Celibacy and Monasticism.
I need to emphasize - as I do elsewhere - that I think that Monasticism and similar ideals and tendencies and/or SIMPLE COMMUNAL
and/or
WITHDRAWL QUIET lifestyles/ living -
is a very big PART of the solution to the problems we face.
I like the idea of ECOLOGICAL MONASTICISM and ECOSTERIES.
.........
The medieval monasteries WERE ecological.
.....................
MONASTICISM is from the Greek "monos" for ONE, I think. It is essentially about SIMPLE QUIET living.
Referring to ONE being ALONE and withdrawing from the World.
Why should this mean one should REFRAIN indefinitely and completely from a relationship with a member of the opposite sex?
As I say elsewhere, the monastic commitment is to Chastity (appropriate usage of sexual nature) RATHER THAN Celibacy (TOTAL ABSTENTION - next to impossible).
Some of the most unpleasant and harrowing written testimony in history is to be found here:
("The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks").
Centuries later I must protest against the torture and torment that Monastics in the 3rd century are recorded as having gone through in the ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE and POINTLESS TASK of simply refraining from sex as adults for 2 or 3 years.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE PASSAGES RECORDING TERRIBLE SUFFERING.
And also the "Monks" and "Nuns" obviously end up sometimes EVENTUALLY engaging in BUGGARY and even RAPE.
END HYPOCRISY!
=============
There is and always was allowance for MARRIED MONASTICS of course.
Well - I suppose what I am saying is that is a very great relief.
Of course one can REFRAIN for periods - days, weeks, months, years. And this is perhaps a good idea!
ULTIMATELY we all know it is a LIE. Or I hope we now do.
...........
I need to emphasize - as I do elsewhere - that I think that Monasticism and similar ideals and tendencies and/or SIMPLE COMMUNAL
and/or
WITHDRAWL QUIET lifestyles/ living -
is a very big PART of the solution to the problems we face.
I like the idea of ECOLOGICAL MONASTICISM and ECOSTERIES.
.........
The medieval monasteries WERE ecological.
.....................
MONASTICISM is from the Greek "monos" for ONE, I think. It is essentially about SIMPLE QUIET living.
Referring to ONE being ALONE and withdrawing from the World.
Why should this mean one should REFRAIN indefinitely and completely from a relationship with a member of the opposite sex?
As I say elsewhere, the monastic commitment is to Chastity (appropriate usage of sexual nature) RATHER THAN Celibacy (TOTAL ABSTENTION - next to impossible).
Some of the most unpleasant and harrowing written testimony in history is to be found here:
("The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks").
Centuries later I must protest against the torture and torment that Monastics in the 3rd century are recorded as having gone through in the ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE and POINTLESS TASK of simply refraining from sex as adults for 2 or 3 years.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE PASSAGES RECORDING TERRIBLE SUFFERING.
And also the "Monks" and "Nuns" obviously end up sometimes EVENTUALLY engaging in BUGGARY and even RAPE.
END HYPOCRISY!
=============
There is and always was allowance for MARRIED MONASTICS of course.
Well - I suppose what I am saying is that is a very great relief.
Of course one can REFRAIN for periods - days, weeks, months, years. And this is perhaps a good idea!
ULTIMATELY we all know it is a LIE. Or I hope we now do.
...........