[gcruse]

Or was he saying that there is a higher calling than family and children?

From a strictly human standpoint, I would say no, there is not.
And for church elders to require their most ardent
followers  to give up the greatest joys of being human
is, well, inhuman.  God seems not to require it. It was not
an issue with Jesus, and did not come into effect for
three hundred years.  What a waste.

[been_lurking]

give up the greatest joys of being human

This is the biggest flaw in your arguement, yet it serrves as the foundation of your arguement.

By your definition, there are a vast number of people (those too young, those too old, those physically unable) whom are not fully human.

You need to adress this logically.

[RobbyS]

From a " human " standpoint, a highly romantic notion. Luther had a good marriage but he was quite ambiguous in his feelings about his choice. Sometimes he praised marriage to the heavens, sometimes not. Marriage imposes heavy burdens on the "natural" man and the "natural" woman --the feminist who wants the same "freedom" as the male. All in all marriage is as heavy a person burden as celibacy.