celibacy/sexual abstinence and spirituality

I notice that a lot of people connect celibacy with spirituality which is something I really can't relate to. So I was just wondering if there are people on here who abstain for non-religious and non-spiritual reasons. I want to know your reasons and the impact it has on your life. (hopefully there is at least one person on here)

Murderface wrote:I notice that a lot of people connect celibacy with spirituality which is something I really can't relate to (being anti-religious). So I was just wondering if there are people on here who abstain for non-religious and non-spiritual reasons. I want to know your reasons and the impact it has on your life. (hopefully there is at least one person on here)

You're lucky, Murderface. I'm atheist as well and will never give myself to any religion, any form of spirituality, superstition, deity etc etc. I show only devotion to the realm of reality.

At first - I abstained from sex due to a personal consideration. Like some people out there, I wanted to abstain until I was sure that the person I was with was special and that I felt an emotional, sentimental, unconditional and deep connection with. Unfortunately not the case, hormones and a sense of sexual impulsiveness kicked in and I didn't keep to my word.

I don't think the desire to have a meaningful relationship with someone else as a pre-requisite to the decision to have sexual intercourse is regarded as a spiritual feature. It's simply a preference and was my preference. Frankly, I do slightly regret it, yet it has taught me to be much more prudent in subsequent and potential relationships. Does that answer you question?

I abstain because I don't have a choice.

CSRevenant wrote:I abstain because I don't have a choice.

How so?

coeus wrote:

CSRevenant wrote:I abstain because I don't have a choice.

How so?

I'm not much of a babe magnet . The only good qualities I possess are not appreciated in the dating world.

I'm celibate simply because I don't like people and I consider "romantic" relationships to be nothing more than the socially/interpersonally acceptable manifestation of sexual desires (be they suppressed or expressed). As for sexual contact in particular, I simply have no use for it.

I'm celibate right now but nothing to do with religion.

I'm just not in the mood for sex, when I'm in the mood, fathers need to lock up their daughters.

I've only ever been celibate between girlfriends. It's never been an intention of mine.
What's spiritual about denying ourselves a powerful natural pleasure?

I became a Christian after I started attending this ultra religious school in the 6th grade until graduation, but I'm an atheist now. For some odd reason, ever since I was a little kid (I'm 19, female), I had a dislike for all things sexual, and I think I'm kind of asexual. As a little kid and even through high school I despised makeup. As ridiculous as it sounds, I always thought of the girls who started wearing bras as sluts. We were always taught to abstain from sex before marriage, and I honestly did not understand through my teens (and even now, though I'm not as naive) why people had so much trouble with it. I always used to think "Why is it so hard just to keep your clothes on?" I have no religious moral reason for thinking this way, but I just hate what I perceive to be sexual promiscuity, and my religious upbringing probably added to this, but I know it wasn't the cause. I feel almost like a sociopath when it comes to relationships. I read about relationships, the drama, see it on tv, and I just can't help thinking it's really dumb. I've never been in love with anyone, though I've had a few short crushes. I'm a very cynical and critical person, and all this obsession with sex seems very primitive to me.

However recently I've been obsessed with the fact that I am still a virgin. I never had the genuine need or desire to have sex with anyone, but I don't like the feeling of being odd or left out. So I want to have sex just for the sake of experience. Plus, you know you're a prude when all of your goody goody Christian friends have no problem with it!

It's very strange considering I started masturbating before I could read, and I enjoy sexual fantasies...usually not including me or anyone I know.

Havani wrote:However recently I've been obsessed with the fact that I am still a virgin.

That feeling gets more powerful as you get older. It's really kind of annoying to wait too long because then it starts to seem like a bigger deal than it really is. Maybe other people feel differently but I think a person should just get that first time over with so they don't worry about missing out anymore. Then do it again every now and then so you don't start to miss it too much, doesn't have to be that frequent. It's easier to find that "special someone" when having sex isn't something you have confused muddled feelings about.