There is an interesting contrast between the Muslim and Christian faiths belief in regard to Coitus Interruptus (kō'ĭ-təs ĭn'tə-rŭp'təs), or the pulling out method of birth control.

The Christian belief can be traced back to the story of Onan and what would become known as the sin of Onanism.

The sin of Onanism was originally associated with coitus interruptus, or the withdrawal method of birth control.  The Old Testament tells that while having sexual intercourse with the wife of his dead brother, Onan withdrew before ejaculation and “spilled his seed (semen) on the ground.”  God was angered and struck him dead.  Historically, sex for any purpose other than that of procreation, was dictated by the church to be a sin in the eyes of God. 

In contrast with this concept of God striking you dead for pulling out is the following from the book, “Sexuality in Medieval Europe” (which is a great book and I have quoted from it before).

“(11th century) Muslim writers pointed out that, since Coitus Interruptus is not foolproof, God determined in which cases it would work.  A man could not, however, practice withdrawal from a free woman without her consent: she had the right to children if she so desired, and to sexual pleasure [emphasis added] which the jurists [a person who writes on the subject of law] believed was stimulated by the male ejaculation.”

So here you have a God who not only doesn’t mind if you pull out but you had to make sure it was OK with the woman first and made sure she experienced sexual pleasure.

I believe most readers will associate the term Onanism with masturbation, not withdrawal.  The masturbation association came about thanks to the New England Puritans in the 1700’s and the publication of, “Onania, or the Heinous Sin of Self Pollution, and All Its Frightful Consequences in Both Sexes, Considered”.  After that the sin of Onanism became synonymous with masturbation.

The following is the chapter and verses from the King James Bible so you can read it yourself, don’t let my added comments influence you in any way.

GENESIS 38

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her (they had sex).

3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

4 And she conceived again, (had more sex) and bare a son; and she called his name ONAN.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him (it doesn’t say what he did that was so bad God would have to slay him).

8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.(have sex with your sister-in-law, get her pregnant, and call the child your brother’s son)

9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went into his brothers wife (had sex), that he spilled it (semen) on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother (conceive a child that would be considered his dead brother’s and not his own).

10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore slew him also.  (So according to the Bible, Sex for any reason other than making babies is bad and will get you killed.)  (Bold is the author’s commentary, in case you couldn’t tell).

Here at Dud’s Erotica we don’t differentiate between religions plus we wholly encourage masturbation and birth control.  Happy Onanism!

Live Long and Prosper,
-DMG

Please check out the Dud's Erotica web site at: http://dudserotica.com/

Karras, Ruth Mazo.  (2005) Sexuality In Medieval Europe.  Doing unto others.  Routledge, New York and London.