This verse has been misconstrued to say that masturbation is a sin. Three Points: Firstly, the verse was never meant to condemn masturbation, just condemn not conceiving a baby with your dead brother's wife. Secondly, this verse is in the Old Testament, making it moot after Jesus's desth and resurrection. Thirdly, it once again proves that god (little g, he sure as fuck ain't MY god!!!) is a bloodthirsty psychopathic barbarian.Genesis 38:3-10: "So [Shua, the wife of Judah] conceived and bore a son, and [Judah] called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. . . . Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD killed him. And Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother." But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also."
Which leads to the Main Topic. I believe that it is profoundly cruel, unnatural, inhumane, and morally reprehensible to forcibly deny a person the natural function of sexual gratification. The only workable method used to that end is a device commonly known as a chastity belt. Sometimes these devices are self-applied in the misguided belief that orgasm distracts the mind from attaining God/Nirvana/etc., notable examples are Hindu clerics. This self-imposed chastity I have no qualms about. But it seems that MOST of the time these devices are used on people against their will, mostly minors being raised in a strict Christian setting. I believe that forcing this on anyone should be condemned in the strongest terms available. Here's a link to Portal of Evil's search page (search for the term "chastity"). http://www.portalofevil.com/search.php My apologies for the unusual source, but it should give you an idea of how cruel these Fundies can get. More practical concerns are that these devices can lead to irritation and infection of sensitive tissues, plus it will hinder any doctor treatments of the groin area. In all, no one should presume to have the right to do this to anyone else. If any Fundies see this and try the standard fallacious rebuttal of "it is God's Will," they are wrong. It is NOT God's Will to inflict needless suffering on another Child of the Universe!
