One of the bible passages used to condem masturbation is the story of Onan (Genesis 38:3-10), but this story is about rape, not masturbation.
Onan was the second son of Judah, patriarch of one of the tribes of Israel. Onan’s elder brother was slain by God for being “wicked,” though there is no explaination about how or why. Onan’s elder brother left behind a wife, and his unfulfilled duty to produce an heir to carry on the line. In accord with tribal law, Judah told Onan to marry his sister-in-law and produce an heir for his brother (Onan’s son would become his brother’s son). Allegedly, Onan would make love to his brother’s wife, but “spill” his seed on the ground instead of “offering it up” to his brother, meaning he would have sex with her, but ejaculate on the ground (called coitus interruptus – not masturbation). For disobeying, Onan was slain (by God according to the text).
Onan (and possibly his sister-in-law) was raped, obligated, coerced (under fear of death) to have sex against his will, by his father and allegedly his God, no less. His brother had just been slain for being “wicked,” is it reasonable to think Onan wasn’t worried about not doing as he was ordered? Was he being foolish, or was he torn between the terrifying prospect of being murdered and staying true to the heart and soul God put within him?
One account claims Onan refused to impregnate the wife of his dead brother, because his son would be forfeited, becoming his brother’s. His own son would be taken from him. Not only was he being raped, Onan was being used like a farm stud, for mating. The situation is completely degrading and dehumanizing.
Spilt seed aside, it is proven the pre-ejaculatory fluid that leaks from a man’s penis during intercourse has viable sperm in it. Was it really necessary Onan go all the way? Just one of these prolific cells is all it takes to produce a pregnancy; God couldn’t see fit to make sure one of them made it? Between science and divine intervention, completing intercourse wasn’t necessary to produce and heir, unless it was just a divine power trip, or the will of ignorant mortal men.
And since God is all knowing, how did mortals find out Onan was spilling seed? Men have been passing on the juicy details of Onan’s sin for thousands of years, unless they were peeping in, who told? The only one other than God and Onan that would have known would have been Onan’s sister-in-law. It’s logical she would snitch; back in the day, before science cleared things up, men believed women were responsible for giving babies and deciding gender. Wouldn’t it make sense that, fearing for her own life, after the slaying of her husband (by whomever), she told on Onan – or worse, made it up, just to save herself from possible execution or being thought wicked for not being able to get pregnant? Isn’t it possible Onan was being a good little boy, sexing his sister-in-law, but it wasn’t working so she said he was pulling out? It’s possible.
Also, why did God slay Onan’s brother before an heir was produced? God just went through all the trouble of freeing the tribes of Israel; why would God take action that would jeopardize the line of one of the tribes? Was God worried about the heir being born of a wicked father? If so, why? God’s responsible for the soul that goes into a being and Judah is surely a God-fearing man and would not allow the child to be raise wickedly (especially if we know Judah is alright taking a son away from his father, as it would have been with Onan if an heir had been produced). So, was God worried that the son would be of the flesh of the father and that the wickedness would be passed on through the blood and flesh? If so, maybe there’s room for biology and genetics in the bible after all…
The bible doesn’t say how Onan was slain, but typically, people don’t just drop dead; the judeo-christian tradition is filled with “acts of God” that are, in fact, just the ego of misguided men and women. I doubt Onan was struck down by the same God that “gave his only son” to free the world of its sins. I say he was murdered by his God-fearing father, for refusing to be raped.
Like Onan’s spilt seed, the specifics have been swallowed by the sands of time; much of the story is left vague preventing an informed, intelligent and free thinking analysis. The picture is painted in black and white, and tightly cropped from only one perspective: obey.
