Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Main DifferenceCelibacy is the term that refers to voluntarily avoiding marriage and sexual activities for the sake of moral, ethical and religious values. Abstinence is the self-imposed avoidance and restriction from anything that provides inclination and indulges body into pleasure. Abstinence, most of the time, refers to sexual abstinence, which means a person willingly avoid sexual intercourse and other sex-related activities. It may involve various reason. Celibacy involves marriage and religious restriction and vows whereas abstinence is all about self-restriction.
Difference Between Celibacy and Abstinence
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Celibacy is the state of avoiding sexual activities and marriage and remaining virgin for the whole life for the sake of religion.
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Abstinence is willingly abstaining from pleasure and sexual activities because of own personal issues.
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Celibacy is involved the religion norms, moral values,
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Abstinence involves personal issue and problems.
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Abstinence can be due to religion also
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Celibate does not marry their whole lives and remain a virgin.
Celibacy vs. Abstinence
Abstinence avoids sexual intercourse and other sexual pleasure activities to be concentrated on something else.
Celibacynoun
Abstaining from marriage; the state of being unmarried.
Abstinencenoun
The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
Penance, fasts, and abstinence, / To punish bodies for the soul's offense. - John DrydenThe abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. — John LockeComplete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. — St AugustineCelibacynoun
(by extension) Abstinence from sexual relations.
Abstinencenoun
Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism).
Celibacynoun
an unmarried status
Abstinencenoun
Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.
Celibacynoun
abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows)
Abstinencenoun
(ecclesiastical) Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance.
Abstinencenoun
The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
Abstinencenoun
(obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
Abstinencenoun
(business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.
Abstinencenoun
the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
Abstinencenoun
act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite
Comparison Chart
| Celibacy | Abstinence |
| Celibacy is voluntarily avoiding sexual activities and marriage for the sake of knowledge. | Abstinence is the absence of sex in one’s life because of his or her personal will. |
| Reason | |
| For the sake of religion. | For the sake of own will. |
| Duration | |
| Lifetime or permanent | Could be permanent but usually temporary. |
| Base | |
| Not getting married and remaining a virgin, remaining pure for preaching religion. | Not getting distracted from other important life goals and concentrating only on them. |
What is Celibacy?
Celibacy is a practice or state of being unmarried or not getting involved in any sexual activity throughout the life as a religious vow or for the sake of religion. Celibacy is derived from a Latin word caelibatus which refers to non-marriage affairs. A person practicing celibacy is said to celibate. A celibate withholds him or herself from being involving in any sexual activity and from the marriage. And this is usually because of the religion. According to the beliefs of celibate people, being a virgin and not involving in marriage and other sexual pleasure will make them wise, and they would be able to concentrate more on the goals of their particular religion. Every religion has a totally different concept regarding celibacy. Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism involve celibacy to a large extent, and their priests, monks, and nuns vow to be virgin for their whole lives. Some religion like Islam and other concept does not promote celibacy but also demotivate such practice as it can disturb the balance of nature.
What is Abstinence?
Abstinence is abstaining voluntarily all the pleasure based, charming and body indulging activities for the sake of social issue, personal preference, financial problem, a moral issue or even religious reason, etc. It does not specifically include abstaining sexual activities because of sex, but it is total because to the will of the person him or herself. Sexual Abstinence is willingly avoiding sexual intercourse and all other sexual related activities. A person can avoid or not involve in sexual activity because of any reason. Any of the personal reason causing a person to abstain from sex is abstinence. A person can be skipping or avoiding or willingly not doing sex because of various reasons such as he or she don’t like their partners, they are mentally disturbed, they are not feeling well, they don’t have enough time or a variety of another personal issue. Abstinence involves abstaining the pleasure based activities so that a person could concentrate on his or her goals and other important life matters. Abstinence can also involve religion boundaries and issue due to which a person abstain the sexual activities. But in this case, he or she is not bound by religion but their will.
