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Celibacy
#1
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?
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#2
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.
Rabbi Yitz
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#3
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
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#4
Director Michael Wrote: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.
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#5
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).
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#6
In the case where someone is in a situation where they cannot get married or be in a committed relationship for certain reasons, for example by being rejected every time, or by having certain psychological issues like extreme shyness or social anxiety, and assuming this situation would be permanent or last for a very long time, would this be the only case in which lifelong celibacy would be a good thing?

Are there any situations like these in which prostitution is OK as long as there are no health dangers or it is not done excessively, or would it be better to be involuntarily celibate for life, if one had to chose between the two?
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#7
(11-01-2011, 10:38 AM)Daniel2 Wrote: In the case where someone is in a situation where they cannot get married or be in a committed relationship for certain reasons, for example by being rejected every time, or by having certain psychological issues like extreme shyness or social anxiety, and assuming this situation would be permanent or last for a very long time, would this be the only case in which lifelong celibacy would be a good thing?
If the Gentile does not want to be celibate, then he/she is living in a negative situation, and he/she should seek therapy or counseling to overcome or manage the psychological issue that's holding him/her back from getting married. If he/she wants to be celibate and can manage that in a proper way, that is a viable option, because it's permitted.
(11-01-2011, 10:38 AM)Daniel2 Wrote: Are there any situations like these in which prostitution is OK as long as there are no health dangers or it is not done excessively, or would it be better to be involuntarily celibate for life, if one had to chose between the two?
No, there are no situations like those in which going to a prostitute is OK. A person should stay celibate if that is the only other option. See "The Divine Code," 2nd edition, p. 522, 534.
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