‘Brahmacharya’ is a monastic discipline centered on controlling the senses and directing attention toward spiritual practice.
Articles on Celibacy
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Reproduction is at the very heart of evolution. So why has celibacy persisted for so long?
Abortion and contraception were quite common among premodern Christians, who also celebrated women’s celibacy as superior to marriage and childbearing.
The age-old practice of priestly celibacy is now under fire, with the suggestion that the rules should be relaxed.
Pope Francis has discouraged homosexual men from entering priesthood. Prior to the 12th century, even celebrated priests could write about same-sex desires and the church paid little attention.
Pope Francis recently confirmed that clergy members abused nuns. Since the early days of monasticism, the presence of nuns led to restrictions that limited contact between men and women.
In the Catholic understanding, priesthood is not simply a job that a someone can be fired from. Ordination is a deeply spiritual ceremony that is believed to transfer the power of the Holy Spirit.
On Oct. 31, 1517, a German monk, Martin Luther, started the Protestant Reformation. Its impact went far beyond the split in the Church that most people are familiar with.
Early Christians were open to marriage for priests. It wasn’t until the 12th century that celibacy became mandatory in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis recently acknowledged that the Catholic Church is struggling to recruit new priests, endangering its very future. Why don’t people want to join the clergy?
The Pope hasn’t actually opened the door for married priests. But in rethinking celibacy, he has shown his mastery of the art of containing people without actually making big changes to the Church.
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Professor of Anthropology, UCL
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Religion and Society Professor, Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Research Fellow, UCL
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Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Associate Professor, Roma Tre University
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Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dalhousie University
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Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Professor of History and Gender Studies, Boise State University
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Visiting Professor of History, University of Reading / Worcester College Oxford, University of Reading
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Associate Professor of History, The Ohio State University
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Assistant Professor, Computer Science / Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
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Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation
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Professor of Religion and Politics, Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics, University of St Andrews
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Professor of Comparative Religion, Miami University
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Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Scripps College