March 17, 2011

CHARLIE

So who gave up what for Lent? I know some have abandoned chocolate and Ms. Elizabeth Rose has given up booze for the time being. (Her sobriety isn’t immediately obvious in a change of behaviour – I find this most concerning)

Besides occasional Christians dropping chocolate or booze for 40 days after Pancake Day, lots of folks cut out various things from their life for various reasons.

We’ve all done it:

No bread in January

Walking to work and giving up the bus for summer

Booze / chocolate / coffee / sugary drinks for Lent

Behind this sudden reduction in consumption is often a health kick. But what about those who walk amongst us who have given up Sex? Whether this is for a limited time span or a lifelong celibacy – people who decline from all sexual contact (deliberately, “not getting any” doesn’t count!) have an often intriguing set of reasons.

For this issue of Full Frontal Nerdity – we’re going to touch on some of these.

Brahmacharya (celibacy) is an important concept in Hindu notions of male identity, it refers to the practice by which you achieve divinity (God or Brahma).

“Brahmacharya or spotless chastity is the best of all penances; a celibate of such spotless chastity is not a human being, but a god indeed… To the celibate who conserves the semen with great efforts, what is there unattainable in this world ? By the power of the composure of the semen, one will become just like Myself.”  - Sri Sankaracharya

Interestingly the purpose of celibacy from a yogic perspective is about the conservation of semen. Not unlike the Christian instruction not to waste your sacred seed (though this doesn’t count in procreation, unlike the Hindu teachings)…

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Loss of semen is documented in North Indian teachings as leading to bad memory, premature old age, impotence, various sorts of eye diseases and nervous diseases.

However, more recent studies published in the New Scientist indicate frequent ejaculation may reduce risks of prostate cancer for men; with a study size of 30,000 it’s quite convincing. (Boys, you may want to up your “jerk off” rates…)

Priests of a Catholic nature are required to be celibate – this isn’t biblical. This was decided in the 12^th century to reduce costs to the church in keeping widows or in children inheriting priest’s belongings. There is no spiritual belief or scientific theory behind it, so we’ll pass on by!

Female chastity has a poor history – mostly it was enforced. From Rome’s Vestal Virgins to Europe’s crusader brides left behind in some pretty freaky contraptions to keep them faithful. These days with more sexual liberation in many Western cultures and contraception freely available, celibacy is a personal choice. Often embraced as a way to focus energies on oneself or new passions.

However, Dr. Domeena C. Renshaw, a professor of psychiatry at the Loyola University of Chicago in the journal Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality; “Celibacy may lead to psychological problems. Some celibates who say they have no difficulty with sexual suppression nonetheless develop symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, somatisation, or clinical depression.”

However, I haven’t been able to locate the original study and the published quote is often associated with adverts for a female contraceptive. Draw what conclusions from that you will…

So whether you choose to abstain or put it about more than an alley cat… The important thing is to stay safe (and play nice).

Till next time!

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