text: where did the oath of celibacy(withstanding from sex) come from in priesthood and nunhood? and why? i'm not catholic, but i do read the bible and go to a non-denominational church. but, in reading the bible,i don't read of god asking man to commit to celibacy if they choose to be a leader of his flock.  i feel that humans just make life harder on themselves by envoking unnatural laws for themselves to follow, when god only asks us to love and serve him, etc.. humans were made sexual beings and that's probably why the priests are sleeping with altar boys, nuns, members of the congregation, etc, because physically and mentally we're meant to be with someone in that special way, not alone.  i'm sure that the priests and nuns probably favor themselves manually, in private, to help with all of that pent up sexual frustration and tension.  i respect them to the highest, but just don't buy in to the notion that one must not have sex with a (wife or husband) to lead a god's people. just as long as they're not sleeping around and it's a wife or husband, done in holy matrimony. that's my view. catholism has a lot of mixture, therefore many of the traditions, rites and sacraments, are not to be found in the bible, or in the ancient christian doctrine even paul mention it on 1st timothy 4:1-3 1  now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  2  speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  3  forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which god hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  hislop says that when the cult to cibeles an acient babylon godess was established in pagan rome, it was established in its primitive form, with a celibate priesthood!!! *the two babylons alexander hislop).  so my friend celibacy is not a christian doctrine it has it's origin in pagan cults, and was introduced to the catholic church, and also fathom this how did the apostle peter alledglly the first pope, had a mother in law??????  even their first pope wasn't celibate right!!