lineage, also known as onanism. Therefore, and mastur onanism genital masturbation, bation which influenced became the historical synonymous, erroneously of thought in Christianity and the Western development heritage concerning masturbation.11 was From early Jewish history, all sexual activity coitus outside in marriage

on a misconception of fact. Onan's stated as motivated his by unwillingness considered his brother's It descendents. the Torah that Onan was struck dead.10 as "coitus has only recently been interpreted

prohibited,

since it did not lead to procreation. This belief laid the religious
sex, which Talmud, in turn influenced all nearly was strictly con masturbation It is not clear whether these penalty. to both men and women.12 The morality or Rome. Sexual than in Egypt, Greece, ac of God, who all sexual transcended

for Christian basis attitudes toward sex. In the Western toward attitudes demned and even provoked the death of masturbation prohibitions applied of sex was far more in Israel rigorous a profanation license was considered tivity, including masturbation.13

Early The

Christianity classical

trend inWestern has been the belief that sex was for civilization or not but for was erotic delight. Masturbation procreation thought, pleasure, in even ancient tolerated in in and condemned Rome, Greece, Israel, promoted inmedieval tually condemned Christianity.14

Sacred

texts of recording and events of the words did not survive the first century A.D.,

The oral tradition was the primary means Jesus. Much of what Jesus said probably

Michael

S. Patton

135

no one to record it aU. Thus, Jesus probably did not condemn there have been found no ipsima since words verba, namely, masturbation, on this Jesus The that classical subject.15 nonprocreative spoken by paradigm sex was in the early Church.16 there is no evil developed Nevertheless, Bible in the to masturbation.17 legislation pertaining were probably Christians to sex, in anticipation of The first-century hostile was as a to of Sex the the second Christ. threat Christian coming perceived did not lead to procreation, and therefore it was reUgion.18 Masturbation since

there was

prohibited in the early Church and eventuaUy condemned during the Middle
Ages.19

and Christian the evidence is that the Hebrew scrip have been used texts masturbation certain se, per to support the moral condemnation Leviticus of masturbation, 15:16, namely, Romans 6:10.20 Corinthians 23:9-11, 1:24,1 Deuteronomy have become scholars of using any bibUcal Scripture increasingly skeptical or disprove a position on sexual texts to prove fun ethics. BibUcal as who have God, damentaUsts, UteraUy by interpret scripture spoken found to such scholarship. have the strongest Scholars provided opposition these biblical to verify the to be inadequate criticism, upon textual passages, idea of the condemnation of masturbation.21

While it is certain that tures have not condemned

Patristics source of many the prime became Churchmen Christian attitudes graduaUy as European an was toward human evolved. culture sexuaUty Christianity the decUne of the Roman and the rise of agent of social change during Empire Western societies. era Clerical the of Testament ceUbacy, during popular post-New more as became the ideal Ufestyle for many Christianity, accepted commonly some churchmen were married in the first miUenium of churchmen, although men It is clear that from the start both married and unmarried Christianity. were ordained ministers in the Christian In the first centuries churches. there was an increase in the number of priests who remained unmarried of their own same as free wiU, were the monks. motives the rise of inspired by During from the fifth century sexual A.D., nonprocreative monasticism, expressions such as masturbation or homosexuaUty were since prohibited, they were a to feared to be threat the race continuation of the human and a probably saUent obstacle to perfect union with God. there developed the law of GraduaUy, by the end of the fourth century, sexual abstinence for married for a lex the of ritual priests, purpose purity, on the night before celebrating which forbade sexual intercourse continentiae, as a sacred meal. This the Eucharist law of sexual from continence extended the fourth century until the twelfth was clerical not Thus, century.22 ceUbacy made mandatory in the West until the thirteenth the Roman when century, was Church able to "enforce" the concept of clerical its through ceUbacy elaborate of church law.23 system

136

Journal

of Religion

and Health

in the most it was the celibate exercised Nevertheless, clergy that probably sex ethic. Many on the development of a Christian fluence Church of the early fathers were influenced such as Roman by various Near-Eastern philosophies, Jewish Greek Persian Neo-Platonism, Zoroastrianism, Stoicism, Gnosticism, and Christian all of which in some ascetic fashion condemned Manicheanism, of non sexual pleasure These various from procreation. divorced philosophies some to of the Church fathers ascetic influenced early surely pleasure develop sexual attitudes codified eventually was as clerical reinforced celibacy all sexual pleasure.24 scended in both canon and civil law. The notion of tran which the ideal Christian lifestyle

Augustine was the most of the early dominant writer church St. of Hippo in North Africa (380-450 A.D.). Gradually Augustine, Bishop of Augustine's sexual attitudes; not all of however, adopted many Christianity the early or later Church fathers agreed with Augustine's notion of sex.25 as unnatural, viewed since masturbation it did not lead to Augustine a traditional Christian value.26 He and for procreation, preferred prostitution to masturbation, nication since the former was a natural the latter sin, while was an unnatural sin.27 Augustine was only believed intercourse that sexual In the field, the result of animal the only justification became of lust, and so procreation sexual intercourse between husband and wife. The Christian Church gradually reinforced Augustine's concept of sex.28 Later sex were and modern attitudes toward medieval, Renaissance, rooted in was sexual which ultimately Augustine's anthropology, developed from his experience of Manichean and Neo-Platonic notions of cosmology and These to which tended distort human and attitudes, anthropology. sexuality were modified, and canon women, into the medieval amplified, incorporated law?codex not only the development canonici?which influenced of civil law, norms but also the cultural in the entire Western civilization.29 It has been belief that Augustine influenced the development of sex ethics in the scholarly and Roman Protestant Catholic traditions at least until the Second Vatican Council in 1962.30 sex

Middle Ages: 500-1400

The Middle in the development sex at of Western Ages were a crucial period titudes. There has been very little research into medieval In fact, sexuality. there remains much sex in the medieval distortion about has period, which been more sex in terms than of has the modern research, neglected, period. This ignorance and distortion have been due not only to the grave difficulty of access to prime source materials but also to the general attitude gaining toward the "Christian In much sex has been of Christian heritage." literature, as sinful except for the purpose of procreation.31 regarded

Michael

S. Patton

137

as a grave offense. In masturbation became Judaism, regarded In medieval to be associated it continued with Onan.32 the act of masturbation became for the first time with identified Christianity IX 1054. in The first Leo Onan and was first officiaUy condemned by Pope was to onanism to Theodulphus, in CathoUcism of reference dated bishop from Orleans in the ninth century.33 GraduaUy became onanism distinguished as a was usuaUy in the penitentials. Masturbation masturbation regarded as a form of contraception.34 while onanism was perceived form of self-arousal, In medieval the Talmud

Penitentials a of sins, with books have become their Usts of appropriate penances, on medieval attitudes toward sex in CathoUcism.35 prime source of information In the British the Synod about from 520, an Britain, of North penitentials a boy of twelve years adult masturbator had to do penance for a year, while was one of the had either forty days or three forty-day periods.36 Masturbation sins of commission as indicated cardinal in the the seventh century, during Irish penitentials.37 The Irish penitentials of St. Columban one-year required for the married and a half year for the non-married masturbator penance were to undergo two clerical masturbators masturbator; however, required These years of penance.38 was regarded In the Middle Ages masturbation by the Church with horror, and placed above other sexual sins. It was stressed it was so because perhaps common men the is It uncertain whether and women among clergy.39 ordinary had much of a problem a problem with masturbation.40 in It was apparently monastic and religious Ufe for both men and women. Pope Leo in 1054, which was masturbation condemnation foUowed by VII in 1666 and Pope Innocent Alexander in 1679.41 Natural A law IX condemned those of Pope

was of medieval the attempt to rationalize Europe in terms of on Aristotle natural-law based and St. Christianity theology Thomas sexual classified sins as either Thus, medieval Aquinas. theologians or unnatural. natural was based This on distinction rational fundamentally or not the sexual whether sin allowed for the purpose of procreation, the traditional Judeo-Christian value. Thus, fornication, rape, incest, and adultery were declared ilUcit but natural could result from sins, because procreation these sexual as On the was masturbation expressions. contrary, regarded twice as sinful because it was both ilUcit and unnatural. Masturbation joined as the unnatural could not result sins, since procreation sodomy and bestiaUty from its practice.42 Thomas not as rigid as Augustine on sex doc (1225-1274), Aquinas although characteristic trine, nevertheless became a prime source of Christian attitudes toward sex

138

Journal

of Religion

and Health

an age of scholastic and theology. viewed mastur philosophy Aquinas as a "grave since it did not lead to procreation. sin against nature," to become the human person lust as sinful, since it caused Aquinas regarded as The deviant such masturbation. and perform irrational behavior, sexually as analogous to of the Summa author masturbation regarded Theologiae a which human human contained since it destroyed semen, homicide, potential of mastur for the rejection This the moral later became person. argument a era.43 As the Renaissance result of such teaching, bation during theophobia, a dominant an inordinate in medieval trend fear of God, became life, since a was which hell for the sin eternal considered masturbation mortal merited as a result of sexual practices, The fear of hell, especially has masturbator.44 over course the harm the of centuries.45 caused tremendous during bation

Church

control common: and nude the belief in bathing

the Middle three trends were paradoxically During Ages that sex was the work of the devil, the cult of erotic love,

public. the Catholic Church was able to assert control over family values Ultimately an educational sex teachings with based on fear and with derived campaign canon from the various the Church fathers and reinforced discovered by newly law of Gratian. sex fear and the of and inordinate Sexophobia, sexuality, the of fear for inordinate resulted Catholics. God, many theophobia, probably on sex were to the Church standards People who did not conform regarded as "heretics." were accused heretics of committing most medieval Ironically, as witches sexual sins. Some were and threatened with the death regarded the Church itself never killed anyone for sex crimes. Rather, penalty, although the state carried out the ecclesiastic sentence in any documented cases.

Renaissance

Europe

a Renaissance the fifteenth had continued era, the Church its By century, sex. so obsessed toward It became with "sex as a sin" that hundreds hostility of thousands were tortured of Europeans to admit sexual in order to be made encounters were with the devil. Many burned alive the publicly during when in southern entire villages were and Switzerland Inquisition, Germany as some villages were in the Holocaust.46 exterminated, the of classical rebirth in the fifteenth humanism it was During century, men that demons certain and to them women, thought possessed causing masturbate.47 Neither nor Catholicism Protestantism non of approved such as masturbation. The epidemic procreative sexuality, spread of syphilis the sixteenth reinforced attitudes traditional toward mastur century during masturbation common became to bation, although probably practice owing this inordinate fear of venereal disease.48 Sex was very "open" in society.49 The Renaissance and Reformation resurrected eroticism the after

Michael

S. Patton

139

the age of science during the era of Puritanism and Vic once in it the beUef Meanwhile extinguished again.50 developed, reinforced the that total moral science, biological by primitive theologians, was contained in the male semen or seed. Thus, the effort to human product a on became seed this the of based preserve high priority misconception Inquisition, torianism but

soon

biology and moral

theology. EventuaUy

it became difficult

to distinguish

or abortion, from contraception the since in all of these actions masturbation was or in kiUed Moral the total human wasted. being theologians product in terms of the the evilness then explained CathoUc Church of masturbation a new argument of human semen.51 Thus, loss and destruction for the con was added to the historical The of masturbation demnation Ust of arguments. was con to Church that of became hostile form any extremely sexuaUty traceptive in nature.52

Age Just

of science

as science was beginning to learn more about human in terms of sexuaUty new reasons it discovered to repress and condemn reproduction biology, to what religion had done for centuries.53 In Western masturbation, analogous had traditionally been looked upon as a form of sex culture, masturbation a dangerous reUef and therefore considerable Christianity pastime. expressed as the "secret fear over masturbation sin." In spite of apparent reUgious clear that masturbation it seems has been generally hostiUty, practiced of Western much this data to verify throughout although history, empirical have available not been Medical and until scientific assumption Kinsey. cen the study of masturbation writers until the eighteenth generaUy ignored as a came when to matter and of faith be masturbation, morals, tury, regarded as an important and scientific research.54 topic for medical was treated as a sin only in 1707 masturbation after But tradition. Onania, reUgious by Samuel pubUshed a Lausanne a became social disease masturbation physician, and went mental deviation.55 Tissot unexplainable physical did the Church in condemning fathers masturbation, scientific revolution that affected and the United Europe Before recently.56 the Judeo-Christian Tissot (1728-1797), that caused every much further than a medical causing States until very

Age

of Enlightenment an era of scientific it was during and philosophical progress so many discovered irrational and oppressive theories of sexual as with the principal masturbation of most social etiology 250 years, attitudes the masturbatory in medicine hypothesis of the Judeo-Christian tradition, religious reinforced thus con

Paradoxically, that science deviance,

deviance.57

In the next the traditional

140

Journal

of Religion

and Health

masturbation demning Onania the became

with new first medical

reasons reference

never

before considered by religion. of in history to the deviant effects

masturbation.58 so successful became because it was The masturbatory hypothesis probably all in of the reinforced present aspects authority nearly by paradigm pyramid There and education. of the social order as in family, church, state, medicine, an integral part of so much was to this paradigm of authority, little resistance Western society.59 Onania and its sequels

or Produced The book Onania, A Treatise upon the Disorders by Masturbation was written in 1707 by an anonymous the Heinous Sin of Self Pollution, in the universal 80 editions This book reached belief and resulted clergyman. and caused The serious mental, harm.60 that masturbation spiritual physical, a belief, based on misconception of fact, for the next two and book established one-half centuries that medical and psychological deviation from resulted of the male and female The author of orgasmic manipulation genitalia.61 was the first to identify Onania and the terms "onanism," "masturbation," as univocal, "self-abuse" since these terms had been used analogously and in the Judeo-Christian tradition.62 equivocally a devout and medical to Samuel Swiss Catholic advisor Tissot, neurologist a new in the Vatican, of Onania edition 1758, thereby published and American and practice. medical Tissot revolutionizing European opinion held that masturbation caused due to excessive blood flow to the insanity, were nervous brain. The symptoms and melan exhaustion, fatigue, perpetual as the "masturbatory cholia.63 This became in the medical known in literature two-thirds of all human medical and Indeed, diseases, sanity" hypothesis. were attributed to masturbation, which became the scapegoat psychological, to explain the etiology of rare or uncommon diseases.64 Masturbation has been as the to rest in the of the sexual attitudes regarded linchpin society.65 common Some of the more effects that were of masturbation by alleged various and American societies the eighteenth medical and European during were: centuries nineteenth blood disorders, death, anxiety, constipation, of the uterus, heart disease, headaches, epilepsy, homicidal in tendencies, degeneration, hypochondria, hereditary impotency, manic nervous nausea, (dementia sanity praecox), lung damage, depression, neurasthenia, disorders, disorders, nymphomania, neurological pathophobia, cardiac acne, disorders, suicide,66 prostate satyriasis, scrupulosity, arhyth mias, defects, health, conjunctivitis, poor general dysmenorrhea, hearing small penile size, severe lethargy, and vision defects.67 rickets, Tissot's there was an avalanche of literature that con Onania, Following and that simply reiterated cerned masturbation Tissot's about its hypothesis were a group of medical evil effects.68 The Alienists the experts who dominated on masturbation. was the prime literature that masturbation They believed cause of insanity. father of American Rush, Benjamin psychiatry, Esquiral, were famous Alienists.69 Luther Bell, David Skae, and Maudsley disease of the penis, disease

Michael

S. Patton

141

doctors found reasons famous to condemn masturbation: Other Sylvester and WilUam the loss of Acton aU worried LaUemand, Graham, equaUy about semen was held to cause male which masturbation, through by insanity nervous in the the wrote that many system.70 KeUogg symptoms exhausting caused included: masturbator Such eventually symptoms general insanity. and defective sudden personality changes, debiUty, premature development, con love of solitude, indecision, insomnia, untrustworthiness, bashfulness, acne or of fusion, fear, fits, shifty eyes, epileptic pimples, biting fingernails, was and the use of obscene words.71 The result of these theories bedwetting, the reinforcement,
toward sex.72

with

scientific

foundation,

of traditional

Western

hostility did but in

Women masturbators were addition afflicted womb ulcers, elongation posite womb,

suffered the same consequences that males with rickets, stomach jaundice, hysteria, and eruption of the cUtoris, loss of interest

sex, hermaphroditism, leucorrhea, painful menstruation, loss of pleasure in the sex act, painful childbirth, steriUty.73 founder of American that infantile paralysis and Jacobi, pediatrics, reported were caused by masturbation.74 infantile rheumatism Scott held that mastur a theory bation caused later reinforced homosexuality, by Krafft-Ebing, the most influential medical doctor of the early twentieth perhaps century who in sexual deviation. In some medical or mastur onanism literature, specialized bation was also a euphemism for homosexua?ty.75 in American HaU, a pioneer held that onanism was caused by seduction of "younger psychology, by older" children and thus led to sexual perversion.76 The American medical of masturbation and homosexuaUty conceptions caused widespread in the nineteenth confusion This confusion led to century. a general in society: was fear of sex. Homosexuality often sexophobia classified under or masturbation. the term onanism all However, classifying sex practices as onanism "deviant" caused confusion. Some regarded all non as masturbation.77 coital sexual expressions

cramps, in the op falling of the and obstinate

Anti-masturbatory After

inventions

Tissot had created a sensation about the dangers or mastur of onanism a number various inventors to prevent of inventions "self patented or masturbation, a social disease considered in the nineteenth century. was moral admonition. It was assumed that patients would response their "vice" of masturbation and stop admonition, upon by their clergy about its grave This was popular in Germany. In physicians, consequences. was performed to prevent masturbation; it was surgery England, however, soon recognized that no surgical was able to prevent mastur technique bation.78 In the United States and Europe were: in treatments used for masturbation and discipUning the patient, local forming exercise, special diets, appUcation bation, abuse" One

142

Journal

of Religion

and Health

of the genitals or spine, opium, and of camphor, bromide, cautery potassium and and of bladder electrodesiccation rectum, circumcision, clitoridectomy, even male castration.79 were to Between 1856 and 1932 various inventions designed patented the the the the with masturbation: truss, cup prevent sleeping ring, padlock, the locking pockets, the live wire, and the penis plate, the sheath, the handjive, were designed to repress masturbation inventions body suit. These by causing or in the the from fondling his or her masturbator sharp pain penis preventing genitals.80 a fundamentalist movement from different Victorianism, Puritanism, a mixture dualism in both of secular and religious and sex, became science a a sex further ethic. double-standard It foundation for sexual tabooed laying conversation the sex pioneers: but produced It Freud, Ellis, Krafft-Ebing. warned the social and moral evils it of masturbation but against encouraged no led and outlet. These other to trends antisexism.81 other by supplying were sexually Women the nineteenth for the sake century, repressed during was women The fear would of moral that if they masturbate greatest purity. a horse, or worked rode a bicycle, in a factory. All of these at a sewing machine means cause female orgasm without would procreation.82 means the Victorians, became the principal masturbation of demon on one that sex was a loathsome disease to from strating generation passed another. This was the real significance of masturbation for the nineteenth For

century.83

From

masturbatory

insanity

to masturbatory

neurosis

a change Toward the end of the nineteenth in medical oc century paradigms saw masturbation no longer as the cause of insanity curred which but, rather, as the cause of neurasthenia and neurosis. This paradigm in became known as medical literature the neurosis" which, "masturbatory hypothesis, it was only a hypothesis, became belief and practice. although widespread Both of medical are clear evidence of examples theory regarding masturbation how the medical a threat to public health by causing establishment became the masses to believe in medical distortions masturbation. Such belief concerning an in society reached and might be properly apparently epidemic proportion an example considered in which an epidemic of iatrogenesis disease of mastur was or neurosis caused medical the however, insanity batory by profession; this fact is an embarrassment to the contemporary medical It has institution. reverse been nearly to this distortion masturbation.84 impossible concerning As an illustration, as Beard, such doctors and Janet Charcot, promoted in opposition neurosis" to the traditional in "masturbatory "masturbatory and Bian Nevertheless, sanity" Clouston, hypothesis. Goodal, Hall, Savage, to believe chi continued that masturbation caused This insanity. verify might how deep-rooted the latter belief was among medical scientists. It was not un til 1896 that Krapelia discovered that masturbation has never caused insanity. a clear cause-and-effect was never There established between relationship

Michael

S. Patton

143

masturbation

and insanity, since most in the tested were already of the people sex was where research in the nineteenth insane asylums conducted century. bias eventually This in invaUdated "asylum" part of the "masturbatory a psychiatrist to who Stekel, sanity" eventuaUy hypothesis.85 attempted exonerate the medical and social both from attitudes structures negative once stated claims that mastur toward masturbation, that if the traditional vast and of neurosis had then bation caused the been true, insanity majority the human race should be locked in the insane asylums.86

Summary The reUgious The has an evolutionary condemnation of masturbation history. sex orthodoxy were in the ancient Near East: Greece, roots of CathoUc Rome, the un and Israel. The from Judaism, influenced Persia, story of Onan, of masturbation for the first millenium of Christianity, derstanding although was not officiaUy masturbation until 1054 A.D. condemned by the Vatican on misconception The Onan based and misinterpretation of story was with the development of natural-law 38:7-10; nevertheless, paralleled was for not the medieval condemned era, masturbation during theology sex.87 and was thus termed unnatural leading to procreation were In short, medieval full of con attitudes toward masturbation was expressed in in tradictions. Great toward those who hostiUty engaged tercourse for purposes the than procreation, other of whether regardless was heterosexual, or autosexual. sexual Masturbation homosexual, activity was regarded, to destroy in canon law, as a sexual deviation which threatened the human race.88 Later, medieval and moral theologians charged biologists a potential semen was that human "sacred fluid," human since it contained an act act wUlful masturbation each of of became Therefore, person. reasons masturbation had to be condemned homicide.89 For these particular by and scien for later medical ecclesiastical authorities, laying the groundwork tific condemnation. to It is worth that although Christian hostile noting theory was somewhat was was in out human not it actual borne There ap sexuaUty, always practice. a conflict in conscience and practice. between moral Social parently theory laws of behavior have strict the social indicated that the more for more to conform with their conscience to the tend are, people people ignore or these laws in practice, thus estabUshing the social script for a double escape standard moraUty.90 over sex appeared some Conflicts and while very early in conc?iar history, was obtained in a series of church councils, not aU segments of agreement Christian the official these decisions. of the Thus, society accepted positions on sex remained Roman Church the reUgious ideal and did not necessarily coincide with reaUty.91 sex in the medieval These era became attitudes toward of the foundation sexual attitudes inWestern civilization and the social catalyst for much of the sexual revolution the twentieth century. during scientists Genesis

144

Journal

of Religion

and Health

The sin against nature inWestern anxiety feelings developed people about all forms of sexual activity not leading to procreation. the medical Eventually mean defined all sexual to in the masturbation century eighteenth community to not activity leading procreation.92 to condemn The Catholic Church into the well continued masturbation era as the Church became obsessed with "sex as sin," permitting Renaissance or deviants. to exterminate sexual the Inquisition Hundreds heretics of were burned alive during thousands the "sexual holocaust." Masturbation was to be caused feared the miscon possession. by demoniac Eventually a semen common human that contained belief became ception "person" new as and moral to the condemn among argument biologists theologians was regarded as willful murder. Masturbation masturbation. a revolution Samuel Tissot in European and American medicine with began in his theory, caused that masturbation Medical Onania, published insanity. scientists attributed two-thirds of all diseases and disorders to eventually At masturbation. believed masturbation caused and first, doctors insanity, and not insanity. neurosis years did they say it caused only after a hundred over the need to repress so Victorian the masturbator, society became frenzied as most that iatrogenesis in the evil effects of society believed of resulted, masturbation and reinforced the Judeo taught by the medical profession by sex ethic. Christian It would cen take the sex pioneers of the early twentieth to unravel the traumatic of so many centuries of tury to begin consequences to masturbation. hostility

References
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. and Sanity. New York, Garland V., Sin, Sickness Press, 1977, pp. 10-11. Bullough, An Approach to Sexuality and Christian Nelson, J., Embodiment' Theology. Minneapolis, 1978. Minnesota, Press, Augsburg and Geller, Historical New York State D., B., "Masturbation: Greydanus, Perspective," November Medicine, 1980,1892-1894. op. cit. Bullough, and Company, 1969. Brecher, E., The Sex Researchers. Boston, Brown, Little, in the 1970's. Chicago, Behavior 1974. Hunt, M., Sexual Press, Playboy The Human New York, Barron's 1980. Educational G., Sexuality: Kelly, Series, Perspective. In A. Ellis, and A. Abarbanel, Dearborn, L., "Auto-eroticism." eds., The Encyclopedia of Sexual two volumes. New York, Hawthorne 1961. Behavior, Books, In P. Palazzini, "Onanism." ed., Dictionary of Moral Westminister, Theology. Maryland, Newman 1962. Press, J. R. R. "Onan." In The E., Jerome Biblical Brown, Com eds., Maly, Fitzmyer, Murphy, mentary. Bullough, 1976. Ibid. McKenzie, eds. The 1968. Englewood V., Sexual Cliffs, New Jersey, in Society Variance Prentice-Hall, and History. Inc., Chicago, 1968. University of Chicago Press,

J., "Aspects Jerome Biblical

of Old Testament Commentary.

Theology." Englewood

Cliffs,

In R. Brown, J. Fitzmyer, R. Murphy, New Inc., Prentice-Hall, Jersey,

14. 15. 16.

and Geller, op. cit. Greydanus Sexual Morality. Dedek, J., Contemporary in Christian Relations D., Sexual Bailey,

New Thought.

Sheed and Ward, York, New York, Harper,

1971. 1959.

Michael

S. Patton

145

17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23.

1983. New York, Prometheus G., Sex and the Bible. Books, Lame, Buffalo, in Christianity and Psychoanalysis. New York, Oxford Cole, W., Sex University Variance in Society Sexual and History, op. cit, p. 196. Bullough, W.; Cunningham, A.; Carroll, Kosnik, A.; Mondras, R.; and Schulte, J., Human in American A Study New Directions Catholic Commissioned by Thought. New York, of America. 1977. Paulist Press, Society Theological Dedek, op. cit. in the Community Christ E., Ministry: Schillebeeckx, Leadership of Jesus 1981. Crossroad,

Press,

1955.

Sexuality: the Catholic

New

York,

and Practices New the Medieval Church. Buffalo, V., and Brundage, J., Sexual Bullough, 1982. Books, York, Prometheus 24. Ibid. 25. Ibid. in Society 26. Sexual Variance and History, op. cit, p. 355. Bullough, 27. "Masturbation: J. Religion Vice or Virtue?" and Health, W., 1977,16, 3,183-195. Phipps, 28. and the Medieval Sexual Practices Church, op. cit, p. 12. Bullough, 29. Ibid. 30. Do minian, and the Sexual Revolution. Dimension J., The Church N.J., Denville, Books, 1971. 31. and the Medieval Sexual Practices Church, op. cit Bullough, 32. op. cit, p. 184. Phipps, 33. Noonan, A History and J., Contraception: of Its Treatment by the Catholic Theologians New York, Mentor-Omega, Canonists. 1965. 34. Sexual in Society Variance and History, op. cit, p. 361. Bullough, 35. McNeill, Handbooks New J., and Gamer, H., eds., Medieval York, of Penance. Octagon, 1965, 36. Bullough, Sexual in Society Variance and History, op. cit, p. 358. 37. op. cit., p. 184. Phipps, 38. McNeill, op. cit R. "The Frightful 39. McDonald, of Onanism," 1967, 27, 423 Consequences History of Ideas, 431. in Society 40. Sexual Variance and History, op. cit, p. 30. Bullough, 41. Kosnik, op. cit a Sexual 42. New York, Person. John Wiley and Sons, R., Becoming Francoeur, 1982, pp. 664 665. 43. A Catholic New York, 1977. Paulist Keane, P., Sexual Morality: Press, Perspective. 44. op. cit. Phipps, 45. as a Medical, Death and Theological H., Eternal Life After Kung, Life: Philosophical, New York, Doubleday Problem. ? Company, Inc., 1984, p. 131. 46. Money, Sex and Imagery in Sexual In V. Bullough, J., "Erotic ed., The Frontiers Hangups." New York, Prometheus 1979. Buffalo. Books, of Sex Research. 47. in Society Sexual Variance and History, Bullough, op. cit, p. 422. 48. Ibid., p. 450. 49. in History. New York, 1982. Stein and Day, Tannahill, R., Sex 50. Money, op. cit, p. 97. 51. Keane, op. cit., p. 60. 52. Tannahill, op. cit 53. in Society Sexual and History, Variance op. cit., p. 461. Bullough, 54. and Sanity, Sin, Sickness Bullough, op. cit, pp. 56-59. 55. McDonald, op. cit 56. and Sanity, Sin, Sickness Bullough, op. cit, p. 59. 57. Gochros, New York, Association H., and S., eds., The Sexually 1977. Press, Oppressed. 58. Hare, The History of an Idea," Mental 2. E., "Masturbatory 1962,108, Insanity: Sciences, 59. on a Biographical and Masturbation: Some Remarks R., "Authority Spitz, Investigation." In I. Marcus, and J. Francis, to Senescence. In New York, eds., Masturbation from Infancy 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. Universities Press, Inc., 1975. op. cit and Geller, Greydanus op. cit. Hare, op. cit, p. 2. or a Treatise the Disorders Tissot, S., Onanism, Upon M. Chapins and Company, 1766. and Geller, Greydanus op. cit. Hare, ternational

Provoked

By Masturbation.

London,

146

Journal

of Religion

and Health

65.

66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92.

in Western of Attitudes "A Historical Toward Masturbation Patton, M., Survey on Social a Focus in the American and Catholic with InMasturbation Church Civilization." a doctoral dissertation Educational Inc., International, published Change, by Microfilms 1984. Ann Arbor, Michigan, December and Continence. New York, E.B. Treat and Com Howe, J., Excessive Venery Masturbation 1899. pany, and Geller, op. cit Greydanus Hare, op. cit and Geller, op. cit. Greydanus in Society Variance Sexual and History, op. cit. Bullough, I.F. Senger, 1882. Iowa, J., Plain Facts for Old and Young. Kellogg, Burlington, Variance in Society Sexual and History, op. cit, pp. 544-545. Bullough, on Marriage, 2 vols. London. C. Chappie, 1812, p. 26. Kitchener, H., Letters A rchives in Childhood," Jacobi, A., "Masturbation 1980, 7. of Pediatrics, Instinct. New York, E.B. Treat and Company, 1899. Scott, J., The Sexual I. New York, D. Appleton Vol. and Company, Hall, G., Adolescence, 1904, pp. 435-445. with the Secret and Its Confusion Sin in Pre M., "Homosexuality V., and Voght, Bullough, America." In His 143-155. Freudian 1973,28, tory ofMedicine, Hare, op. cit. and Geller, op. cit. A. The Anxiety Makers. New York, Dell, 1970, p. 74. Money, op. cit, p. 99. in Victorian The Physician and Sexuality America. R.; and Haller, J.; Haller, Haller, R.M., of Illinois Press, 1974. Urbana, Illinois, University Brecher, op. cit, p. 318. The Expropriation New York, Nemesis: Pantheon Illich, I.,Medical 1976, Books, of Health. p. 3. Hare, op. cit A Psychiatric and Neurosis. New York, Stekel, W., Auto-Eroticism, of Masturbation Study 1950. Liveright, Patton, op. cit Variance in Society Sexual and History, Bullough, op. cit Keane, op. cit, p. 60. Gochros, op. cit Sexual and the Medieval Practices Church, op. cit. Bullough, Ibid., p. 71. Greydanus Comfort,