[Zero Sum]

Zounds, Kosta, thanks for the research! It was a bit more than I was expecting. :)

Indirect evidence of the Hebrew belief that it was man's "seed" and woman's "soil" is given in the bible in the story of Onan, which is used as the basis for prohibition of onanism or masturbation because it represents "destruction of the seed."

Some may read it that way, but I've always heard that it was more about Onan's refusal to procrate. The story wasn't really about masturbation anyway; it was early withdrawl.

The fact that some Greek philosophers postulated male and female "seeds" and their mixing is no different than some who postulated the existence of atoms (indivisible particles) that make up matter, or who have been remarkably right, 500 years before Christ on other things, such as the fact that our genetic material is combined to give a new human being (mixing). But they were not biblical beliefs.

Yes, the "atomic theory" goes back at least to Democritus. Of course, all this was more "natural philosophy" than empirical science. Now, there certainly was a sort of proto-empiricism starting to develop by the time of the Hellenist period (though this wasn't until after old Democritus' time as far as I know), but they didn't really have any way to test their more "profound" hypotheses.

Even today, there's still a lot that we just don't know for sure, and we have to rely a great deal on extrapolation. Unfortunately, there seems to be a pervasive attitude among modern man that someday we'll "know it all." Perhaps there are no finite bounds on our understanding or growth in knowledge; but either way, God is not finite. In fact, in mathematics we can speak of a whole order of infinities, but none is the largest. God alone is uncontained, and this defies understanding.

[Kolokotronis]

"God alone is uncontained, and this defies understanding."

Ο ΩΝ

[kosta50]

Some may read it that way, but I've always heard that it was more about Onan's refusal to procreate

Yes, the intent was wrong, and in Judaism the nature of the intent is essential.

Sex is not thought of as a necessary evil for the sole purpose of procreation. Although sexual desire comes from the yetzer ra (the evil impulse), it is no more evil than hunger or thirst, which also come from the yetzer ra.

Like hunger, thirst or other basic instincts, sexual desire must be controlled and channeled, satisfied at the proper time, place and manner.

But when sexual desire is satisfied between a husband and wife at the proper time, out of mutual love and desire, sex is a mitzvah.

Even though sex is not purely for procreation, the manner of Onan (in the biblical context) was not a mitzvah and God killed him for that.

You are technically right that Onan's practice did not constitute masturbation in the literal sense (although arguments can be made to the contrary, but there is no need for that here), Judaism explains

Although Onan's act was not truly masturbation, Jewish law takes a very broad view of the acts prohibited by this passage, and forbids any act of ha-sh'cha'tat zerah (destruction of the seed)

Unfortunately, there seems to be a pervasive attitude among modern man that someday we'll "know it all."

That is truly foolishness of the ego that tends to deify man. I guess it feels good while it lasts. There are lots of people on this earth who want to be immortalized for all ages and who truly believe they are very, very important.

Such individuals are rather dangerous and should be restrained, for they are capable of ruining many people's lives for their self-glorifcation.

God alone is uncontained, and this defies understanding

Of course. We call God what caused all this to exist; God was before it all existed. How can God be circumscribed by that which exists?