Christian authorities and theologians regarding masturbation


The original Dr. James Dobson statement: (God bless him for his courage on this.)
http://web.archive.org/web/20041211043903/www.focusonyourchild.com/develop/art1/A0000553.html

Rev. Dr. Rowland C. Croucher: (balanced view of both sides)
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4884.htm

From a Christian Youth Ministry: (balanced view, plus other info)
 http://www.nymministries.org/free/Taming-the-Tiger.pdf


A Christian Youth Minister and Missionary: http://boysunderattack.com/masturbation.html

"Catholic" pro-sexuality website: Masturbation should be viewed as "morally neutral".
 http://www.thebodyissacred.org/body/sextouch.asp 

Scholarly article from Biola University: http://www.alexkwee.com/uploads/kwee_hoover08.pdf

Christian ministers on the subject of sexuality:
http://site.themarriagebed.com/sexuality/masturbation-overview/masturbation-q-aamp-a

Pastor Dale Kaufman article:
http://site.themarriagebed.com/sexuality/masturbation-overview/teens-and-masturbation

Four  References  From --------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.healthystrokes.com/christian.html :

Judith K. Balswick and Jack O. Balswick write in their book Authentic Human Sexuality: An Integrated Christian Approach: "Masturbation can be a healthy, enjoyable way for a person without a sexual partner to experience sexual gratification."

In Embodiment: An Approach to Sexuality and Christian Theology (Fortress, 1990, ISBN 0-8066-1701-2), James B. Nelson "The physiological intensity typical in masturbatory orgasm frequently surpasses that of intercourse, and relational fantasies usually accompany the act in compensation for the absence of the partner."

Lutheran theologians Herbert W. Chilstrom and Lowell O. Erdahl write in their Sexual Fulfillment: For Single and Married, Straight and Gay, Young and Old (Augsburg Fortress, 2001, ISBN 0-8066-4047-2): 
  "Repressed sexual feelings and desires will almost certainly come out in inappropriate ways.  We think there is a better way - self-pleasuring.... You need not feel guilt about it. If God has given you sexual desire, is it not reasonable to believe that God also gives ways to satisfy that desire?  We believe that the ability to imagine and fantasize is a gift from God and that our lives would be poorer without it."

Archibald Hart, a psychologist-theologian at Fuller Theological Seminary observed, "I do not believe that masturbation itself is morally wrong, or ... sinful." (quoted in Singles Ask: Answers to Questions about Relationships and Sexuality by Howard Ivan Smith and Harold Ivan Smith, p. 151, Augsburg Fortress, 1998, ISBN 0-8066-3646-7)
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 Five references from: --------------------------------------------------------
 http://www.religioustolerance.org/masturba8.htm  :

New Man, an Evangelical Christian magazine, published an excerpt from Richard Dobbins' book "Teaching your children the truth about sex." "However, if they direct a fantasy towards their future spouse, "...then there is nothing morally wrong with it."

Pastor Paul of Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta, GA wrote: "From my point of view, masturbation only becomes a problem if you are doing it so often that you hurt yourself (bruising or making yourself irritated) and/or you no longer desire a healthy sexual sharing with the person you love."

Masturbation is not much of an issue with God:
Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, a Fundamentalist Christian advocacy organization, has written:  (Possibly an excerpt from the linked article above)
"It is my opinion that masturbation is not much of an issue with God. It is a normal part of adolescence which involves no one else. It does not cause disease. It does not produce babies, and Jesus did not mention it in the Bible. I'm not telling you to masturbate, and I hope you won't feel the need for it. But if you do, it is my opinion that you should not struggle with guilt over it. Why do I tell you this? Because I deal with so many Christian young people who are torn apart with guilt over masturbation; they want to stop and just can't. I would like to help you avoid that agony."

Gerald Coates writes:
"Compulsive masturbation, simply for the purpose of self gratification, with other people in mind is wrong. .....But masturbation for the purpose of self control is something altogether different. The act in and of itself is not wrong. When someone is under pressure to the point of distraction, whether single or married, it is often better that they relieve themselves - for at that point no mental stimulation is necessary."

Dean & Laura VanDruff write:
"Since scripture does not forbid masturbation directly, neither should Christians in general. 'Nothing beyond what is written' in terms of how we should help lead others to the Lord is the rule....
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The Matthew 5:28 question:   http://www.godrules.net/articles/mat5.htm
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Other Preachers:

Mark Driscoll: (sometimes okay, sometimes not)
http://theresurgence.com/books/porn_again_christian/ch5#2

Church Pastor
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVstudies/GrowingUpInTheLord/Boys/Answers/20070929c.html

 Baptist Preacher
http://site.themarriagebed.com/sexuality/masturbation-overview/pastors-views 


Reformed theologians, Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr. (Th.D.) and  R. A. McLaughlin, M.Div.: http://reformedanswers.org/answer.asp/file/40098

Pastor Tom Brown: http://www.tbm.org/masturbation.htm

Lay preacher:
http://web.archive.org/web/20100103103522/http://layhands.com/IsMasturbationASin.htm  

Bible School graduate, lay minister
http://www.bibleissues.org/lust1.html   Masturbation is not a sin. Matthew 5:28 is gravely misinterpreted, but he does a good job of clarifying it.

72% of Christian doctors surveyed by the LaHaye's
http://books.google.com/books?id=kMdkfNBI8G4C&lpg=PA239&ots=SRZH-ugh2J&dq=LaHaye%20act%20of%20marriage%20masturbation&pg=PA365#v=onepage&q=doctors%20masturbation&f=false


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