Masturbation re-structured

                                               

University of Ado-Ekiti {UNAD} Department of English Language and Literary Studies Baptist Student Fellowship {EKSU} +2348168405559, +2348089888797

                               

Onan’s Rib: Masturbation and the F³ Code
                          (mysterio unveiled)
                   By Anisulowo. O. Cornelius

          Onanism, derived from the name Onan, is cleverly manipulated to punctuate an ostensible act of sexual misdemeanour, which, aetiologically, was committed by onan, through the conscious spilling of his semen. He was, however, given a condign retribution of death, pursuant to such a cause. In a light thespian exemplum, ‘‘Onan is a minor biblical person in the Book of Genesis Chapter 38, who was the second son of Judah. Just like his older brother, Er, Onan died prematurely by Yahweh’s will for being wicked. After Onan’s brother, Er died, his father Judah told him to fulfil his duty as a brother-in-law to Tamar, by giving her offspring. Centuries later, in the days of Moses, this practice was formulated into a law of a Levirate marriage where the brother of the deceased would provide offspring to the childless widow to preserve the family line. However, when Onan had sex with Tamar, he disregarded this principle when he withdrew before climax and ‘spilled his seed (or semen) on the ground’, since any child would not be considered his heir. This he did several times, disregarding the principle of a Levirate union, and was accordingly sentenced to death by Yahweh for his wickedness (Gen 38:8-10). (Wiki). Here, ‘Onanism’, which is the major focus of the article, will be used, to exhume the concept of masturbation. Also, both terms will be conjoined exclusively (although contradistinctively) together with the F³ code, which will serve as a third-part alternative marker for expounding the concept.

            In full, let it suffice to say that, howsoever discombobulating both terms may seem to be, it is consequential to note that, masturbation and onanism are entirely different, even though they still- often times- may be used to mean the same thing. In recent times, some biblical scholars have so much (indefatigably) assayed to examined the true meaning of the term onanism. And consequently, they agglutinated the two terms with umpteenth ideological simulacrums. This means that, by implication, they actually made one the synonym of the other. But then, in actual facts, the propositions they made, as touching masturbation and onanism could have been a just quotidian hypothetical conjecture devoid of perceptible analyses or say, a diaphanous comparative experimentation of some theological hypotheses. However, there were some scholars, whose polemics was put forward only (as a holistic diatribe) to condemn the act, such include Clement of Alexandra. Now, Clement of Alexandra, while not making explicit reference to Onan, similarly reflects an early Christian view of the abhorrence of ‘‘‘spilling seed’’’. He advocated that, ‘‘Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculated nor is it to be wasted’’, and ‘‘to have coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature’’. It was however, the early Jewish rabbis who re-constructed the semantic reference of the wasted seed into the term masturbation. But, what makes both of them a little bit different is that, while masturbation ‘could’ be referred to as, the self-stimulation of one’s sexual organ, onanism is a sexual act wherein, a man gets stimulated by a woman via intercourse, but at the end of which, the man discharges his seminal fluid to the ground, most especially before he reaches climax (i.e. the apogee of his orgasmic responses and sensation), as in the case of Onan. Regarding the initial definition of masturbation given above, we used the modal operator, ‘could’, to construe part of what masturbation is meant to be. Non-the-less, it is, in reality, a dynamic sexual norm that is obtained in many forms, save intercourse. In fact, it even assumes a particular form that is being likened to onanism. Hence, at this point are the complexity, difficulty and perplexity encountered in affixing masturbation with onanism (as two synonyms). Extensively apprehensive, masturbation encompasses the following:

A.     Self-stimulation of the sexual organ through something and;

B.     Sexual stimulation of the sexual organ by another person (partly onanism, because at the end, the semen is spilled on the ground). Another name given to this act is, Mutual Masturbation.

The short datum highlighted at A is characteristic of the F³ code; and it will be used to further unfurl the putrid system and practice of masturbation as well as prove that it is a type of sexual sin. Using the concept of indices, the F³ code can be anatomized into a mathematical set of F x F x F. That is to say, F³ = F x F x F or simply say, F¹ x F¹ x F¹= F¹⁺¹⁺¹; and F¹⁺¹⁺¹ will result into F³etcetera. While F1 signifies ‘Fetish’, the others signify Fetishism and Fetishize. According to the Encarta Dictionary, ‘‘A fetish is something that arouses sexual excitement in somebody, e.g. inanimate or non-sexual part of the body.’’ Whereas, ‘‘Fetishism is the use of a fetish to produce sexual arousal.’’ In the demesne of our neighbourly Eurocentric aphrodisiacs (or sexual inebriates), many objects have been created, for example, ‘sex-toys’, which are used to create sexual arousal and sensations (orgasm). In addition, these people also employ the non-sexual part of their bodies, such as, their hands, legs, fingers, lips and tongues as some sorts of fetish to do much more exploits. Even hither on, I mean, within our negro-sphere, there are more applications of the hands and fingers, in the worship of such a parlous, ‘fetishistic’ art. In fact, it has now become an epidemic malady upon our spiritual sacerdotal ecclesiastical dogmas, such that, many of us Christians are so much engrossed in the act. The better so many of us continue to grace the act, the worse and more confused we get, especially whenever we tend to check if it is a sin or not. More often than not, this action is usually operated under the pressure of a conscience-stricken heart. Sometimes, we would try unburdening our hearts by saying, ‘‘there is no place in the scriptures where it is written: ‘thou shalt not masturbate’’’. But in a spiritual sense, it is a matter hidden within the deific wings of revelation. Just in the way there are nothing as, ‘thou shalt not smoke’, ‘thou shalt not snuff crack-cocaine’, ‘thou shalt not snuff taba’, or  some of the intravenous substances (that are considered illegal), so is there nothing as, ‘thou shalt not masturbate’, broadly stated in the bible. But, of a truth, the Word of God has really made a congeries of such acts within its divine self and has also got them pigeon-holed under the terms, IMPURITY and IMMORALITY. Therefore, let us not be euchred by the Jesuitism and mis-scriptural confections of some papal heretics that are outside there (in sheep clothing). They will tell you to do it, as far as you don’t pornograph while deeply at it (and vice versa). But then, let us examine, proximately, what the bible says about masturbation.

            THIS IS THE LAW FOR HIM WHO HAS A DISCHARGE AND FOR HIM
           WHO HAS AN EMISSION OF SEMEN, BECOMING UNCLEAN THEREBY                    
                                                    (Leviticus 15:32)

‘‘…when any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean. And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is stopped from discharge (probably, coitus interruptus), it is uncleanness to him… And when he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his body in running waters and shall be clean. And on the eight day, he shall take two turtle doves or two young pigeons, and come before the lord to the door of the tent meeting, and give them to the priest, and the priest shall offer them, one for A SIN OFFERING and the other for A BURNT OFFERING’’. Leviticus 15:2-3, 13-15. ‘‘Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst’’. Leviticus 15:31.

            According to this scriptural purport of discharge or emission, masturbation is dissected in two forms:

A.    Deliberate or conscious masturbation.

B.     Unwitting or unconscious masturbation.

The one labelled in A is the one we all engage in, whenever we are gravely enervated through the flagitious venoms of The Flesh, occurring most especially in our boudoir (as for females), or in our phallic chambers (as for men). Whereas, the other is what scientists call nocturnal emission. Normally, it occurs when we are asleep (especially for some of us who are in our early preadolescence and adolescence age). But in soothe, sometimes, we may not necessarily demur the fact that, we didn’t know whenever- in our dreams- we are doing it (as in the form of coitus) with such sex-demons as incubus (a male demon which would have intercourse with women, when they are asleep) and succubus (the female version of incubus). Now, let me ask us some few questions:

‘If masturbation were not a sin (be it in any of the forms exemplified above), why did God edict that, anyone who has had a discharge or an emission must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest for (1) A sin offering (2) A burnt offering. And besides, why was it not revered as a very holy act? Even if it were so heavenly and spiritual, wherefore was God worried and even more concerned about it? Why did he not just simply jettison such an issue of a ceremonial cleansing for some impurity, as such?’ Think about!

Masturbation is a skew-whiff reflection of one consequential aspect of onanism, i.e. the deliberating spilling of the semen on the floor, mat, bed, clods etc. In the case of onan, the focus is placed on the man alone and not on the woman. That is why we wouldn’t accept the claim that, onanism and masturbation are tightly synonymous. As far as women are also worshippers of such a god (masturbation), they are also to be labelled, devoted constituents. Flabbergasting enough, a great deal of gynaecologists has-recently- proved that, there is female ejaculation. Although this may not mean that females emit seminal fluids, but the bible has stated that, whatsoever his emitted from the body- focusing distinctly on the sexual organs- is an insignia of impurity. In the case of men, we have established afore that the pre-ordained function of the semen (spermatozoa) is ‘to multiply’. More specifically, the semen serves as a mortal substance by which God is to-supernaturally- enliven a new living soul. Only man has the superable terrain for both the production and storage of the semen. So, making a bootless waste of this divine resource will not be proffered as moral or righteous. Besides, in the book of Genesis, God has already decreed that, ‘...be fruitful (as for the woman) and multiply (with the help of the spermatozoon-filled man)’.

            Furthermore, you must note that, not only was masturbation condemned in the bible- for some of you may pettifog recalcitrantly, assaying to nullify the claim that, it is a sin. Some will even quote that, ‘The old testament is as oldish as anything old. And to booth, it is just a mere reflex of the law. But now that we are in the epoch of grace (the New Testament) we have freedom- screw the Old Testament!!!’ Well, I wouldn’t like to quote from the Book of Romans 6:1-2 which interrogatively puts that, ‘…What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no mean..!’  In fact, there are more portions of the New Testament which I will like us to consider. Now, study the following bible passages very carefully:

·         Romans 3:30 ‘Since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law’.

·         Romans 6:12 ‘Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions’.

·         Romans 8:5 ‘For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on things of the spirit’.

·         Romans 13:14 ‘But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.’

Again, let us puff it up by affixing some, from the Book of Matthew 15:29, where Jesus out listed the number of things that an uncircumcised heart is capable of: ‘…evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, FORNICATIONS, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (KJV).’ Please note the word, fornications together with the inflectional suffix, -s added to it. The suffix, ‘-s’ is a plural indicator; and it is affixed to the word fornication, to indicate that, there are different kinds of fornication, one of which is masturbation. Fornication, according to the Encarta Dictionary is construed in this way; ‘In the bible, sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married, or any form of SEXUAL BEHAVIOR considered to be immoral’. Now, let us, again, examine these little syllogisms:

A.     Masturbation, pre-marital sex, lesbianism, gay-sexuality, bestiality, voyeurism, paraphilia, necrophilism etc are holy and pure.

B.     I masturbate (or fix any of the options above).

C.     Therefore, I am holy and pure.

Examine this one too:

A.     Masturbation, pre-marital sex, lesbianism, sodomy, gay-sexuality, bestiality, voyeurism, paraphilia, necrophilism etc are sinful.

B.     I masturbate (or fix any of the options above).

C.     Therefore, I am sinful.

Are you still skeptic? Well I believe the Holy-Ghost is already searing your carnally veiled minds, and very soon, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Do not forget, ‘…anything that is not based on faith is sin’. Romans 14 vs23b   

Finally, the Book of 1Peter 2:9 states that, ‘but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people: that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ Inclusively, Apostle Paul did- by figures- add that, ‘…Every other sin which a man (or a woman) commits is outside the body; but the immoral man (or woman) sins against his (her) own body…Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God…’. So you all are appointed of God, consecrated and sanctified to watch over and keep the temple of God, (your body), whose ultimate Light is the Holy Spirit of God. Hence, we have;
 (1). Man/woman = Holy priest(ess) of God, ‘for ye are…a royal priesthood’.
(2) The body = Temple of God.
So, if God did state that, ‘you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my TABERNACLE that is in their midst’’ (Leviticus 15:31), you should now understand that, according to the gospel of Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, God’s tabernacle is no longer in our midst but rather, in us. Literarily, the tabernacle is, ‘the human body considered as a place temporarily housing the soul or principle of life’ (Encarta Dictionary) .It is both a sanctuary for the Ark of Covenant, as well as an earthly hearth-stone for the Most High. Therefore, you either glorify yourself by being lost (lustfully) in some wanton pleasures (Phaneromania) or you just discipline your lustful body by ‘shunning immorality’ (RSV) or simply ‘Flee Fornication’ (KJV) 1Corith 6:18, 20. In all, ‘chop off’ those hands with which you masturbate or any other objects; and ‘pluck out’ those eyes that you use to pornograph here and there. ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So if the eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then your body is full of darkness, how great is the darkness? Matthew 6: 22-23. ‘…And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter into life maimed or lame than with your two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eyes causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the lake of fire.’ Matthew 18: 8-9. Having read all these, are you still affected by Thomas’s spell or rather by the truth, which has now come unto you, through faith, in our Lord Jesus?