For example.. Celibacy, it is true that priests who have taken a vow of celibacy often become deviant. All those suppressed sexual urges simply seem to set them up for failure or worse pedophilia... I am not saying that all people who take a vow of celibacy become deviant I am saying that it seems that supressing natural, instinctive needs of the individual have a negative impact on the overall mental health of the individual. Just recently there was a question about this and the person really seemed to be suffering from such repression. I dont believe that sex is wrong, I believe that it is natural and normal and that healthy, sexually mature individuals benefit physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally from responsible sexual activity. Why does religion look down on such a positive thing? If you love someone why should you deny what comes naturally? Why would a creator instill these urges into us humans and then tell us to deny them? it makes no sense..
2007-09-20 16:10:14 · 4 answers · asked by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Furthermore, it seems the more a person is denied sexual activity, the more it is on their mind. The more it is on their mind, the more obsessed they become and the more obessed they becoome the more unhealthy their thoughts become.
2007-09-20 16:12:02 · update #1
I know that we don't know what causes pedophilia, the disproportionate number of celibate priests who are pedophiles raises some questions.. did they become priests to attempt to forestall their urges? or did the celibacy drive them to such acts?? I am not stereotyping I am just mentioning a fact. Even people in my family were molested by priests as children, and they are not the only ones.. there is some correlation we just dont know what it is yet.
2007-09-20 16:23:46 · update #2
Yes, some religious practices set the practitioner up for failure. While all religions are theoretically good, not all of their practices are good for the individual. That is the real source of religious contention - whether or not a doctrine or practice is actually expedient.
But celibacy does not produce pedophilia. I want to make that perfectly clear. People do not just run off and turn into deranged monsters because they abstain from sex.
2007-09-20 16:16:29 · answer #1 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Often is a total exaggeration. Most priests are not deviant. Most estimates suggest that the sexual abuse accusations affect about 4% of the priests in the United States...and that this is about the same as the percentage of people in education accused of sexual abuse.
Personally, I find the idea of a "vow of celibacy" a tad wrong...doesn't the bible warn us against making this kind of vow. How can a young man or woman possibly know whether God's plan for them includes marriage? Yes, Paul did say that he thought it was better to remain single but only IF you could control your desires without undue pain...I don't think a lifetime vow of celibacy is what he had in mind.
2007-09-20 23:44:03 · answer #2 · answered by KAL 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You touch on some of the reasons why there are many mental health issues caused by religions.
2007-09-20 23:15:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It isn't about abstinence... it is about self government and self control.
2007-09-20 23:16:12 · answer #4 · answered by Invisible_Flags 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋