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Dfens ago

I will probably be kicked off this board for posting this again. It was great talking to you. Please keep up the good work.

Celibacy of Catholic Priests is Evidence of Continuing Gnostic Influence

The first point at which this topic was raised as an ideal for Christian priests was the Council of Nicea in 325 (http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/apologetics/celibacy-in-the-priesthood.html)))) when the influence of the Gnostic heresy was at its peak in Christianity (http://www.earlychristianhistory.info/nicaea.html)))). It was introduced by Bishop Hosius of Cordova, who refused to stand with Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, against the Arian Gnostics. Eventually Athanasius' prevailed and Christianity was saved, but the "ideal" of the celibate priests continued. In 1074 Pope Gregory VII said anyone to be ordained must first pledge celibacy: priests [must] first escape from the clutches of their wives. In 1095 Pope Urban II had priests wives sold into slavery, children were abandoned. In 1123 Pope Calistus II: First Lateran Council decreed that clerical marriages were invalid. And in 1139 Pope Innocent II: Second Lateran Council confirmed the previous councils decree (https://www.futurechurch.org/brief-history-of-celibacy-in-catholic-church)))).

There is no tradition or even mention of celibate priests in the Judaism or the Old Testament. Many of the Apostles are known to have been married and the only mention of Christians potentially abstaining from marriage, though not directed at any particular group, is by the Apostle Paul (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7&version=CEB)))). Within Gnosticism, however, it is a very significant topic to this day (http://gnosticteachings.org/faqs/sex/1663-what-is-celibacy.html)))). The celibate priesthood has hurt the Catholic church now for a millennium and has led to many sex scandals that have plagued the Catholic church much more frequently than it has the Orthodox and Protestant churches. The current and on going pedophile scandal being the most recent and of those extremely damaging incidents.

The Illuminati, Free Masons, and Mormons are all offshoots of Gnosticism.

2impendingdoom ago

The church did not want to have to financially support or lose land to wives, widows and children so hence imposed celibacy requirements on priests. My understanding is that the celebacy issue was a purely financial motivated but disguised as dogma.

Dfens ago

While that kind of financial benefit may have influenced some on the whole celibacy of priests was a foreign concept to Christianity. I believe it's origin was Gnosticism.

2impendingdoom ago

not really sure, I was told this many years ago by someone who had gone to a Jesuit college, I don't think Catholic Church really fusses to much where they get their ideas but I would expect that the celibacy requirement would be attractive alternative to a guy who isn't interested in marrying a woman.

Dfens ago

You are correct, however, that percentage of the population is very small and not all of those few aspire to become priests. Most of them seem to go into STEM fields in my experience.

2impendingdoom ago

I was meaning historically, when career choices were more limited and being homo was a crime.

Dfens ago

Oh, right. I was thinking about those who are essentially asexual, or just not really into sex that much. Unfortunately, the pool the Catholics seem to be drawing from are homosexuals and pedophiles, though the vast majority are good people who remain faithful to what they see as their calling.

2impendingdoom ago

an old roommate of mine was great friends with a guy who had gone through the seminary, wanted to be a priest but just at the end, he was put in a compromising sexual situation and he refused, he ended up leaving the program just before he would have finished, it was an initiation ritual that he wouldn't agree to. I don't know if this is true of every one going into the seminary but ultimately this guy became a flight attendant instead.

Dfens ago

My position is that it is well past time Christians took their churches back. I'm not sure what has to happen to finally flip the switch on Christians the way Trump has on Americans, but it needs to happen real darn quick. The church is on the verge of being lost, much like this nation has been.

2impendingdoom ago

I think the church is already lost, at least in the US. You can't systemically molest young kids and not have that generation turn its back. and its views on women are simply neanderthal. to evolve into something that it must be to be what it needs to be is a different creature altogether, it missed its chance, it could have been enlightened but too many times it missed its chance. the inquisition, the reformation wars, the pedophilia it just doesn't ever step up and do the right thing.