The Sons of Helaman - is this a sick joke?

[_Maxrep]

"and are trained how to use the most powerful weapons known to science and spirituality to defeat him."

Its a rare occasion, when both science and spirituality call a temporary truce, and join hands in defeating masturbation.

[_The Dude]

...it's usually only a problem because of internal self-judgement conflicts.

Couldn't agree more.

[_asbestosman]

it's usually only a problem because of internal self-judgement conflicts.

I wonder if it would it be better to go through life with lower standards for one's self.

[_Gadianton]

"and are trained how to use the most powerful weapons known to science and spirituality to defeat him."

Its a rare occasion, when both science and spirituality call a temporary truce, and join hands in defeating masturbation.

lol

[_The Dude]

it's usually only a problem because of internal self-judgement conflicts.

I wonder if it would it be better to go through life with lower standards for one's self.

Lower standards = better? Lower compared to what?

I think this is similar to women who have unrealistic and unnecessarily high standards for their weight and appearance. Is it worth it to beat yourself up emotionally and physically for something that may be 1) physically impossible for you and 2) no better, or maybe even worse for your health? Now imagine a woman who thinks Satan is haunting her pantry or placing inappropriate and unwanted hungers in her mind. Sounds like a recipe for an eating disorder. This is comparable to certain attitudes about masturbation, with very real potential for emotional damage.

[_krose]

it's usually only a problem because of internal self-judgement conflicts.

I wonder if it would it be better to go through life with lower standards for one's self.

When it involves something completely harmless, yes. Of what value is it to a person to adhere to an arbitrary rule that is not inherently helpful? It reminds me of the 'rules' that a person with OCD might set for himself, involving washing his hands twenty times per hour. It's a 'higher' standard for hand washing, but it's not useful.

[_TAK]

Greg, a 17-year-old graduate of the program, said he struggles with chronic depression, and "I was humbled to the point where I decided that I would never be able to get rid of my addiction."

"I tried this one last thing, and if that didn't work, I would just end my life."

that's just f****d up..

[_asbestosman]

I think this is similar to women who have unrealistic and unnecessarily high standards for their weight and appearance. Is it worth it to beat yourself up emotionally and physically for something that may be 1) physically impossible for you and 2) no better, or maybe even worse for your health? Now imagine a woman who thinks Satan is haunting her pantry or placing inappropriate and unwanted hungers in her mind. Sounds like a recipe for an eating disorder. This is comparable to certain attitudes about masturbation, with very real potential for emotional damage.

I agree with you as far as that goes. I think the unhealthy attitude for masturbation is someone who considers suicide over it. On the other hand (no pun intended), there are people who go the other way and don't have high enough standards for their health and appearance.

Yet even the standard by which we judge someone else's standards is debateable. Most of us generally agree with health standards--the general idea is to increase the chances of living a long time with less disease or other ailments. Keeping within a certain weight range and having certain standards of hygene will aid that. Doing too much or too little are both bad.

I think ultimately the only thing we really disagree on is whether masturbation is harmless. Since I believe in the existence of sin, I contend that it is not harmless. Yet even putting sin aside, I think that abstaining from masturbation is not at all as dangerous for you as becoming an obsessive dieter or hand-washer. Indeed, even without the sin aspect I personally find satisfaction in being able to exercise self-mastery in something that can be difficult and at the same time does not harm me when exercising said self-mastery (unlike eating disorders).

[_The Nehor]

As a graduate of this program I can say it works.

[_Gazelam]

As a graduate of this program I can say it works.

One would hope, seeing as how from your Avatar you will be licking your fingers shortly.