Mormon Church, wrong again re masturbation

[_asbestosman]

- zero times per week = LIAR!

Now, now, I have it on good authority that people in a coma actually do manage zero times per week or at least zero times per coma.

[_Sethbag]

As far as masturbation goes, apparently the trend is that guys who masturbate often tend to have fewer cases of prostate cancer than guys who don't.

I ask you: how could these scientists have known? ;-)

Maybe the what study really shows is that those who lie more have a higher incidence of prostate cancer?

Hehe, good one.

[_asbestosman]

You've only promised a figment of your imagination that you wouldn't partake of those things. And that's a "sin" why?

Because I also promised my family and I'm pretty sure they're not figments of anyone's imagination.

Edit: although, I gotta admit that sin is a meaningless concept without God. Shameful behavior, on the other hand, does not rely on the existence of God.

[_Sethbag]

You've only promised a figment of your imagination that you wouldn't partake of those things. And that's a "sin" why?

Because I also promised my family and I'm pretty sure they're not figments of anyone's imagination.

Edit: although, I gotta admit that sin is a meaningless concept without God. Shameful behavior, on the other hand, does not rely on the existence of God.

Yeah. You could promise your family that you'd all go to Disneyland too, and if you don't make it there, that wouldn't be a "sin", would it? You're right, sin as a concept doesn't make much sense without the postulate that there is some Celestial Dictator out there, who has imposed terms upon you, that are beyond your control, and who cares how you specifically, by name, touch yourself, what you eat or drink, the thoughts you think, etc.

[_Some Schmo]

- zero times per week = LIAR!

Now, now, I have it on good authority that people in a coma actually do manage zero times per week or at least zero times per coma.

So what you're saying is that a guy has to be in a coma to not masturbate? I agree.

[_beastie]

Like I said, it all seems like arbitrary loyalty tests. What "God" apparently values about all else is the willingness to show obedience and loyalty, demonstrated by commitment to various arbitrary loyalty tests.

And yes, it is the ultimate control. A third party is controlling what would otherwise be a completely private act, based on a universal instinct.

I think the potential damage to youth is serious. But think about it - if young people are preoccupied by worrying over the fact that they can't control themselves, that they're sinful and weak because they masturbate, then they really don't have the mental energy to think skeptically about what they're being taught.

[_The Nehor]

Like I said, it all seems like arbitrary loyalty tests. What "God" apparently values about all else is the willingness to show obedience and loyalty, demonstrated by commitment to various arbitrary loyalty tests.

And yes, it is the ultimate control. A third party is controlling what would otherwise be a completely private act, based on a universal instinct.

I think the potential damage to youth is serious. But think about it - if young people are preoccupied by worrying over the fact that they can't control themselves, that they're sinful and weak because they masturbate, then they really don't have the mental energy to think skeptically about what they're being taught.

Do you really think a lot of youth spend copious amounts of time fixated on masturbation to the point that they can't think about anything else?

[_Trevor]

Like I said, it all seems like arbitrary loyalty tests. What "God" apparently values about all else is the willingness to show obedience and loyalty, demonstrated by commitment to various arbitrary loyalty tests.

Well, when the loyalty test of marrying lots of women was yanked away by the superior power of the US government, God decided to go the other direction, realizing that the government was a lot less concerned with wanking than bigamy.

Now that God has more reasonable goals than He did in Joseph Smith's day (tithing instead of United Order, no spanking the monkey instead of plural marriage, Republicanism instead of theocracy), He is a lot more successful at meeting them.

[_Mercury]

This is the epitome of being controlled.

Yes, if you can control people's perceptions such that they actually voluntarily do what you want them to do, you have really got something.

Yeah, I can't help but feel a little sad for the absman. (I really mean that).

I can certainly understand the desire to make good on a promise, and I think that's generally the honorable thing to do, but not in the case of a demonstrably bad promise, or at the very least, a promise made based on bad information.

I do as well. Chris, I am consciously trying to tone down the "asshole" in me while corresponding with you.

[_asbestosman]

Now that God has more reasonable goals than He did in Joseph Smith's day (tithing instead of United Order, no spanking the monkey instead of plural marriage, Republicanism instead of theocracy), He is a lot more successful at meeting them.

(bold mine)

So you're saying that it's a reasonable goal at least to the point that there is some success at meeting it?