Why is celibacy looked down upon?

Question

Do you look down upon people who practice celibacy?

Answer 1

This is a subject I too have often dwelled on and wondered why so many mock those who choose celibacy. I have to say that in my experiance most individuals who mock others who choose and attain "abstanence" or celibacy, do so because they are actually jealous.

At least in the United States a high number of people who have chosen to engage in sexual encounters prior to marriage actually secretly think highly of those who are able to achieve celibacy until marriage!

If we do a search just here at Answers, we would discover an astonishing high number of responses which both encourage youth to abstain until marriage, and admiration for those who actually doing so. Anyone who searches in this forum will find a very high number of individuals who show this in their responses here.

I am not stating that everyone secretly feels bad for not abstaining sexually until marriage. There are those who honestly feel fine with their choices sexually. However, these people are not the ones who mock those who choose celibacy. They don't mock those who choose a different lifestyle because they simply do not have any need to do so.

Individuals who truly feel a high level of self esteem, and confidence in their own capabilities, choices, and actions do not feel any need to mock or make fun of people who make different choices. I have also read responses from those with this type of charactor supporting those who choose differently, but not because they secretly wish they too had made the same choice, but because they admire anyone who can make a difficult personal life choice and stick to their integrity, rather than fall victim to peer presure or social expectations.

It is only those individuals who actually secretly feel bad about the choices they have made in life who feel any need or desire to mock those who have achieved what they secretly find honorable and moral. When somebody is secretly ashamed of the personal choices they make in life, they will mock and ridicule those who have achieved what they feel is a desirable behavior, to hide their own feelings of self contempt and self hate.

Individuals who feel a degree of shame for their behaviors are the ones who must work the hardest to prove they don't feel this self contempt, so they attack those who represent their own feeling of failure. It is sad, but true nonetheless.

I personally do not look down on those who choose celibacy. I actually admire people who are able to self moderate their actions and achieve what in their belief is honorable, moral, ethical, and of high integrity. I don't have to hold the same belief system as they do, just admire the ability to stick to ones belief system and to honor that belief by following through with personal action.

I have a few regrets in life. However, I do not have self contempt for those areas in my life I wish I had made different choices. I have learned a great deal from the mistakes I have made, and when we use our mistakes as an education, rather than a reason to beat ourselves up, it is of value and is therefore not in vain. When we don't learn from a mistake, and continually beat ourselves up and those who we believe represent what we have failed in, we do not grow and all we gain is self contempt and contempt for others in our desire to hide from that mistake. Does that make sense? I hope so!

I rewrote this post a few times, trying to express my thoughts on this subject. I had my own belief in why people look down on those who choose and achieve celibacy, or any other behavior I find morally right and of value, but it is sometimes difficult to put in down in words which adequetly express those thoughts and feelings.

So, the bottom line for me is that *anyone* who mocks, ridicules or harrasses others does so out of a lack of self esteem, confidence, and shame for whatever reason, and they think that their mockery hides how they really feel about themselves. It actually has little to do with the target of their mockery except that the person represents what the person doing the mocking feels is lacking within themselves.

The other reason for mockery is a fear of the unknown. It is human nature to fear that which in unkown, and this fear will manifest into riducle and hatred. I see individuals change over time, as they learn about different societies, belief systems, and ways of life. We can have a myriad of differences on earth and learn to live in harmony with each other, but it will take some time to reach that level of civilization.

Answer 2

I don't know if it's looked down on, but it seems an artificial gesture. Do people practice sex? I mean, if someone says, "I'm celebate" what is the opposite? "I have sex all the time"? Or "I have sex with everyone"? To say, "I will have sex some day, just not now" seems all right. Celibacy is something like fasting. Kind of a show, and not a real way of being.

Answer 3

Not at all.

Anyone growing up in these wacky times with disease so prevalent...practicing celibacy would be a good idea.

Answer 4

No, I don't look down on it, I have even practiced it sporadically. Who said it was looked down upon? Why would it be? To each their own. If you can go without it, and it pleases you to do so, have at it!

Answer 5

you assert that "basing their motives upon the bible is unreasonable and a contradiction to themselves" yet it fairly is besides the undeniable fact that the place they're getting their ideals from. To be fairly specific, Romans a million (no longer interior the previous testomony; it fairly is a sparkling testomony textual content fabric) is going into the meant features of gays at some length. The apostle Paul says there that "even the boys left the organic use of the female and grew to become violently contaminated of their lust in direction of one yet another, men with men, working what's obscene." He is going directly to declare that they are crammed with "all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being finished of envy, homicide, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventors of injurious issues, disobedient to individuals, devoid of information, fake to agreements, having no organic affection, cruel." so because it fairly is the place the Christians are transforming into it from. by using the way, Catholics are Christians. Christianity is split into Catholic and Protestant, despite if Orthodox would nicely be yet another class besides. Christianity isn't defined as "worship of God"; it fairly is defined as "following or worshipping Jesus, distinctly as Savior."

Answer 6

I don't look down on anyone for this reason and I don't know anyone else who does. In this day in time I find it to be something to admire.

Answer 7

Probably out of jealousy and hatred of what is good. There are both spiritual and PRAGMATIC reasons for it. Just ask any AIDS "victim".

If you're celibate for the right reasons.....CARRY ON WAYWARD SON (or DAUGHTER)!

Answer 8

I don't look down on them like I am better, but I will openly shake my head at them. It is really useless and there is no good reason for it. There are plenty of protective means today for disease risks. We are supposed to be fruitful! Sex is great for your health and well being.

Answer 9

its weird, but to each their own.