Celibacy: Good for what ails you?



(Facial Composite of St. Paul by LKA NRW) 

Not only does romantic love sometimes hurt emotionally, but it can also take its toll physically.

MSN Health asks “Are you allergic to love?” – then proceeds to list six possible reasons why you might be.  Having a drink “to get in the mood” can trigger “sneezing and wheezing” from the sulfites commonly found in wine and beer.  Liplocking with someone who ate a peanut butter sandwich within the last 16 to 24 hours can be hazardous to the health of a peanut-sensitive partner.  Not wanting to disturb the mood while your lover lights up a smoke can disturb your lungs instead.  Using a fragrance to offset the smoke can have similar consequences.  If you’ve survived all that and are still heading towards intimacy, bear in mind that bodily secretions and latex can also be allergens.

It’s no wonder that celibacy has been viewed as a shortcut to heaven.  Celibacy is often narrowly defined as an avoidance of sexual intimacy, but it can also entail a general avoidance of romantic relationships.  The word itself derives from the Latin term caelebs, meaning “unmarried” – which in turn derives from two Proto-Indo European components, kaiwelo (“alone”) and lib(h)s (“living”).  Wikipedia also reports that many cultures have “venerated celibacy in certain individuals,” seeing it as a “form of discipline to be admired.”

For Saint Paul, celibacy went way beyond sexual abstinence.  He viewed sex within marriage as natural – even “proper and necessary”; however, he viewed marriage itself as a potential barrier to fully focusing upon Christ.  Saint Jerome’s definition of celibacy included thoughts and desires, as well.  Today’s Christian evangelicals instead often use the term “abstinence,” and emphasize “refraining from premarital sex and focusing upon the joys of a future marriage.”

Buddhism has a long history of celibate adherents, as does Hinduism.  Islam heralds marriage as a “sacred

spiritual bond,” but condemns premarital sex.

Resources

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/allergies/are-you-allergic-to-love?imageindex=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome

Copyright February 10, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved