On Asceticism and Catholicism

Despite the fact that I frequently utter the sentence–Though I cannot confirm nor deny the existence of a god, whether or not there is one is irrelevant to me–that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from people who are indeed certain that there is a god.

In response to "On Infighting and Asceticism," Cathy wrote in an e-mail (and of course gave me permission to print):

i am a devout catholic and vegan.  i did not become vegan to imitate the saints of old who lived in the desert… it was because i realized that animals that are used for dairy and eggs actually suffer more than those   that are simply raised for meat.  but the fruits of veganism (pun intended) have been very similar to those of other, more conventional forms of ascetism.  here is what i have learned.

the purpose of ascetism in my faith is to free oneself from attachments of the world that can separate us from God.

when we decide that we really don’t "need" animal products for food, we are free to love animals as God loves them.  we are not tied to closing our eyes to their suffering to ease our consciences, ignoring the impact on the environment, or ignoring the starving nations of the world while we dine on foods that waste resources that could be used to provide for them.  all the justifications are gone when we see that we don’t "need" to   live on an animal-based diet (many people will assert that meat is "necessary," they are usually the ones who call themselves animal lovers because they spoil their cats and dogs).

i accidentally discovered that veganism is a healthy form of denying oneself of bodily pleasures that otherwise lead to the detriment of the soul.  among my faith-mates, it is agreed and strongly felt that non-marital sex and lust are terrible sins, but in the same breath they will advocated eating lots of meat just because they enjoy it.  it tastes good.  ok well i just enjoy sex a lot but as i’m not married, that is something i feel is wrong, so i don’t do it.  is that really a form of ascetism too?  the principle is the same, and frankly i’m annoyed to see devout catholics justifying any activity simply because it gives them bodily pleasure.  we know better, "catholic guilt" is a running joke, even among ourselves.

there is a negative connotation to what people generally consider "ascetic" practices, but i believe it is because we live in a world that has largely forgotten that the definition of hell is "complete and eternal separation from God" (i think any christian can go along with that).  this is often caused by an over-attachment to things "of this world" so that we put those things above "things that are of heaven" – even violating what we know is christian behavior and attitude because of it.

anyway – in a nutshell, those are my thoughts on the subject from a catholic perspective. . . .