Celibacy is the choice to remain abstinent from sex, which may be motivated by religion or personal reasons. It is a lifelong choice and not just a period of abstinence. Involuntary celibacy is different from celibacy as it is not a choice.
Celibacy is a choice to remain celibate and practice sexual abstinence. People may choose celibacy for a variety of reasons and it is practiced in many cultures around the world. A common misconception about celibacy is that it is always religiously motivated. Indeed, people may have many reasons for choosing a celibate lifestyle. While religion can play a role, some celibate people don’t choose to be celibate for religious reasons.
The term “celibate” literally refers to remaining celibate and is also commonly understood to mean sexual abstinence, a reflection of cultural beliefs that sexual intercourse should appear only in the context of a marriage. People who remain celibate may share this belief or may choose abstinence for other reasons. This term also refers specifically to a lifelong choice, rather than a period of sexual abstinence that occurs at some point in a person’s life.
In some religions, it is believed that clergy members should remain celibate in order to strengthen their connection with the faith and better serve the faith. Other religions may believe that celibate people are in the closest connection to divine powers, or that celibacy can be a purifying choice. In religion, there is a strong emphasis on voluntary celibacy. People who cannot freely come to celibacy may struggle with it later in life.
Outside of religious contexts, celibacy may be practiced because someone is not interested in sex and marriage, because it fits into a person’s lifestyle, and for other reasons. Historically, some social movements advocated celibacy for their members, although many were unpopular as a result. There may be instances where people become celibate out of fear, such as fear of emotional intimacy or sexually transmitted infections. In these situations, getting counseling can help people deal with these fears so they can decide if they want to remain celibate.
People sometimes use the term “involuntary celibacy” to describe periods of time when they are unable to find romantic partners and are forced into sexual abstinence by circumstance, rather than choice. This term is a bit of a misnomer because a key aspect of celibacy is the choice to abstain from sexual activity and the decision to make that choice for life. A temporary period in which someone does not have intercourse is quite a different matter, as presumably the person is looking forward to resuming intercourse in the future.
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