Genesis 38: 9-10

[e_c]

Let’s discuss the sin of Onan. What are the arguments that his punishment is for a contraceptive act? What are the arguments his punishment is for a failure to raise up children for his brother? How could this verse be used to teach about chastity? Etc.

 

[Nelka]

 

[Richard_White]

Well, I see it as God punishing Onan for spilling his seed in something that is very similar to (not be to graphic) the “pulling out” method.

Hopefully people who are in favor of contraception but believer in Christ and His Church will see this biblical passage as a call to more perfect chastity.

May God bless you all abundantly and forever!

 

[Abu]

The death punishment upon Onan was not for his failure to raise up posterity for his deceased brother, but for the crime of wasting the seed upon the ground – a primitive and vulgar form of contraception.

Vatican II declared unequivocally that “In questions of birth regulation, the sons of the Church, faithful to these principles, are forbidden to use methods disapproved of by the teaching authority of the Church in its interpretation of the divine law.” Gaudium et Spes, 51; footnote 14 refers to* Casti Connubii *and further teaching by Pius XI and Paul VI]. So the bishops of the Church in Ecumenical Council, approved by the Pope, have unequivocally taught this.

In Evangelium Vitae, St John Paul II, 1995, reiterates: “It is therefore morally unacceptable to encourage, let alone impose, the use of methods such as contraception, sterilization and abortion in order to regulate births.” #91].

 

[QNDNNDQDCE]

There was no strict obligation for Onan to raise up children for his brother. God never gave any commandment at this point to do any such thing. The text merely says that his father asked him to do so. Nor could it have been for disrespecting his father’s wishes, since parents do not have sexual power over their children or the authority to force their children to have children with anyone. Nor can it be that it is an eternal moral obligation because no one (in the mainstream at least) holds this to be an obligation applying today.

Besides, if contraception were okay, Onan could plead that he is just waiting to raise up seed for his brother until he is ready. He’s just being a responsible parent.

 

[Abu]

e_c #1
Let’s discuss the sin of Onan. What are the arguments that his punishment is for a contraceptive act? What are the arguments his punishment is for a failure to raise up children for his brother? How could this verse be used to teach about chastity? Etc.

‘In the fourth century St. Augustine wrote, “Relations with one’s wife when conception is deliberately prevented are as unlawful and impure as the conduct of Onan who was slain.” St. Thomas Aquinas, in the thirteenth century, taught clearly the constant doctrine of the Christian religion that birth-control is a grave sin. He writes, “Next to murder, by which an actually existent human being is destroyed, we rank this sin by which the generation of a human being is prevented.” Contra Gent., Bk. III., c. 122. It is not a new law by any means.’
radioreplies.info/radio-r…ol-1.php?t=111

“That Onan’s unnatural act as such is condemned as sinful in Gen. 38: 9-10 was an interpretation held by the Fathers and Doctors of the Catholic Church, by the Protestant Reformers, and by nearly all celibate and married theologians of all Christian denominations until the early years of this century, when some exegetes began to approach the text with preconceptions deriving from the sexual decadence of modern Western culture and its exaggerated concern for ‘over-population.’ ” [Pope Pius XI, *Encyclical on Christian Marriage, Casti Connubii (31 December 1930)].

 

[e_c]

Good sources, keep em coming. Anyone interested in playing devil’s advocate or will it have to be me?

 

[TimothyH]

According to the Law of Moses, the punishment for not raising an heir to your brother was public humiliation. This was God’s law.

God however, demanded Onan’s life for his sin. His sin was obviously something more serious than not raising an heir to his brother’s wife.

-Tim-

 

[Nita]

According to the Law of Moses, the punishment for not raising an heir to your brother was public humiliation. This was God’s law.

God however, demanded Onan’s life for his sin. His sin was obviously something more serious than not raising an heir to his brother’s wife.

-Tim-

(Deut. 25:8-10 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him: and if he persists, saying, I do not wish to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot, and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, The house of him that had his sandal pulled off.)