The serious and sometimes satirical reflections of a priest, poet, and pilgrim — who knowing he has not obtained the goal, presses on in a Godward direction.
September 27, 2010
Distinction for 09.27.10
I wish people would stop saying celibacy when they mean abstinence. One is a state of life, the other an [in]action.
Tobias, your wish is my command. You make a legitimate distinction between celibacy and abstinence that I will try to keep in mind when I use the words.
But they want us to be abstinent for all of our lives so it becomes a state of life. Abstinence implies that you might change your mind. Celibacy implies that it's a non-negotiable eternal state - just what they would like it to be for us.
Erika, I agree; my point is there has been a slippage in the language -- "celibate" does not mean "not having sex" but "not being married." But because of this slippage, even an abstinent couple are looked at askance -- there is a resistance even to companionship, which is an important part of human relationships.
The recent statement from Sugden on Anglican Mainstream reveals this: any household other than a male-female marriage is unacceptable. Out the window with monasticism in true über-Protestant style. (Barth [of Church Dogmatics era -- he repented somewhat later in life] would be pleased, as this was precisely his argument against monasticism.)
Comments are welcome, but: I ask you to identify yourself, and to • avoid mere contradiction or assertion; give reasons for disagreement • stay with the topic of the post. Your words are yours but I reserve the right to cite them or refer to them in other contexts. I will not post comments that are irrelevant or offensive. Note that Blogger limits comments to 4,096 characters.
Indeed: just because I happen not to have drunk any alcohol recently doesn't make me a teetotaller.
ReplyDeleteTobias, your wish is my command. You make a legitimate distinction between celibacy and abstinence that I will try to keep in mind when I use the words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marnanel. A good image: there is a difference between a Nazirite and someone who simply doesn't drink.
ReplyDeleteGM, now if only Rowan would oblige.... ;-)
But they want us to be abstinent for all of our lives so it becomes a state of life. Abstinence implies that you might change your mind. Celibacy implies that it's a non-negotiable eternal state - just what they would like it to be for us.
ReplyDeleteErika, I agree; my point is there has been a slippage in the language -- "celibate" does not mean "not having sex" but "not being married." But because of this slippage, even an abstinent couple are looked at askance -- there is a resistance even to companionship, which is an important part of human relationships.
ReplyDeleteThe recent statement from Sugden on Anglican Mainstream reveals this: any household other than a male-female marriage is unacceptable. Out the window with monasticism in true über-Protestant style. (Barth [of Church Dogmatics era -- he repented somewhat later in life] would be pleased, as this was precisely his argument against monasticism.)
(in)action:
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother described virginity as something you have but rather something you don't.
Good one, M.
ReplyDelete