Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from
marriageMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for
priestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s in some religions, for reasons of personal development and self-discovery, or for many other reasons. Historically many cultures have venerated celibacy in certain individuals seeing the commitment as a form of discipline to be admired.
Though the term
celibacy can sometimes be used to refer simply to being unmarried, this usage is not common today.
Etymology
The English word celibacy derives from the Latin , meaning "unmarried". This word derives from two
Proto-Indo-EuropeanThe Proto-Indo-European language is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans...
stems, } "alone" and } "living".
Abstinence and celibacy
The words
abstinence and
celibacy are often used interchangeably, but are different.
Sexual abstinenceSexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...
refers to abstaining from all sexual activity, often for some limited period of time; as a state of life, sexual abstinence is also known as
continence. The term
celibacy refers to refraining from any romantic relationships, particularly marriage. According to Paul the Apostle, marriage is a
social obligationSocialization is a term used by sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists, political scientists and educationalists to refer to the process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies...
that has the potential of distracting from Christ. For him, celibacy is the single life, free from such distraction, not a life of saintly denial. Sex, in turn, is not sinful but natural, and sex within marriage is both proper and necessary. According to the later St. Jerome, celibacy is a moral virtue, consisting by not living in the flesh but outside the flesh, as it were (
vivere in carne praeter carnem). Celibacy excludes not only libidinous acts, but also sinful thoughts or desires of the flesh. The first Conciliar document on celibacy of the Western Christian Church (Canon 33 of the Spanish Council of Elvira, c. AD 305) states that the discipline of celibacy is to refrain from the
use of marriage, i.e. refrain from having carnal contact with your spouse.
In her book
The New Celibacy, Gabrielle Brown states that "abstinence is a response on the outside to what's going on, and celibacy is a response from the inside." According to this definition, celibacy (even short-term celibacy that is pursued for non-religious reasons) is much more than not having sex. It is more intentional than abstinence, and its goal is personal growth and empowerment. This perspective on celibacy is echoed by several authors including Elizabeth Abbott,
Wendy KellerWendy Keller is a well regarded non-fiction literary agent who has worked with best selling authors such as Jeff Hayzlett, Jack Canfield, Char Margolis, Col. Randall J. Larsen, George Silverman and others. Wendy is Chief Executive Officer and Senior Agent at Keller Media, Inc. Keller Media...
, and
Wendy ShalitWendy Shalit is an American author who has written two books— A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue, published by Free Press in 1999 and Girls Gone Mild: Young Rebels Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad to Be Good, published by Random House in 2007.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,...
.
Many evangelicals prefer the term "abstinence" to "celibacy." Assuming everyone will marry, they focus their discussion on refraining from premarital sex and focusing on the joys of a future marriage. But some evangelicals, particularly older singles, desire a positive message of celibacy that moves beyond the "wait until marriage" message of abstinence campaigns. They seek a new understanding of celibacy that is focused on God rather than a future marriage or a life-long vow to the Church.
Buddhism
The rule of celibacy in the Buddhist religion, whether
MahayanaMahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
or
TheravadaTheravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
, has a long history. Celibacy was advocated as an ideal rule of life for all
monkA Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
s and
nunA bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
s by
Gautama BuddhaSiddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
, except for Japan where it is not strictly followed due to historical political developments following the
Meiji RestorationThe , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. In Japan, celibacy was an ideal among Buddhist clerics for thousands of years. But violations were common for so long that, finally, in 1872, state laws made marriage legal for Buddhist clerics and, subsequently, ninety percent of them married
Gautama, later known as the Buddha, is very well known for his renunciation of his wife, Princess Yasodharā, and son,
RahulaRāhula was the only son of Siddhartha Gautama , later known as the Buddha, and his wife Princess Yasodharā.Accounts of his life differ in certain points. The following is that given in the Pāli Canon.- Life :...
. In order to pursue an ascetic life, he needed to renounce aspects of the impermanent world, including his wife and son. Later on both his wife and son joined the ascetic community and are mentioned in the Buddhist texts to have become enlightened.
Hinduism
In Hinduism, celibacy is usually associated with the
sadhuIn Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
s ("holy men"), ascetics who withdraw from worldly ties.
Celibacy, termed
brahmacharyaBrahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
in Vedic scripture, is the fourth of the
yamasYamas, and its complement, Niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Hinduism and Yoga. These are a form of moral imperatives, commandments, rules or goals...
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.
The crown-jewel Vedic literature,
Srimad-Bhagavatam, reject from its very beginning
kaitava-dharma or false philosophy, thus it frankly speaks about the principle of material life, and it does have a meaningful relation to celibacy. Srimad Bhagavatam does not establish broad terms destined to fulfil the demographic expansion of mundane religiousity.
Lord Rishabadeva instructed his 100 sons in this way:
pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam
tayor mitho hrdaya-granthim ahuh
ato grha-ksetra-sutapta-vittair
janasya moho 'yam aham mameti
The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material
existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties together the
hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted to his body, home,
property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life's
illusions and thinks in terms of "I and mine." (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.8)
According with the
Yajnavalkya-smrti, as quoted in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.13-14) (A.C. Bhaktivedanta's authorized commentary),
Bramacarya means celibacy:
karmana manasa vaca
sarvavasthasu sarvada
sarvatra maithuna-tyago
brahmacaryam pracaksate
"The vow of brahmacarya is meant to help one completely abstain from sex
indulgence in work, words, and mind -- at all times, under all
circumstances and in all places."
There are eight aspects of brahmacarya, as described in Sridhara Swami's
commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.12:
smaranam kirtanam kelih
preksanam guhyabhasanam
sankalpo ‘dhyavasayas ca
kriya-nirvrttir eva ca
One should not:
1. Think about women.
2. Speak about sex life.
3. Dally with women.
4. Look lustfully at women.
5. Talk intimately with women.
6. Decide to engage in sexual intercourse.
7. Endeavor for sex life.
8. Engage in sex life. (SB 6.1.13 Purport)
One who practices brahmacarya is called a brahmacari. In the varnasrama system, the brahmacari-asrama is the first of four, namely, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa.
"According to Vedic principles, the first part of life should be utilized
in brahmacarya for the development of character and spiritual qualities."
(SB 3.22.19)
Brahmacarya is thus student life. It was traditionally rigorous,
disciplined, and austere. It is a life of cultivation, of preparing for
the future. In all asramas devotees are cultivating Krsna consciousness,
preparing for the examination of death. But the brahmacari period is
specifically meant for training: training in how to control the senses and
subdue the mind; training to be a grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasi.
This training is by submission to, service to, and friendship to the guru.
(SB 7.12.1)
In terms of varnasrama principles, the highest standard of brahmacarya
means the vow not to marry but to observe strict celibacy throughout life.
(SB 7.12.7) This is called the brhad-vrata ("great vow"), or
naisthika-brahmacarya. "Naisthika-brahmacari refers to one who never wastes
his semen at any time." (SB 3.24.20) "The word maha-vrata-dharah indicates
a brahmacari who has never fallen down." (SB 6.17.8)
Prahlad Maharaj, the great Vaisnava devotee of Lord Nrisimhadev had prayed:
om namo bhagavate narasimhaya namas tejas-tejase avir-avirbhava vajra-nakha
vajra-damstra karmasayan randhaya randhaya tamo grasa grasa om svaha;
abhayam abhayam atmani bhuyistha om ksraum.
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, the source of all
power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts,
kindly vanquish our demon-like desires for fruitive activity in this
material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance
so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence
in this material world."
Unless one is completely freed of all material desires, which are caused by
the dense darkness of ignorance, one cannot fully engage in the devotional
service of the Lord. Therefore we should always offer our prayers to Lord
Nrsimhadeva, who killed Hiranyakasipu, the personification of material
desire. Hiranya means "gold," and kasipu means "a soft cushion or bed."
Materialistic persons always desire to make the body comfortable, and for
this they require huge amounts of gold. Thus Hiranyakasipu was the perfect
representative of materialistic life. He was therefore the cause of great
disturbance to the topmost devotee, Prahlada Maharaja, until Lord
Nrsimhadeva killed him. Any devotee aspiring to be free of material
desires should offer his respectful prayers to Nrsimhadeva as Prahlada
Maharaja did in this verse. (SB 5.18.8 Text and Purport. See also 5.18.10
and 14)
yadi dasyasi me kaman
varams tvam varadarsabha
kamanam hrdy asamroham
bhavatas tu vrne varam
"O my Lord, best of the givers of benediction, if You at all want to bestow
a desirable benediction upon me, then I pray from Your Lordship that
within the core of my heart there be no material desires." (Text SB 7.10.7
)
Celibacy also is also the natural state of a pure and advanced devotee of the Lord. This principle of
having a superior taste depicted in Bhagavad-Gita as
param dristva nivartate is clearly expressed by the great Saint Sri Yamunacharya:
yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde
nava-nava-rasa-dhamany udyatam rantum asit
tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah susthu nisthivanam ca
"Since my mind has been engaged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord
Krsna, and I have been enjoying an ever new transcendental humor, whenever
I think of sex life with a woman, my face at once turns from it, and I
spit at the thought."
It is also advised by the avatar of Lord Visnu, Devahuti-suta-Kapiladev that the atraction to the opossite sex is the cause of material captivity:
yopayati sanair maya
yosid deva-vinirmita
tam iksetatmano mrtyum
trnaih kupam ivavrtam
The woman, created by the Lord, is the representation of maya, and one who
associates with such maya by accepting services must certainly know that
this is the way of death, just like a blind well covered with grass.
Sripad Sankaracarya showed how one must one cosider illogical that
so called beauty of a woman's body as an argument to stay celibate:
nari-stana-bhara-nabhi-desam
drstva ma ga moha-vesam
etan mamsa-vasadi-vikaram
manasi vicintaya varam varam
Having seen the supposed beauty of a woman's heavy breasts and her thin
waist, do not become agitated and illusioned, for these attractive
features are simply transformations of fat, flesh and various other
disgusting ingredients. You should consider this in your mind again and
again.
Christianity
Celibacy is viewed differently by the Catholic Church and the various Protestant communities. It includes
clerical celibacyClerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
, celibacy of the
consecrated lifeThe consecrated life in the Christian tradition, especially the Roman Catholic Church, but also the Anglican Church and to some extent other Christian denominations, is, as the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law states: "a stable form of living by which faithful, following Christ more closely under...
, voluntary lay celibacy, and celibacy outside of marriage. There is general agreement that it should not be seen as purer than marriage but its equal, unlike the attitude of some dualist groups such as the Gnostics who hold the material world to be evil.
In , Jesus Christ says "11 Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. 12 Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."
Thinking that the end of the world was near, a time of great upheaval, the Apostle Paul advised the Corinthian people to remain as they were, either married or unmarried:
Celibacy as a vocation may be independent from
religious vowsReligious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
(as is the case with consecrated virgins, ascetics and hermits). Traditionally though, most celibate persons have been religious and monastics (monks resp. brothers and nuns resp. sisters). In the Catholic,
OrthodoxThe Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and Oriental Orthodox traditions, bishops are required to be celibate. In the Eastern Christian traditions, priests and deacons are allowed to be married, yet have to remain celibate if they are unmarried at the time of
ordinationIn general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
.
The
Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
initially rejected celibate life as a whole and even sexual continence for priests, though especially from the 19th century on, Protestant celibate communities have emerged, especially from Anglican and Lutheran backgrounds.
A few minor Christian sects even advocated celibacy as a better way of life for everyone. These groups included the
ShakersThe United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
, the
Harmony SocietyThe Harmony Society was a Christian theosophy and pietist society founded in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785. Due to religious persecution by the Lutheran Church and the government in Württemberg, the Harmony Society moved to the United States on October 7, 1803, initially purchasing of land in Butler...
and the
Ephrata CloisterThe Ephrata Cloister or Ephrata Community was a religious community, established in 1732 by Johann Conrad Beissel at Ephrata, in what is now Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...
.
Celibacy not only for religious and monastics (brothers/monks and sisters/nuns) but also for bishops is upheld by the Catholic Church traditions.
Catholic perspective
In the Catholic Church the apostles were considered the first priests and bishops in the Church. The call to be eunuchs for the sake of heaven in Matthew 19 is considered a call to be sexually continent. Some say this developed into mandatory celibacy for priests who are believed to be the successors of the apostles. This is in spite of the fact that Peter was the first apostle called by Jesus (Matthew 4) and Peter was married (Matthew 8). A footnote in the New American Bible says: “Some scholars take the [call to be eunuchs for the sake of heaven to be meant for] those who have been divorced by their spouses and who have refused to enter into another marriage” (p. 1041).
The view of the Catholic Church remains that celibacy is more a reflection of life in Heaven, a source of detachment from the material world which aids in one's relationship with God. Celibacy is designed to "consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to "the affairs of the Lord, they give themselves entirely to God and to men. It is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church's minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God."[1] Catholic priests are called to be espoused (married) to the Church itself, and espoused to God, without overwhelming, exclusive commitments interfering with the relationship.
Celibacy was not required of popes, bishops, or priests in the early church. Popes, bishops, and priests married and sired children for over a thousand years after Christ Celibacy became obligatory for all priests in the west in the 12th century at the First Lateran Council (1123), Second Lateran Council (1139), and the Council of Trent (1545–64).. Historically, priestly celibacy became law for all only through coercion and enslavement of clerical wives and children . “The earliest decree in which the children [of clerics] were declared to be slaves and never to be enfranchised [freed] seems to have been a canon of the Synod of Pavia in 1018. Similar penalties were promulgated against wives and concubines (see the Synod of Melfi, 1189 can. Xii), who by the very fact of their unlawful connexion with a subdeacon or clerk of higher rank became liable to be seized by the over-lord” .
The early church resisted asceticism and celibacy as ideals for clergy. Scripture reflects the fact that early Christians embraced marriage and yet felt ascetic biases against marriage were seeping into their culture: 1 Timothy 4:1 "In the last times, some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions through the hypocrisy of liars with branded consciences. They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving for those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving. For it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer" . Mandatory celibacy for priests continues to be a contested issue even today.
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, or dogma, of the Church (examples of Catholic doctrine would be the principle of the absolute respect for life or the belief in the Assumption and Immaculate Conception or the reservation of the priesthood to men) but a
church rule or discipline, like the use of the vernacular (local) language in Mass or the ancient rule of Lenten fasting and abstinence. As such, it can, at least theoretically, change at any time, though it still must be obeyed by Catholics in good standing. Some rules are more susceptible to alteration or exception than others, and this rule has been affirmed for some time. The Eastern Catholic Churches ordain both celibate and married men. However, in both the East and the West, bishops are chosen from among those who are celibate. All rites of the Catholic Church maintain the ancient tradition where marriage is not allowed after ordination. However many priests who resign end up marrying, and in remote areas or "missions" practising Catholic priests sometimes have
de facto wives. In Ireland several priests have maintained "secret" families, the two most prominent being Bishop Eamonn Casey and Father Michael Cleary (priest).
The Catholic view on celibacy is based on the Christ's example, on his teaching as given in 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
OrigenOrigen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
. Clerical celibacy began to be demanded in the 4th century, including papal decretals beginning with
Pope SiriciusPope Saint Siricius, Bishop of Rome from December 384 until his death on 26 November 399, was successor to Damasus I and was himself succeeded by Anastasius I....
. Mandatory celibacy was typically expected of priests in the 11th century, as part of efforts to reform the medieval church, and became universal in the 12th.
Another possible explanation for the origins of obligatory celibacy revolves around more practical reason, "the need to avoid claims on church property by priests' offspring". It remains a matter of Canon Law (and oftentimes a criterion for certain religious orders, especially Franciscans) that priests do not own land and therefore cannot pass it on to legitimate or illegitimate children. The land belongs to the Church through the local diocese as administered by the Local Ordinary, or Bishop.
Universal celibacy
Jesus' characterization (in ) of the future status of all persons in
heavenHeaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
is officially designated "universal celibacy" by the Catholic Church: "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."
Brahma Kumaris
In the religious movement of Brahma Kumaris, celibacy is also promoted for peace and to defeat power of
lustLust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
and to prepare for life in forthcoming Heaven on earth for 2,500 years when children will be created by the power of the mind even for householders to like holy brother and sister.
In the Brahma Kumaris belief system, celibacy is given the utmost importance. It is said that, as per the direction of the Supreme God those lead a pure and celibate life will be successfully able to conquer the surging vices. The power of celibacy creates an unseen environment of divinity bringing peace, power, purity, prosperity and fortune. Those with the power of celibacy are eligible to claim a bright future of Golden Age of heaven / Paradise. Brahma Kumaris concept of identifying the self as a soul, different from physical body, is deeply linked to the philosophy of celibacy. It is said that the craving for sex and impure thoughts are the reason for the whole trouble in the universe today.
Islamic perspective
Islam does not promote celibacy; rather it condemns
premarital sexPremarital sex is sexual activity, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex, practiced by persons who are unmarried. Although it has always been practiced, in the West it has increased in prevalence since the mid-1950s...
. In fact, according to Islam, marriage enables one to attain the highest form of righteousness within this sacred spiritual bond. It disagrees with the concept that marriage acts as a form of distraction in attaining nearness to God. The
Qur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
(57:27) states, "But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them but only to please Allah therewith, but that they did not observe it with the right observance."
The following sayings about the Prophet also address celibacy:
"There have been people who have come to the prophet and explained how they love to be engaged in prayer and fasting for the sake of God. 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 for an individual as well as upon society, it may also take one away from God."
"The Prophet Muhammad said that he who does not do
nikahMarriage in Islam is an Islamic prenuptial contract between a man and woman to live as husband and wife. It is a formal, binding contract considered integral to a religiously valid Islamic marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and bride involved in marriage proceedings...
(marry) is not from me (does not follow my example)."
Meher Baba
The spiritual teacher
Meher BabaMeher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
stated that "[F]or the [spiritual] aspirant a life of strict celibacy is preferable to married life, if restraint comes to him easily without undue sense of self-repression. Such restraint is difficult for most persons and sometimes impossible, and for them married life is decidedly more helpful than a life of celibacy. For ordinary persons, married life is undoubtedly advisable unless they have a special aptitude for celibacy" Baba also asserted that "
The value of celibacy lies in the habit of restraint and the sense of detachment and independence which it gives" and that "The aspirant must choose one of the two courses which are open to him. He must take to the life of celibacy or to the married life, and he must avoid at all costs a cheap compromise between the two.
Promiscuity in sex gratification is bound to land the aspirant in a most pitiful and dangerous chaos of ungovernable lust."
Secular
The radical feminist group
Cell 16Cell 16 was a militant feminist organization known for its program of celibacy, separation from men and self-defense training...
were strongly championing celibacy as a challenge to male dominance, following in a tradition of celibacy dating back to the early feminists. They advocated women separate from "men who are not consciously working for female liberation", but advised periods of celibacy. There have been activists who have been celibate to devote energy to their cause.
The earliest roots of celibacy were secular. In the 6th century BC, "Pythagoras himself established a small community that set a premium on study, vegetarianism, and sexual restraint or abstinence. Later philosophers believed that celibacy would be conducive to the detachment and equilibrium required by the philosopher's calling. Similarly, the increasing number of cults—e.g.s, Manichaeans and Gnostics—had an inner circle requiring continence"
See also
- Abstinence in Judaism
Abstinence is the refraining from enjoyments which are lawful in themselves. Abstinence in general can be considered a virtue only when it serves the purpose of consecrating a life to a higher purpose...
- Antisexualism
Antisexualism is opposition or hostility towards sexual behavior and sexuality. In pre-modern times, antisexual social movements were usually expressed in religious terms, but they now often have a secular social reform agenda...
- Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
- Involuntary celibacy
Involuntary celibacy is the absence in human sexuality of intimate relationships or sexual intercourse for reasons other than voluntary celibacy, asexuality, antisexualism, or sexual abstinence...
- Sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...
- Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
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