My view on the passages encouraging men to stay single is that it is the exception to the rule. I’ve also heard another argument, given in this article, which suggests that the historical context in which the letter was written should be factored in. In short, I don’t think most men are able to exercise the necessary self-control required for singleness, because I believe that marriage is the norm for which we were created, and thus, when one does have a real gift of singleness, as Paul did, by all means, they should heed the advice, but I think we tend to skip over the context of Scripture as a whole when it comes to marriage, looking only at one or two passages (much like Christians tend to do with the End Times by focusing on Revelations, and not the rest of the new testament).

Regarding orthodoxy/orthopraxy, I will be honest: while I haven’t researched in-depth, the only people I’ve seen advocate the primacy of right belief are confessional protestants (Reformed, Lutheran, etc), who, of late, have recieved a lot of flack for placing a significant emphasis on right doctrine. Those who raise the objections typically come from the more evangelical/non-denomination/pietistic movements in Protestantism. While I admit that right belief doesn’t do you any good if you don’t act on it (which is what I think the Book of James is talking about), one of the reasons why I left the non-denominational/evangelical/pietistic Christian movement is because of the laxity of Biblical doctrine and lack of desire to examine the Scriptures to see what they say about some of the tougher issues. Another thing is that I’m not sure that belief and mental assent are the same thing. I’d like to think that belief somehow involves the whole man, and not just his intellectual faculties. While I don’t think it’s irrational, I don’t think it’s simply assent to something.
What I usually tell people when asked what I’m going to do with a degree in philosophy is tell them that I’m going to “think deep thoughts about being unemployed.” Apparently it’s a bit of wisdom that goes back to Spike Lee. But yeah…teaching, either at the high school or college-level is pretty much what you do with philosophy. Though, from what I’ve heard, it makes a good pre-law degree.