(MacDonald, 1967). The author divides the pamphlet Sexual Repression and into three sections; the causes, the consequences, and the cure. He further explains the sections by using a Masturbation scriptural interpretation, proving God's detestation for all unnatural practices. He claims the causes are by Whitney Keeton ignorance., secrecy in which sins can be indulged, and impunity from punishment. The consequences Sexual repression has a caused an uproar in are physically degrading as well as spiritually. The the twenty-first century. What was once was a cure for the sexual repression, including snch things proper w~y of life, has.now become a focus for as cold baths, prepentance, and renunciation of the understanding the problems that we are confronted practice, is both physical and spiritual (MacDonald, with in our social sphere today. The view of sex as a 1967). After Onania was published the author's means for gratification instead of just reproduction remedies were being practiced everywhere, and has changed from being morally wrong, to that of for the first time people started to take a great deal acceptance. However even today we can see the of interest in different aspects of sex. Not too long remnants of this traditional view trickling through after Onania a man by the name of Samuel Tissot western culture. published his own work making the same points as Masturbation is what has been under the most Onania, but had a different means. He, for the first scrutiny when it comes to sex. Since it is a means time, explained masturbation and the effects by using that serves no purpose other than self-gratification, a scientific basis (MacDonald, 1967). Tissot no longer it has been seen as morally ·wrong with reference to explained the degradation of masturbatiwife, a source of libido, or sexual motivation. Androgens he spilt his seed on the ground. This offended have also been established to be a source of libido for Yahweh, thus Onan was killed. The interpretation adult females. Dispersing of exogenous testosterone is unclear on whether masturbation was what was to typical functioning adult females has been shown being condemned. However references to this story to increase sexual motivation and body sensations became populnr during the eighteenth century, (Smith et. al. 1985). and implied that masturbation or self-gratification, Sociologist take this one step further in an which serves no reproductive purpose, is sinful. The attempt to figure out how much sex is biological full title presented on the title page reads: Onania: (natural), and how much is socially or culturally or, The Heinous Sin of Self Pollution, And all its influenced. The drive model, first purposed by frightful consequences, in both Sexes Consider' d Freud as the libido theory, is grounded in biological 70 drives, which for the most part are independent of Barriers in fact bind western culture as any social structure. Humans are compelled by their culture, the problem is that the barriers aren't entirely biological architecture to seek sexual release and concrete and have a lot of variation depending on the nourishment (Stein, 1989). According to Dearborn, specific group and or individual associated with a Dr. M.S. Grove, in 1839 interviewed patients about given culture. Dearborn recognizes this division. He their views on masturbation. She unwittingly implied comments that even the Judea-Christian world can the naturalness of the occurrence when she reported be divided into two groups, the first being a group the patients admitting that they masturbated, that accepts masturbation and understands it as being but also admitting that they weren't aware that a typical function that is in essence healthy, and the anyone else was doing it (Dearborn, 1952). Later a second group that is still ingrained in old ideology functionalist view was used which defined sexuality based on dogmas of the past (Dearborn, 1952). as a matter of socialization and defined by social Effects scripts or roles. One view is that all people have the Today we still see the effects of Onanism in the inclination to seek out sexual gratification, and it is idea that anything other than sex between husband through socialization that the person learns some or and wife is considered unclean. For a long time all the social roles that are available through which the only conversation made about sex was that of to achieve this (Stein, 1989). Stein continues with reproduction. This has been harmful in several ways. Gagnon and Simon's views, inspired by The Kinsey First of all, the lack of education on safe sex led to Institute, that every individual is set into a cultural a rise in STD' s and teen pregnancy. Most children scenario that is constructed by a set of beliefs that acquire their knowledge through the school system emphasize barriers for some social activities. Each rather than by their parents. According to Bruce Y. individual has a role, and each role has an activity Lee and Andrew B. Newburg (2005), those children that is also set by barriers. This explains how sex, and who grow up in more deeply religious environments what is considered sexually normal, is based on the may not even be encouraged at all to discuss sex given culture, which also varies based on such things and contraception (452). Today our culture has as modernization (Stein, 1989). The barriers placed become much more complex and cannot be simply by cultures become labeled and in turn stigmatized, defined. When adolescence reaches puberty they thus individuals within the culture feel pressured to are encountered with social identities, which they conform to a given cultural identity. are forced to adhere to. Peer pressure and certain Even though there has been extensive work expectations are required of both genders, but there done to understand both the biological and social is a tiered level of difficulty. Teens also have to deal role of sex, there are still problems that western with the current views on sex at the same time. The culture faces with morality. One of the problems ultimate temptation. The forbidden fruit. More and presently is with pornography. Pornography is the more though people are coming out and exploring new fad and is constantly being denounced. It too themselves, despite the fact old beliefs are still is considered unclean and dirty. The actions within ingrained in western culture. pornography show sexual acts, which have nothing That being said, sexual confusion in society to do with reproduction, rather pure self-indulgence. has led to extreme repression. Although western And the purpose is for viewers to obtain sexual culture doesn't believe in the strong beliefs that were stimulus, so that they are able to obtain their own presented in Oania, the culture too is still divided into sexual gratification. According to Charles B. Keating, what is healthy and morally good. The easiest answer Jr., head of one of the most active national anti­ to the problem is just don't do it. Turn the other pornography organizations; cheek. It can't possibly be healthy to seek pleasure for "The traditional Judea-Christian ethic does not oneself when it serves no purpose like reproduction. condemn pleasure as an evil in itself; it does Conclusion condemn the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake, The purpose of this argument is to come to a as an end rather than as a means, deliberately excluding the higher purposes and values to which very important universal that is still being addressed pleasure is attached. [The sex drive] serves the today. It is the biological need to have or engage individual and the common good of the human in the sexual act whether through sex with another race, only when it is creative, productive, when or masturbation. The debate on sex continues, and it ministers to love and life. When, however, though much knowledge has been acquired, there it serves itself, it becomes a perversion ... Every are still many arguments that try to decipher the word by which the organs of sex are designated bears out this statement: genital, generative, point of sex beyond reproduction. Such questions reproductive, procreative" (Diamond 1980). like whether or not sex is okay for anything other

71 than reproduction, if pleasuring oneself is okay? Is it been presented when growing up. inclined by biological factors and/or social factors? If western culture could look at sex more It is in my own conclusion that western belief openly, then there wouldn't be sexual repression today is still feeling the views of the traditional or negative connotations to sex. This would allow Christian ideology. Most individuals have not sought for more fluidity. Children could learn about sex out the new age of information concerning sex, and in a more natural form, rather than by an adult or instead have held onto the old stigmas, or choose not at all. And too when reaching adulthood, there not to discuss it. This has led to confliction among wouldn't be so much sexual confusion, or debate those now in adulthood that feel the sexual desire and on what is right or wrong. If we accept our natural now are driven .&om inside, yet when considering way of being, then I believe we can find ways to add the thought of masturbation, or pursuing any sexual sexual fluidity to religious beliefs. And possibly reach relationship that is not leading to the purpose of another level in society. reproduction, there is a feeling of dirtiness that has Work Cited

Dearborn, Lester W. "The Problem of Masturbation." Marriage and Family Living 1st ser. 14 (1952): 46-55. JSTOR. 9 APR. 2007 . Diamond, Irene. "Pornography and Repression: a Reconsideration." Signs 5 (1980): 687-701. JSTOR. 9 April 2007 . Lee, Bruce Y., and Andrew B. Newburg. "Religion and Health: a Review and Critical Analysis." Zygon. 2nd ser. 40 (2005): 443-468. Academic Search Premier. 9 April 2007. Keyword: health; methodology; religion; spirituality. MacDonald, Robert H. "The Frightful Consequences of Onanism: Notes on the History of a Delusion." Journal of the History of Ideas. 3rd ser. 28 (1967): 423-431. JSTOR. 12 April 2007 . Smith, Edward A., JR. Udry, and Naomi M. Morris. "Pubertal Development nad Friends: a Biosocial Explanation of Adolescent Sexual Behavior." Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 3rd ser. 26 (1985): 183-192. JSTOR. 16 April 2007< http://jstor.org>. Stein, Arlene. "Three Models of Sexuality: Drives, Identities and Practices." Sociological Theory. 1st ser. 7 (1989): 1-13. JSTOR. 16 April 2007< http://jstor.org>.

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