Celibacy for men

[leoncaruthers]

Culture used to actively discourage the habit, rather than encourage it, and the practice was openly derided. We also used to marry much younger, so passions were much more likely to be properly channeled.

As far as universality, there are plenty of primitive peoples that don’t do it at all: yourbrainonporn.com/weird-masturbation-habits

Think about it: masturbation is wasteful. Of time, calories, and potential. Without a certain level of material affluence, a group of humans that tolerated the practice would be at a disadvantage in the same area of the world relative to a group that discouraged it.

 

[ethereality]

Just thought I’d chime in: I took an anatomy & physiology course in undergrad, using Kenneth Saladin’s 7th edition Human Anatomy Form and Function textbook.

In the second semester of that class (required for nursing majors), we learned there is no need for male ejaculation in terms of a periodic “need” to have a minimum number within a certain period of time. Simply put, unused sperm is periodically broken down and constituent parts (proteins, etc) recycled by the body.

I have heard various arguments, like “there was a study suggesting there may be some connection between masturbation and prostate cancer, so it may be good to exercise it periodically,” but not only is this not clear (i.e. lacking evidence), but it’s entirely irrelevant for this religious discussion: God demands obedience over self-preservation, and the Church has unequivocally made clear that ‘use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of the marital act is intrinsically disordered, for here sexual pleasure is sought outside of the relationship demanded by the moral order’ (see the Catechism).

You can try to persuade yourself that you’re “not seeking sexual pleasure” but rather relief from some pain, but at the bottom line, I think it’s clear one is in fact seeking sexual pleasure. I think physiology also proves this: Saladin’s textbook describes what I think men know, that the sexual response – sexual arousal – is driven not only by physical stimulation, but also by thought: The brain sends signals to the reproductive organs in response to sexual (erotic) mental stimuli. Trying to achieve a sexual response without introducing sexual stimuli is, I think, impossible. Thus our physiology is pointing to the fact that another person is intended for that action.

Literally, though, the OP’s question was about remaining a virgin, not about masturbation (although being Lutheran, perhaps his definition of ‘celibacy’ is confused). Clearly, lifelong celibacy is possible. Clearly, lifelong chastity is difficult, but required. (See the Catechism for the definition of ‘chastity’.)

 

[nojesusnopeace]

In the second semester of that class (required for nursing majors), we learned there is no need for male ejaculation in terms of a periodic “need” to have a minimum number within a certain period of time. Simply put, unused sperm is periodically broken down and constituent parts (proteins, etc) recycled by the body.

Interesting… Just curious though - How does this explain nocturnal emissions? Does your church condemn erotic dreams outside of our control, and the following release. Of course this more applies to teens, I’ve rarely heard of cases where this occurs in adults.

 

[Rau]

…Does your church condemn erotic dreams outside of our control, and the following release. Of course this more applies to teens, I’ve rarely heard of cases where this occurs in adults.

Of course not. No wrong can be committed without a free choice. Free choice is not possible when asleep.

 

[Padster]

Church teaching: changeable, open to interpretation, imperfect. Origin: fallible humans.
Ten Commandments: unchangeable, common sense, perfect. Origin: God
Christ’s teachings: unchangeable, common sense, perfect. Origin: God

Best wishes,
Padster

 

[Rau]

Church teaching: changeable, open to interpretation, imperfect. Origin: fallible humans.
Ten Commandments: unchangeable, common sense, perfect. Origin: God
Christ’s teachings: unchangeable, common sense, perfect. Origin: God

Best wishes,
Padster

The Ten Commandments: brought to you by…the Catholic Church
Christ’s Teachings: brought to you by…the Catholic Church.

 

[leoncaruthers]

Rau is absolutely correct. Jesus didn’t leave us a book, and never wrote a scroll. He left us men he entrusted with sharing the Gospel, empowered them to do so by the Holy Spirit, and promised that the gates of Hell would not prevail against… the Church.

 

[henpecked]

"but can’t fathom denying something the sinful body compels men to do naturally."

men aren’t compelled to do anything by the body. What the helpless man lays there in desperation watching his hands move themselves down to take care of business, or, the poor man watches as his body compels itself towards a receptive female? we can control everything we do. question is, how strong is our will. Surely the flesh is weak.

But there is no biological mandate that a man relieve himself in that way.

 

[ethereality]

How does this explain nocturnal emissions?

It doesn’t: That’s a separate question. Nocturnal emissions are caused by sexual dreams, which result from subconscious sexual ideas, or tensions during the day that the brain revisits during sleep. If you want to assign a cause, you could attribute it to the immodestly dressed women you encounter, the porn you’ve looked at, your own desires, etc. being acted upon in your dream.

 

[Padster]

The Ten Commandments: brought to you by…the Catholic Church
Christ’s Teachings: brought to you by…the Catholic Church.

For your info, the Ten Commandments are shared by different faiths, including Judaism, and they appeared long before the CC existed. Christ’s teachings were brought to us by Christ, the founder of the Church, and not the Church itself. It is a bit like putting the cart before the horse.

The only way it could be argued that the CC '‘brought’ these things to us is that it chose which books of the Bible to uphold and which ones to discard. A bit like the way a newspaper editor chooses which stories to run with. But the stories existed first.

Best wishes,
Padster

 

[Rau]

For your info, the Ten Commandments are shared by different faiths, including Judaism, and they appeared long before the CC existed. Christ’s teachings were brought to us by Christ, the founder of the Church, and not the Church itself. It is a bit like putting the cart before the horse.

The only way it could be argued that the CC '‘brought’ these things to us is that it chose which books of the Bible to uphold and which ones to discard. A bit like the way a newspaper editor chooses which stories to run with. But the stories existed first.

Fallible men safeguarded and shepherded the commandments for millennia. Fallible Men wrote the scriptures, and most importantly, the Gospel. Fallible Men safeguarded the scriptures, handed them on, translated them, rejected those found not genuine. All this, fallible men did for millennia. Men guided by God.

Do you trust all you read in the newspaper, because the story existed before the printing? Apparently you do. Do you trust the Church to bring the teachings of Christ to you faithfully? Apparently you do. Do you believe that Christ gave the keys to St Peter and the Church Christ founded? “Not on your life”, it seems.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Over coming the temptation to masturbate is very easy.

However, it takes about 50 years where when you reach around age 62, the urge is weak and you can over come any temptation by merely thinking about what you’re doing in the moment.

OK, I’m joking but serious as well.

Age has much to do with the production of hormones which drives sexual desires.

As we men age, we produce less and the drive weakens.

In all, I think it’s a mistake to become anxious about it.

However, watching porn is a serious problem and a male must avoid viewing such for it gives into lust and sin.

In all pray about it, the Lord Jesus who is a male after all, knows what you are going through.

Jim

 

[PDXSeeker_1975]

I would love to find a support/accountability group for this. I was married and later civilly divorced as a protestant several years ago and whether or not it was actually valid, I am not sure that I can handle the marriage covenant in the future (plus I know the annulment process, regardless of the decision, can take significant time) so I am intent on following the Church’s (and Christ’s) direction and living chastely so that I can receive Christ fully when I am confirmed next year. It’s really not as much of a stretch for me as it might be for some, as Ive found my sex drive, even when I was completely ignoring Christ, to sometimes be an annoyance more than anything else, but every so often it does get hard to overcome, and I’ve tumbled from grace plenty of times.

 

[leoncaruthers]

You might try the forums at yourbrainrebalanced.com/index.php, with the caveat that most of the posters there aren’t religious, and their motivations are largely secular in nature, and more focused on eliminating porn from their lives. Many of the men are there because of physical symptoms that scared them, not out of a higher calling to chastity. Most are also abstaining from masturbation, but not all. As long as your okay with “this is bad because it hurts my brain” rather than “this is bad because it hurts my soul and my brain”, you’ll find them very supportive.