2006-06-20 21:11:13 · 12 answers · asked by peace 2 all 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First, Judeo-Christian tradition has always held that single people be celibate. This is taught by Judaism and Christianity from before the Scriptures were written down.
The question should be: Why can't priests marry?
This idea came from the Jews, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.
The Jews. The Talmud argues that a person whose “soul is bound up with the Torah and is constantly occupied with it” may remain celibate (Maimonides, Laws of Marriage 15.3). This argument could certainly have been based on the biblical example of Jeremiah, a celibate prophet who was ordered by Yahweh not to marry (Jeremiah 16:1-4). Moreover, the Essenes was a group that was active in Jesus’ time that practiced celibacy and thought by most scholars to be the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that either or both Jesus and John the Baptist were influenced in their celibacy by the example of the Essenes.
The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).
The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.
With love in Christ.
2006-06-21 16:28:52 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok I know this is tricky, but I will do my best. Try looking at it like a sacrifice and value system. What makes giving up something hard? When it is of high importance or value, right? When the Religious (capital “R” as in nuns, priests, etc. as opposed to laity who practice devoutly) choose to observe the practice of celibacy, they are giving up sexual intercourse. Please note that it is intercourse they give up, not their sexuality. Sexuality is a human trait, not an on/off switch depending on whether or not you are having sex.
Anyhow, the fact that they give it up underscores how important and valuable procreation is. If procreation was not so important, then there would be no sacrifice in giving it up. Celibacy highlights the importance and beauty of procreation, and allows us to see being a parent as just as important as any other vocation- be it the priesthood or sisterhood, etc. Parenting should be considered just as much a calling by God as should a vocation to the Religious life.
I hope that helped. If it did not, please email me and I will try to explain further. I know this is vague because I did not mention abstinence and marriage in the definition, so please forgive me.
2006-06-20 21:24:32 · answer #2 · answered by tommy052588 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is, to the Christian who has the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of the Scripture is the most powerful and meaningful book and gift. Your question about celibacy is simply answered in that certain persons throughout history have chosen to totally remove themselves from sources of distraction and temptation in order to totally dedicate themselves to the study, practice, and teachings of scripture totally. The Catholic Church has chosen that their priest was to be "father" to the followers and not distracted as an earthly family which also requires an earthly father to dedicate time and efforts to an earthly family.
2006-06-20 21:23:26 · answer #3 · answered by alagk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the Catholic church is wrong, they do not follow the Bible they follow the traditions of the church. There are many area that they have strayed from the Bible, (or never did follow it) and that is why protestantism started hundreds of years ago led by Martin Luther. Where do you find the "Pope" in the Bible? Where do you find Nuns, or Roseries, of confession etc, etc.
2006-06-20 21:19:12 · answer #4 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First this is nothing about anyones beliefs but God created Adam "and" Eve, Marrage is Three way relationship, that is Between man and His God, when Adam choose Eve to listen to and pushed God and what He had said aside, He lost God and Adam's relationship also went down hill, the first thing he told God was "the woman YOU gave me SHE gave it to me and I did eat" the catholic church has A habbit of doing many things because of tridition, for example sunday worship, the Bible Sabbath is from sundown friday until sundown saturday, no where and I defy you to show me where it says God changed the seventh day sabbath to the first day of the week, Jesus kept the Sabbath and his deciples long after His return to Heaven. Sunday keeping is a thing handed down to folks from the catholic church, if you want to talk more email me, wgr88@yahoo.com God bless.
2006-06-20 21:20:48 · answer #5 · answered by wgr88 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
and thats not the only false teaching in the catholic bible...there are many more, which are much more serious and defying the real Word of God, like praying for the dead, the Mama Mary issue, the purgatory and even the papal office...could go on and on...
You wont find all those things in a real Christian bible like the Kung James Version or NASB...
2006-06-20 21:39:54 · answer #6 · answered by Aino D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because you are only to procreate with one spouse, not fifteen million. if that's how it was supposed to be and if that was what people practiced, then the world would be an overpopulated pool of idiots with stds..oh wait, that's not too far from the truth..
2006-06-20 21:15:49 · answer #7 · answered by you're_a_mango 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's meant to be a sacrifice.
Giving up something worldly so that one may be closer to God.
2006-06-20 21:16:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
celibacy only if you're single and unmarried
2006-06-20 21:15:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cause its all a big bunch of bull$h!t
Religion, that is
2006-06-20 21:14:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋