Celibacy

[Brickjectivity]

This issue confuses me a little. I'm sure there are also many misleading models of early Christianity which promote opposing views on the topic. In the passage cited in the OP Paul is talking about a specific situation. He has been asked whether males should go ahead and fulfill their betrothals under the current conditions (whatever they are). His answer is in that context and does not generalize. Even so, it does seem like there are other passages that could be taken to promote celibacy. Interpreting them however is difficult as it requires making assumptions.

 

[Terry Sampson]

I think there is some modern wellness science that indicates that celibacy isn't the healthiest way to go - if you consider only the physical and don't factor in the emotional.

Great! So you won't mind if a willing partner tells his/her unwilling partner that Dr. icehorse says modern wellness science indicates that sex is healthier than no sex?

 

[icehorse]

Great! So you won't mind if a willing partner tells his/her unwilling partner that Dr. icehorse says modern wellness science indicates that sex is healthier than no sex?

strawman much?

 

[stvdv]

Great! So you won't mind if a willing partner tells his/her unwilling partner that Dr. icehorse says modern wellness science indicates that sex is healthier than no sex?

Unwilling partner can mean emotional. That was specific excluded if I read it correctly

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Inspired by the thread about Jesus not being married and Essenes and whatnot, I wondered why some faiths teach celibacy as a good thing. Paul of Christianity wishes everyone were virgins as he was apparently, certain forms of Buddhism teach that abstaining from sexual relations is good, as well as does Jainism. I can't think of a decent reason to deny oneself this forever. Sure, one can abstain for certain amounts of time, as with food, certain activities, etc., but one would hardly abstain from food, for example, forever. I wonder what makes some people choose celibacy and why certain creeds teach it.

@Amanaki @metis

Well, since having sex is, Biblically, confined to marriage, it’s encouraging celibacy, for those who can “accept” it (Matthew 19:12), so that that person can concentrate / focus on their dedication to God, without distractions.
I’ve posted an excerpt from Singleness—A Door to Undistracted Activity — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
(Scripture at the end is important):

“Singleness is not meritorious in itself. In what sense, then, can it be “better”? It all depends on how a person uses the freedom it brings. Paul wrote: “Indeed, I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may gain the Lord’s approval. But the married man is anxious for the things of the world, how he may gain the approval of his wife, and he is divided. Further, the unmarried woman, and the virgin, is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in her body and in her spirit. However, the married woman is anxious for the things of the world, how she may gain the approval of her husband. But this I am saying for your personal advantage, not that I may cast a noose upon you, but to move you to that which is becoming and that which means constant attendance upon the Lord without distraction.”—1 Corinthians 7:32-35. “

All this being said......I couldn’t do it!

 

[Deeje]

God invented the idea of FAMILY. Adam and Eve were told to be fruitful. Sex was for use within the idea of family. Those who decided not to marry and have a family should not use sex for pleasure or other purposes. Get married and have all the sex you want.

This is a very valid point. Sexual sins outlined in Israel were mostly of the kind that were indulged in outside of marriage....it was for the sake of pleasure only, with no commitment. This never had God's approval.

And you are correct about sex being the means to increase families.....children born, had a right to a family....a mother and a father to balance gender roles, (so out of whack now) and a secure and loving family in which to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. Having only one sexual partner protects us from sexually transmitted diseases. Having multiple partners is the cause of STD's.....so our bodies are designed to become "one flesh" with one marriage mate for life.

Choosing the right marriage mate is what is recommended in the Bible. Being "past the bloom of youth" will mean more mature choices. Sex is a lousy reason to get married. If two people are compatible in other more important ways, then the sex will take care of itself. Once the honeymoon is over, incompatibility in other areas almost always leads to emotional distancing or divorce. It stands to reason that lasting relationships are not based on sex....which has little to do with genuine love (agape) anyway.
In the Greek there are four words for "love"...., phi·liʹa, stor·geʹ, eʹros and a·gaʹpe.

"Phi·liʹa"...is brotherly love.....brothers and sisters in our spiritual family and friends.

"Stor·geʹ"...is love among blood related family members.

"Eʹros"....is romantic love between the sexes....the subject of "love songs".

"A·gaʹpe"....is the most important love of all...it is love based on principle....one that doesn't not allow hatred to rise up even under provocation....the one that can be applied to even an enemy. This is also the most difficult one to master.

Interestingly, eʹros is not even mentioned once in the Greek scriptures.....so its not high on the list when it comes to expressing love. Perhaps now we know why sex is not a good basis for any lasting relationship.

Celibcy in the Bible is a recommendation for those who wish to serve the Lord undistracted by the needs of a mate. There is no shame in marriage, but Paul was stressing the freedom of being able to serve God wholeheartedly. It is for those who can "make room for it".

 

[Valjean]

So maybe it gets down to defining "celibacy" more precisely?

Celibacy is the state of being unmarried. It's become confused with chastity -- abstention from sexual intercourse -- in recent decades.

 

[icehorse]

Celibacy is the state of being unmarried. It's become confused with chastity -- abstention from sexual intercourse -- in recent decades.

Seems like a good pair of definitions - I wonder if this is what the other posters in the thread had in mind? (I suspect not)

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

If this discussion was for anyone, the best I can fathom is that the old-time people were worried about STDs and gave advice relevant at the time, though I'm not sure.

They didn't know about the germ theory theory of disease, so that's definitely not it. As recently as about 300 years ago, it was common to believe in humors and practice bleeding.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I think the only people celibacy makes sense for are those who have a low sex drive and don't care about having sex, anyway. But if you're fighting with yourself over it, I think you're psychologically harming yourself. I'm not sure what caused the "world denying" ideology in some religions. It is a pretty new development and was very much the minority view in world religious thought until it was forced on much of the world.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

I get the feeling you belong to the married group

If so, then better not judge what others should or should not do IMO (also according to quite a few Bible verses).

I never judge - but God does. IMO

 

[stvdv]

I never judge

You must be God IMO

but God does

Not the God I know

IMO

I agree

 

[blü 2]

Inspired by the thread about Jesus not being married and Essenes and whatnot, I wondered why some faiths teach celibacy as a good thing. Paul of Christianity wishes everyone were virgins as he was apparently, certain forms of Buddhism teach that abstaining from sexual relations is good, as well as does Jainism. I can't think of a decent reason to deny oneself this forever. Sure, one can abstain for certain amounts of time, as with food, certain activities, etc., but one would hardly abstain from food, for example, forever. I wonder what makes some people choose celibacy and why certain creeds teach it.

First of all, in all societies we find that self-denial generates a feeling of self-worth / virtue. It crops up in holy eunuchry (which is a lot older than Paul), sexual abstinence, fasting, vegetarianism, teetotalling (or dry Fridays or whatever) and in all sorts of places.

Second, if we didn't know before, we know now that the practice of sexual continence suits some but is impossible in the long run for others (just as we know that many priests in many cultures had 'housekeepers', and that joining the RCC has in the past been the natural refuge / cover for many people of either sex who have homosexual tendencies.

Third, the best way to address these problems is to turn the rock over and let the sunshine do its thing.

The RCC will anyway have to address the question of celibacy sooner or later because of the huge drop in vocations in the West.

(I have a French friend who after a cognac or two showed me a photo of his daughter and only child, age 19, looking radiant in a group of smiling girls all her own age, who had just become novice nuns. His wife was ecstatic. He was desolate, as I would have been. So it goes.)

 

[Dan From Smithville]

This is a very valid point. Sexual sins outlined in Israel were mostly of the kind that were indulged in outside of marriage....it was for the sake of pleasure only, with no commitment. This never had God's approval.

And you are correct about sex being the means to increase families.....children born, had a right to a family....a mother and a father to balance gender roles, (so out of whack now) and a secure and loving family in which to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. Having only one sexual partner protects us from sexually transmitted diseases. Having multiple partners is the cause of STD's.....so our bodies are designed to become "one flesh" with one marriage mate for life.

Choosing the right marriage mate is what is recommended in the Bible. Being "past the bloom of youth" will mean more mature choices. Sex is a lousy reason to get married. If two people are compatible in other more important ways, then the sex will take care of itself. Once the honeymoon is over, incompatibility in other areas almost always leads to emotional distancing or divorce. It stands to reason that lasting relationships are not based on sex....which has little to do with genuine love (agape) anyway.
In the Greek there are four words for "love"...., phi·liʹa, stor·geʹ, eʹros and a·gaʹpe.

"Phi·liʹa"...is brotherly love.....brothers and sisters in our spiritual family and friends.

"Stor·geʹ"...is love among blood related family members.

"Eʹros"....is romantic love between the sexes....the subject of "love songs".

"A·gaʹpe"....is the most important love of all...it is love based on principle....one that doesn't not allow hatred to rise up even under provocation....the one that can be applied to even an enemy. This is also the most difficult one to master.

Interestingly, eʹros is not even mentioned once in the Greek scriptures.....so its not high on the list when it comes to expressing love. Perhaps now we know why sex is not a good basis for any lasting relationship.

Celibcy in the Bible is a recommendation for those who wish to serve the Lord undistracted by the needs of a mate. There is no shame in marriage, but Paul was stressing the freedom of being able to serve God wholeheartedly. It is for those who can "make room for it".

Actually, bacteria, viruses, fungi and various parasitic organisms are the cause of STD's and sex is one means of disseminating those organisms. Even monogamous couples can suffer from some STD's.

 

[Nakosis]

Inspired by the thread about Jesus not being married and Essenes and whatnot, I wondered why some faiths teach celibacy as a good thing. Paul of Christianity wishes everyone were virgins as he was apparently, certain forms of Buddhism teach that abstaining from sexual relations is good, as well as does Jainism. I can't think of a decent reason to deny oneself this forever. Sure, one can abstain for certain amounts of time, as with food, certain activities, etc., but one would hardly abstain from food, for example, forever. I wonder what makes some people choose celibacy and why certain creeds teach it.

@Amanaki @metis

A choice to deny yourself is a choice to control your desires.

Sometimes one's desires can lead them to a bad place. If you want to go there fine but if you don't it's better to make that decision consciously than have your unconscious mind manipulate you into it.

I see it as proving one can exert control over their desires. It's not that sex is bad however the desire for sex can lead to destructive choices.

 

[Rival]

I'm talking about the lifelong state of never being married nor having sex.

I believe a better way one can control their desires is by moderation, not outright denial. Just as a person on a diet may fast at times, but not eating at all will cause one to starve to death. I could see more benefit in abstaining for a time but not forever.

 

[Deeje]

Actually, bacteria, viruses, fungi and various parasitic organisms are the cause of STD's and sex is one means of disseminating those organisms. Even monogamous couples can suffer from some STD's.

STD are transmitted.....ummm....sexually. By its very name, sexual activity is required to spread it. (sexual activity is not just copulation)
Two individuals who have never had ANY sexual contact with anyone else cannot give each other an STD.

The ideal in marriage, (biblically speaking) is to choose a mate who is a virgin. It is having multiple partners that increases your risk, going against God's design and moral laws.

The only way to spread STD's is by the exchange of body fluids, including blood. Contaminated blood transfusions were one of the major causes of the HIV epidemic of the 80's. But again, the donor had to have acquired the virus in the first place, more often than not via promiscuous sexual contact.

 

[stvdv]

This never had God's approval

I would say "God might not advise this IF you are ready to enter the Agape type of love"

 

[stvdv]

I'm talking about the lifelong state of never being married nor having sex.

I believe a better way one can control their desires is by moderation, not outright denial. Just as a person on a diet may fast at times, but not eating at all will cause one to starve to death. I could see more benefit in abstaining for a time but not forever.

I fully agree.

My Master has said (as I remember it):
"If there is a desire it must be fulfilled"
to a question of 1 of the female students in His universities
"You always advise us students to skip the marriage stage (second 20 years) after the celibacy stage (first 20 years) and go for the goal (fourth 20 years) avoiding the need to detach from sex desire stage (third 20 years), and now you tell to me personally, that I should get married, why?"

 

[stvdv]

Two individuals who have never had ANY sexual contact with anyone else cannot give each other an STD.

How does the first one gets STD (I mean the very first, like the "Adam of all STD"; no disrepect for Adam of course, just genuine curious, as I am celibate and also don't want one).

Can this not happen to even a celibate?