Is it wrong or forbidden to purposely commit one's self to life long celibacy or to claim that one is being more righteous or benefiting in any way from it?

Humans were created for the purpose of populating the world.
Therefore, humans were also created with sexual urges. Repressing such urges, as opposed to channeling these urges in a permissible way, is a very difficult thing to do and does not necessarily lead to righteousness or any benefit. On the contrary, it could possibly be harmful to one's physical and or mental health. It could also lead a person to transgress very serious sins. One who has a chance to marry and prevent themselves from those transgressions is meritorious.

This post was last modified: 12-09-2009 06:15 PM by Director Michael.

Shalom,

My name is Carl and I am new to the forums. I am a young man who suffers with Same Sex Attraction. I am also new to following the 7 Laws of Noah. I came from being an agnostic to having a growing love for G-d and Torah.

Anyway, that is besides the point. I know that Homosexuality is forbidden to all the followers of G-d. I am trying to take steps to overcome these attractions and become a normal, healthy, heterosexual male. However at this point I know that I am not capable of having a normal, stable, relationship with a female.

My question is this. Is it ok for someone who is in my position to practice celibacy instead of trying something I know that at this point would be a disaster and would only lead me further from G-d? I know that we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, but I honestly feel that at this point I am not ready and don't want to further hurt myself or anyone else while I am trying to grow and heal.

Thank you in advance for any help and advice you can offer.

The answer to your question is Yes, it is OK for you to practice celibacy in that situation. Also, if you're a Gentile, please note that Gentiles are not commanded that they must be fruitful and multiply. Still, it is very praiseworthy, and it fulfills a part of a person's Divine mission in the world.

If you haven't already, I hope you'll check out http://www.jonahweb.org

As long as "practice celibacy" is not understood as "practice masturbation." I hope that rabbis always smell masturbation rationalizations from miles away and respond appropriately.

When someone comes asking for permission to be celibate, it is like they are asking for permission to do something they know is wrong. Why would a man desire celibacy and feel the need to ask someone for permission to be celibate? It is if they are asking if they are somehow special and exempt from the prohibition on masturbation, which is like murder.

This post was last modified: 05-05-2010 03:09 AM by Director Michael.

If you will read the preceding posts, you'll see that Carl was asking about celibacy as his alternative to having homosexual relations (his temporary alternative, while he is working to overcome his SSA problem, and to develop a normal, healthy, heterosexual life). The homosexual relations that he has been attracted to are expressly forbidden as part of one of the 7 Noahide Commandments (see Gen. 2:24). While he overcomes this through celibacy temporarily, if he can also avoid committing the lesser (but still significant) sin (which is less destructive to the society as a whole), so much the better.

Your comment is also one-sided, because all unmarried people (the majority of whom are heterosexual) should ideally be practicing celibacy if they are not living in an established heterosexual domestic partnership. Having licentious relations outside of an established heterosexual domestic partnership falls within a category of wasting seed (see Gen. 2:24), and it is also destructive to society.

Some people ask the Rabbis if they can have permission to be celibate, and some people need to be told by the Rabbis that they should be celibate (until they can get their licentious behavior under control, and start living in a husband-and-wife relationship).

This post was last modified: 05-05-2010 04:50 AM by Director Michael.