If we -all- became priests and nuns, dedicating our lives to God, what happens to the Human Race? Do we go extinct for lack of procreation? Is that God's plan?
2006-08-24 23:59:56 · 18 answers · asked by bobkgin 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it was god that said go forth and have kids . it was the church that said marry the church
2006-08-25 00:03:39 · answer #1 · answered by k dog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you make it sound so very simple by the way you frame the question, but sadly it is not, either on its surface or placed in a deeper historical context.
On its surface, the utility of celibacy in the clergy is, as you say, to dedicate the lives of priests and nuns to God. It is also to remove the clergy from sexual and romantic involvement with the parishoners, whose respect for independence they require to perform their task. Still, just as that small fish that enters the whale's mouth to clean its teeth, that the whale knows not to eat, the Church never intended that the clergy would become any more than a small service organ to the much larger flock.
Indeed, historically, that was another of the reasons for celibacy and non-marriage. The vast majority of the parishes simply could not afford to support a family, as it was a pretty substantial burden just to support a single priest, or a nun running a school. Apart from other moral implications, the vow of poverty was also a product of the Church's desire not to be having to force parishes to finance a high lifestyle for their clergy.
I realize that some of these rules seem archaic now, particularly in the United States, and most likely contribute to the sharp declines in people entering the clergy in the Catholic Church. But you must remember this is a worldwide church, and the priest who is ministering to the upriver natives on the Amazon faces the same problems of finance and gaining the trust of his flock that his precessors of 300 and 500 and 1,000 years ago did.
2006-08-25 07:22:28 · answer #2 · answered by anonymourati 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These doctrines and rulings that govern the conduct of priests and nuns are man-made doctrines enforced by men and for men.
Although Leviticus does make a reference to the sexuality of a priest it does not exclusively forbid sexual relations. There are certain ceremonies for which the priest must abstain for the sake of spiritual and physical purity and cleanliness, but it was only as part of those rituals, not a lifelong celibacy.
Our orders from GOD were to go forth be fruitful and multiply, therefore Mankind decided it would make a priest or nun special by being celibate. It has nothing at all to do with piety, holiness or GOD, it's just anothers one Man's attempts to be divine.
PEACE AND GOD BLESS!!!
2006-08-25 11:39:32 · answer #3 · answered by Rick R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always got confused by this concept as well, as how can the most pious people not be allowed to have kids?
You can say that nuns etc then teach the kids but the kids still go home and parents overide teacher in most cases so I'm left confused, I think these people just feel it's the best way to live the faith for them, maybe they'd be bad parents?
It's better to have no kids and devote yourself to God then raise kids who aren't very well behaved.
2006-08-25 07:15:34 · answer #4 · answered by hints_dont_work 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No where in the Bible that say priests and nuns can not marry. It is a rule of men.
2006-08-25 07:14:43 · answer #5 · answered by Kenneth G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion can try to outlaw the works of the flesh all it wants to, but the reality of it all is that legalism fails. the prospect of the world becoming celibate is a pipe dream. the sexual drive is the strongest drive in all of creation. It is the desire to preserve the species through reproduction. It is an instinctive behavior that God has implanted in us to insure that we and other creatures propagate themselves. God does not want us to sexually starve ourselves into extinction---he wants us to act sexually responsible. Sexual immorality is the root of all sin in man because it is born out of pride and God hates pride.
2006-08-25 07:11:37 · answer #6 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you tell me where you read that God ask the nons and priest to practicing celibate?
This is a catholic church rule, wich means human...
If you can find me the passage in the bible where God says "you won't **** at all", I am listening.
(and beside that...do you really think nons and priest don't have sex??)
2006-08-25 07:05:05 · answer #7 · answered by ycaruss y 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there really a chance of that happening?
Probably more of a chance everyone will abort the human race to extinction.
Stay up all night worrying about that too.
2006-08-25 07:02:38 · answer #8 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Roman Catholic church forbade priests and nuns to marry, because if they married, they left everything to their families instead of the church. So this is why they are forbidden to marry, so the church can benefit when they die.
2006-08-25 07:06:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, how many nuns and priests are not actually celibate?
2006-08-25 07:02:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is just for some people, not all.
Paul recommends celibacy as does Jesus in the gospel.
So celibacy for the kingdom has of course biblical support.
You could argue againt gays the same way.
2006-08-25 07:04:02 · answer #11 · answered by zorro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋