Celibacy in religion (ritual, choices, choice, spiritual, organization)

[Burchfam]

Originally Posted by PureX

Then I thank you sincerely for sharing your ideas and experiences so openly with me/us. And I welcome you to RF as a valued addition to the discourse. *smile* I need to go pick up a friend at the airport, though, so I'll have to check in with you, later.

Thank you! I'll look forward to future chats.

[Burchfam]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

I second that. There are many aesetic religions, but you don't see their adherents hanging out on the Net answering questions very often, so this is a rare opportunity.

And thank you as well! I'm always happy to talk.

[ayani]

my ...

as of right now, i am celibate. my reasons for being so are emotional as well as religious. for me it is not really about mind over matter, though that is a part of the idea. i could rephrase it so say "bringing one's attention to prayer instead of sex". the main reason i am celibate is so that i may better respond to all people on a more equal footing. if my affections and physical energy is put into one person so intensely it is likely that i would neglect the presence of others in ways that i would not if my attention were more open-ended.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Burchfam

It is the most powerful of human drives, and the willpower required to not act on those drives at all allows us to rise above the material world into the spiritual.

Or possibly putting a few limits on us keeps us out of certain troubles here in the material world.

By celibacy, did you mean the life-long variety, or the outside-of-marriage variety?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Burchfam

I understand what you mean, but for us its a choice between the physical (life and death), or the spiritual (the life beyond).

I view the problems with spiritual growth as having to do with "attachment" to the material world and not with being involved in the material world at all.

In the view of my religion, there is no problem with enjoying the things of this world, provided we don't become attached to them.

fwiw, my religion forbids aceticism.

Religions have practiced aceticism in the past many times, though, so clearly there must be some reason for it.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by PureX

If anything "transcends" death, wouldn't it be LIFE? Not an individual life, but life as an ongoing expression of energy.

That is very well said. Brilliant!

[Burchfam]

Originally Posted by Booko

Or possibly putting a few limits on us keeps us out of certain troubles here in the material world.

By celibacy, did you mean the life-long variety, or the outside-of-marriage variety?

The life-long variety.