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| Portrait of French Consul Le Blond by Rosalba Carriera |
"The philosophy of celibacy for the common spirits ends here. In the eyes of those who measure things and men through their social utility only; that kind of domestic insulation of priesthood, that indirect abjuration of the purest and most sacred affections, those of family; is condemned by some as adverse to the interest of nations, as moral and politically detrimental, and defended by others as utile and moral.
God forbid me from debating a matter so often disputed, so often exhausted by those who know the science of the world and by those who know the science of Heaven! I, on my part, feeble arguer, have only thought of celibacy in the light of sentiment and under the influence of singular impression that, since green age, formed in me the idea of irremediable solitude of the soul to which the church has condemned its ministers, some sort of spiritual amputation, in which dies the hope for the priest of completing his existence on Earth.
Imagine all the joys, all the consolations that heavenly imagery and the living belief can generate, and you will find that these do not supply the sad vacuum left by the isolation of the heart.
Grant passions all the ardour you can, confer pleasures a thousand times more intensity, consent the senses maximum energy and convert the world into paradise; yet take woman away from it, and the world will be a melancholic desert; its delights will be nothing more than a prelude to tedium.”
(in Eurico by Alexandre Herculano)
Translated by Max Coutinho
What do you think: is celibacy a "spiritual amputation"?
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Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
Hi Max,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you kept the subject matter "light" this week. LOL
Wikipedia definition of celibacy.
"The word "celibacy" can mean either the state of being unmarried or abstinence, especially because of religious vows, from sexual intercourse. The latter meaning corresponds to that of the word "continence" when used with regard to sexual activity.
In the canon law of the Latin Church, the word "celibacy" is used specifically in the sense of being unmarried. However, for its clergy this state of being unmarried is considered to be a consequence of the obligation to be completely and perpetually continent..."
I don't think it is a spiritual amuptation (Btw, I love that term), other than a choice made by those who enter that particular field of religion.
Celibacy for other people could be a result of bad relationships, self image, intimacy issues, etc.
To have a body and not be able to experience it is a waste. To deny a natural part of ourselves is to deny our spirituality.
Awesome post my dear. Keep up the good work.
Celibacy should be a matter of personal choice and I guess that joining a religious group that imposes celibacy falls into that category (i.e. personal choice), unless one is forced into joining the church...
ReplyDeleteNow, is it "spiritual amputation"? I think it is (even if by choice), for God made man and woman to be together and not apart (or should I say, God made man and woman to know each other biblically speaking); so celibacy militates against God's purpose and intention regarding Creation.
Union and sex were intended to be sacred yet humans tend to defile them both (for whichever reason).
Loved this approach, Max.
Take care
Some people like being on their own and I respect that. We all need "someone" but that "someone" can also be a rewarding career, friends, a passion... I don't think there is a specific model to follow.
ReplyDeleteIf your god is your desires, then certainly denying them would be tantamount to "spiritual amputation". In this religion, there is guaranteed to be a final amputation. The only possible paradise is a brief earthly one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting twist, because this clarifies a bit more of why I hope for heaven through Jesus.
Celibacy destroys the soul, confuses the spirit and therefore it is a shredder.
ReplyDeleteHi Lady A :D!
ReplyDelete"I am glad that you kept the subject matter "light" this week. LOL"
LOL you know?
"I don't think it is a spiritual amuptation (Btw, I love that term), other than a choice made by those who enter that particular field of religion."
I loved the term myself. Well said.
"To have a body and not be able to experience it is a waste. To deny a natural part of ourselves is to deny our spirituality."
I totally agree.
"Awesome post my dear. Keep up the good work."
Thank you so much, darling *bowing*!
Lady A, muito obrigada for sharing your opinion :D.
Cheers
Hi Rivka :D!
ReplyDelete"Celibacy should be a matter of personal choice and I guess that joining a religious group that imposes celibacy falls into that category (i.e. personal choice), unless one is forced into joining the church..."
True.
"Now, is it "spiritual amputation"? I think it is (even if by choice), for God made man and woman to be together and not apart (or should I say, God made man and woman to know each other biblically speaking); so celibacy militates against God's purpose and intention regarding Creation."
I agree. It is true that God's first commandment to Man was "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth"...this commandment entails coitus, right?
"Union and sex were intended to be sacred yet humans tend to defile them both (for whichever reason)."
Indeed, indeed.
"Loved this approach, Max."
Thanks, Rivka; I am glad it struck your fancy *bowing*.
And thank you so much for having shared your point of view on this matter. I hope to see more of you amongst us :D.
Cheers
Hey Zhu :D!
ReplyDelete"Some people like being on their own and I respect that. We all need "someone" but that "someone" can also be a rewarding career, friends, a passion... I don't think there is a specific model to follow."
Some people are on their own and yet have sex; depending on the perspective. However, I know what you mean...but is it natural?
A rewarding career is "something" not someone; yet it is true that many people supply the void with their career; still deep down they feel empty, incomplete (even if they say otherwise).
Zhu Zhu, thank you for your opinion :D!
Cheers
Hi Looney :D!
ReplyDelete"If your god is your desires, then certainly denying them would be tantamount to "spiritual amputation". In this religion, there is guaranteed to be a final amputation. The only possible paradise is a brief earthly one."
I would consider it a spiritual amputation because it goes against God's commanment of being fruitful and multiplying - He carved this order in humans upon creation, and when they go against it..isn't it some sort of amputation?
"Thanks for the interesting twist, because this clarifies a bit more of why I hope for heaven through Jesus."
You are welcome *bowing*. I understand what you mean...
Looney, thank you so much for sharing your viewpoint on this subject :D.
Cheers
Hey C.C!
ReplyDelete:D
I missed you, guys!!
"Celibacy destroys the soul, confuses the spirit and therefore it is a shredder."
Beautifully said! Yes, indeed it is a shredder...
C.C, thank you so much for re-surfacing and for sharing your opinion :D.
Cheers
Max,
ReplyDelete"I would consider it a spiritual amputation because it goes against God's commanment of being fruitful and multiplying - He carved this order in humans upon creation, and when they go against it..isn't it some sort of amputation?"
Well, since I am a parent who has produced and raised a few kids and spent almost 30 years with my wife ... My main observation is that once the kids are produced you are forced back to the celibacy mode most of the time. A wife who is exhausted with the children simply isn't the same as before. When the issue is only sex (or celibacy if we invoke it in the negative) - per our current culture - rather than the procreation, the relationship often ends once the children are produced. I still think making it into something "spiritual" is begging for trouble!
Hey Looney :D!
ReplyDelete"Well, since I am a parent who has produced and raised a few kids and spent almost 30 years with my wife ... My main observation is that once the kids are produced you are forced back to the celibacy mode most of the time. A wife who is exhausted with the children simply isn't the same as before."
Congratulations for your almost 30 years of union :D!
So I heard from many couples; however there are also those couples that force themselves into the celibacy mode for other reasons (and there lies the very complexity of human life). I would say that it depends on the culture though, Looney - African women do not react the same way, and sex is extremely important in the African couple's life (well, that is the advice that African men get upon their wedding day [offered by a commission of Older Women]: never sexually fail your wife, no matter what - but this is another story).
"When the issue is only sex (or celibacy if we invoke it in the negative) - per our current culture - rather than the procreation, the relationship often ends once the children are produced. I still think making it into something "spiritual" is begging for trouble!"
I see what you mean. LOL "begging for trouble"? LOL you kill me...
I don't have children yet, thus my opinion is a bit limited when it comes to that; however I tend to believe that sexual union goes beyond procreation and it represents a deep spiritual connection (hence the danger of having many sexual partners - energetically speaking).
Hey Max! How are you sweetie? Hope is well and that you had a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI had a good one.
Kisses and hugs.
Hi Liza :D!
ReplyDeleteI am fine, darling! How're you?
I did have a great weekend, and I hope you had one too. I will be seeing you in a few minutes ;).
Have a great week and thanks for the visit!
Cheers
Max, I am just now learning that Socrates is your Prime Minister. Or he was until today. Do you think what he did is wise?
ReplyDeleteHey Looney,
ReplyDelete"Max, I am just now learning that Socrates is your Prime Minister. Or he was until today. Do you think what he did is wise?"
Indeed, Mr. José Sócrates was our Prime Minister until yesterday (when he resigned from office after his austerity plan was rejected by our parliament).
Well, there is two ways to read his resignation:
1- His behaviour was similar to the socialist PM Guterres' back in 2001 (after a serious socialist defeat in local elections): he just abandoned the boat in the midst of a political and economic tempest.
We could say that this is the Portuguese socialist MO (they ruin the country's resources, then quit, then wait for the right wing to bring the economy back up, lower the deficit and then do whatever they can to bring the rightists down, take over power again and re-start the spending spree). Socialists are not good managers, never been and never will be - plus, they can't take the heat in the kitchen. In view of this, no...what he did was not wise - a leader does not quit and leave the nation in turmoil.
2- His 15 minutes meeting with President Cavaco Silva, to allegedly present his resignation, leads me into thinking that he had already been advised to leave office because the "Portuguese that Portugal needs so much right now" (Sócrates' words) would only invest in a Right Wing party (for Rightists, by tradition, know how to manage the economy).
If this analysis of his words is correct then, technically, what he did was wise since it was the best for the nation (a leader knows when leaving is the best for the team and country). His personal sacrifice is something to be taken into account (given his pride and arrogance).
It's complex...
Hey folks, Will probably be the U.S. far greater off sticking to Syria's Assad?
ReplyDelete