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Celibacy in its strictest definition means to be unmarried. However, the term is often popularly used to describe a state of life where one chooses to abstain from all sexual activities.

Etymology

The English word celibacy derives from the Latin cælibatus meaning 'unmarried'.

Motivations

• Religious beliefs - Clerical celibacy, sannyasa.
• To focus energies on other matters, like one's career or social issues, sublimation.
• To cultivate a relationship according to an ideal of chastity.
• A distaste or lack of appetite for sex - asexuality or antisexualism.
• An inability to form a sexual relationship - involuntary celibacy.
• Perceived benefit of alteration of physiological factors, hormonal changes.
• As an attempt to gain a sense of self and independence from others.
• Poor health - medical celibacy.
• Avoiding risk of venereal disease.
• Avoiding being emotionally hurt.
• As a means of birth control.
• Avoiding prosecution for homosexual relations under sodomy laws.
• Punishment
• Erectile dysfunction

The term involuntary celibacy has recently appeared to describe a chronic, unwilling state of celibacy.

Vedic thought and practice

Celibacy termed as Brahmacharya in vedic scripture is the fourth of the yamas (according to Yog Darshan) and the word, literally translated means ‘dedicated to the Divinity of Life’. The word is often used in yogic practice to refer to celibacy or denying pleasure, but this is only a small part of what Brahmacharya represents. The purpose of practicing Brahmacharya is to keep you focused on your purpose in life, the things that instill a feeling of peace and contentment.

Christianity

Celibacy is viewed differently by various Christian sects.

The Bible teaches celibacy to be honorable, and to be required outside of marriage. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7, "Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: 'It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.' But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." (verses 1-2); "I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion." (verses 7-9); "I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." (verses 32-35)

A few Christian sects even advocated celibacy as a better way of life for everyone. These groups included the following: the Shakers, the Harmony Society, and the Ephrata Cloister.

Celibacy not only for religious and monastics (brothers/monks and sisters/nuns) but also for bishops is upheld by the Roman Catholic Church traditions. In late 16th-century Venice, nearly 60% of all patrician women joined convents, and only a minority of these women did so voluntarily.

Catholic perspective

The view of the Roman Catholic Church is that celibacy is a reflection of life in Heaven, and a source of detachment from the material world, which aids in one's relationship with God. Catholic priests are called to be espoused to the Church itself, and espoused to God, without overwhelming, exclusive commitments interfering with the relationship. Catholics understand celibacy as the calling of some, but not of all. Celibacy was generally required of the bishop in the early church. A married man could be made bishop, but after his ordination, he was generally required to live apart from his wife. Celibacy was also practiced by many presbyters, especially in the West, but was not universally required. It became obligatory for all priests in the west in the 12th century.

Usually, only celibate men are ordained as priests in the Latin Rite.. Married men may become deacons, and married clergy who have converted from other denominations may become Catholic priests without becoming celibate. Mandatory priestly celibacy is not a doctrine of the Church but a rule or discipline. As such, it can change at any time. The Eastern Catholic Churches ordain both celibate and married men. All rites of the Catholic Church maintain the ancient tradition where marriage is not allowed after ordination. Men with transitory homosexual leanings may be ordained deacons following three years of prayer and chastity, but homosexual men who are sexually active, or those who have deeply rooted homosexual tendencies cannot be ordained.

The Catholic view on celibacy is based on the Christ's example, on his teaching as given in Matthew 19:11–12 and on the writings of Paul, who wrote of the advantages celibacy allowed a man in serving the Lord, celibacy was "held in high esteem" from the Church's beginnings. It is considered a kind of spiritual marriage with Christ, a concept further popularized by the early Christian theologian Origen. Clerical celibacy began to be demanded in the 4th century, including papal decretals beginning with Pope Siricius. Mandatory celibacy was enforced in the 11th century, as part of efforts to reform the medieval church.

Islamic perspective

Islam does not promote celibacy rather it promotes marriage. In fact according to Islam the purpose of marriage enables one to attain the highest form of righteousness within this sacred spirtual bond. It disagrees with the concept that marriage acts as a form of distraction in attaining nearness to God.

"They devised monasticism as a means of seeking Allah’s pleasure.We did not prescribe it for them" (Qur'an 57:28).

There have been incidents where people have come to the prophet and explained how they love to be engaged in prayer and fasting for the sake of God. However the Prophet Mohammed told them that despite this being good it is also a blessing to raise a family, to remain moderate and not to concentrate too much on one aspect as not only can this be unhealthy upon an individual as well as upon society, it may also take one away from God.

Note: That there is no compulsion in Islam however for one who choses to lead their life this way, it simply questions the practicality of employing this on a large scale and that one can attain just a high a station of one who is celibate through their good deeds.

Universal Celibacy

This characterization by Jesus Christ (in Matthew 22:30) of the future status of all persons (in heaven) is officially designated "universal celibacy" by the Roman Catholic Church : "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."

Abstinence and Celibacy

The words abstinence and celibacy are often used interchangeably, but are different. Abstinence is the absence of intercourse, while celibacy is the avoidance of all all forms of sexual activity.

See also

• Antisexualism
• Brahmacharya
• Clerical celibacy
• God: Sole Satisfier
• Marriage
• Sexual abstinence
• Virgin

References

1. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%207;&version=47;
2. Jutta Gisela Sperling: Convents and the Body Politic in Late Renaissance Venice
3. "Canon 1037". 1983 Code of Canon Law. Vatican. Retrieved 9 March 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
4. "Canon 1031". 1983 Code of Canon Law. Vatican. Retrieved 9 March 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
5. Cholij, Roman (1993). "Priestly Celibacy in Patristics and in the History of the Church". Vatican. Retrieved 6 April 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
6. Niebuhur, Gustav (16 February 1997). "Bishop's Quiet Action Allows Priest Both Flock And Family". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
7. "1990 Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, Canons 285, 373, 374, 758". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 1990. Retrieved 12 September 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
8. Pope Benedict XVI (4 November 2005). "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders". Vatican. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
9. Schreck, p. 255.
10. Bokenkotter, p. 54.
11. Bokenkotter, p. 145.
12. http://www.catholic.com/library/Celibacy_and_the_Priesthood.asp

External links

• The Biblical foundation of priestly celibacy
• The Reformation view of Celibacy
• HBO documentary film "Celibacy"

• Celibacy
• Non-sexuality
• Asceticism