Historical Christian View on Contraception?

[Dempsey1919]

What is the historical Christian view on contraception?

The Catholic Church has always taught that the use of artificial contraception is wrong. Did the protestant denominations also condemn contraception in the past? If they once did, why did they change their views?

Let’s discuss the issue of artificial contraception detailing the historical views, and the reasons behind any changes throughout time. I would also like to discuss the history of the planned parenthood movement and find out the reasons for the widespread use of contraception.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Two words: Lambeth Conference.

That is what made the ‘change’ for the Protestant teaching on birth control.

From right here in the CA library:

The Historic Christian Teaching

Few realize that up until 1930, all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church’s teaching condemning contraception as sinful. At its 1930 Lambeth Conference, the Anglican church, swayed by growing social pressure, announced that contraception would be allowed in some circumstances. Soon the Anglican church completely caved in, allowing contraception across the board. Since then, all other Protestant denominations have followed suit. Today, the Catholic Church alone proclaims the historic Christian position on contraception.

 

[rskempf]

Regarding the history of Planned Parenthood, I have never read a more compelling and concise description of this topic than in the book by Dale Ahlquist titled G.K. Chesterton, The Apostle of Common Sense. In Chapter 13 of this book, 11 pages total, the history of Planned Parenthood is revealed. It goes something like this.

Darwin proposes the theory of evolution. His cousin, Francis Galton extended the theory and promoted something called eugenics. Galton even gave some credit for this extension to Darwin. Their eugenics idea involved selective breeding of people with “good genes.” Inferior genetics would of course be reduced, somehow. Well, this idea became so popular that it was eventually put into practice by an American named Margared Sanger - the founder of Planned Parenthood. Her idea was to control birth rates of “undesirables.” Her target of undesirables included blacks, catholics, jews and slavs. It is all in her very own periodical from 1919 titled The Birth Control Review.

It started spiraling out of control a little later when she collaborated with Hitler to implement selective breeding in Germany. It went further of course to the destruction of the crippled, the mentally ill, and eventually even a race - the jews.

This is a terrible chapter in human history but worth reviewing to see who was involved. Today, Planned Parenthood still operates in urban areas to dispense birth control and abortion to anyone. You do not hear much about their history or connection to Nazi Germany of course. They like to keep this quiet.

By the way, this book by Dale Ahlquist is great. There are footnotes and references to verify sources. I highly recommend getting a copy. You can get a used one at www.half.com for a low price.

God bless you!

Rick

 

[Namesake]

Regarding the history of Planned Parenthood, I have never read a more compelling and concise description of this topic than in the book by Dale Ahlquist titled G.K. Chesterton, The Apostle of Common Sense. In Chapter 13 of this book, 11 pages total, the history of Planned Parenthood is revealed. It goes something like this.

Darwin proposes the theory of evolution. His cousin, Francis Galton extended the theory and promoted something called eugenics. Galton even gave some credit for this extension to Darwin. Their eugenics idea involved selective breeding of people with “good genes.” Inferior genetics would of course be reduced, somehow. Well, this idea became so popular that it was eventually put into practice by an American named Margared Sanger - the founder of Planned Parenthood. Her idea was to control birth rates of “undesirables.” Her target of undesirables included blacks, catholics, jews and slavs. It is all in her very own periodical from 1919 titled The Birth Control Review.

It started spiraling out of control a little later when she collaborated with Hitler to implement selective breeding in Germany. It went further of course to the destruction of the crippled, the mentally ill, and eventually even a race - the jews.

This is a terrible chapter in human history but worth reviewing to see who was involved. Today, Planned Parenthood still operates in urban areas to dispense birth control and abortion to anyone. You do not hear much about their history or connection to Nazi Germany of course. They like to keep this quiet.

By the way, this book by Dale Ahlquist is great. There are footnotes and references to verify sources. I highly recommend getting a copy. You can get a used one at www.half.com for a low price.

God bless you!

Rick

Eugenics was never a part of Darwin’s theory.

 

[Belloc_Fan]

Eugenics was never a part of Darwin’s theory.

Right. “Darwin proposes the theory of evolution. His cousin, Francis Galton extended the theory and promoted something called eugenics.” Darwin’s theory wasn’t eugenics. Galton expanded upon Darwin’s foundation (using evolution as a basis for his arguments for eugenics, a term he coined), as the Nazis based their own twisted plans off of Galton’s (using eugenics as a rationale for their genocide).

 

[eucharisteo]

rskempf did not say it was part of Darwin’s theory but that his cousin gave him partial credit for it. [let’s keep the ball roling ]

Margret Sanders has much blood on her hands as does Planned Parenthood today. This was an attempt to reduce the worlds population of the underclasses - mainly blacks, Jews and yes…Catholics. I believe that the Protestant leaders have serioiusly wounded their faith credibility with such stances on abortion, birth control and acceptance of all kinds of objective evils. Once I fell prey to a proselytizing faith where things gotreally gray forawhile. However, I figured out using logic that some things were objectively wrong. I was relieved when I came back home that I had realized this and that the Church had already made a stance on new practices, like in vitro fertilization. The Catholic Church is the only organization that holds fast to the ancient teachings of not only the Church but Orthodox Judaism that also has the basic same beliefs and practices with on exception now…chemical birth control. I find that peculiar because condoms would be considered sinful. Yet “the pill” is okay? I just don’t get that one.

 

[Dempsey1919]

This is very interesting!

I would never have connected the origins of birth control with the eugenics movement. Now that I know about this, I am suprised that I never made this connection myself; afterall, it makes perfect sense.

It’s a shame that this information is unknown to the vast majority of people. I think they would be shocked to find out that birth control was originally invented to help create a “master race.”

This only confirms my belief that birth control is immoral. I am very suprised that the fundamentalist and evangelical movements promote birth control. The whole idea seems to go against Christian morals.

 

[Kaninchen]

Actually, ‘contraception’ has been going on for thousands of years but it’s only relatively lately in human history that effective methods have been universally available.

Whether one likes it or not, the chances of contraception losing its popularity approximate to zero.

 

[rskempf]

Contraception may not lose it’s popularity. After all, we are fallen creatures in a fallen world. There is Good News however. It is likely that those who make it to eternal life in heaven with God our Father will have no connection to such disordered behavior. At best, a few of them may make it to purgatory.

We cannot tell with certainty who gets through the narrow gate but your odds improve if you at least try by being faithful to the Church established by Jesus Christ.

The teaching of our Church on the topic of contraception is very clear - Humana Vitae. Our Church is not just teaching as a good and wise guide. This Church is itself guided by the Holy Spirit. It is God speaking to us today.

So you see, it is probable that there will be a time and a place where contraception will be a big “zero.” I like to think of this place as paradise.

 

[Kaninchen]

The teaching of our Church on the topic of contraception is very clear - Humana Vitae. Our Church is not just teaching as a good and wise guide. This Church is itself guided by the Holy Spirit. It is God speaking to us today.

So you see, it is probable that there will be a time and a place where contraception will be a big “zero.” I like to think of this place as paradise.

I’m not a Christian so I’m not exactly an expert on the ‘Catholic afterlife’ but are you saying that you expect to have sex and breed?

 

[Americanrevert]

Hello,

In Islam, the use of contraception can be used for medicinal purposes, and for situations pertaining to the menses etc. We believe that God is the ONLY ONE that Creates and no matter what method is being used (humanly), they will never be able to stop what Allah wills. Contraceptive measures and methods can be a blessing and also a waste.

americanrevert

 

[Kaninchen]

Hello,

In Islam, the use of contraception can be used for medicinal purposes, and for situations pertaining to the menses etc. We believe that God is the ONLY ONE that Creates and no matter what method is being used (humanly), they will never be able to stop what Allah wills. Contraceptive measures and methods can be a blessing and also a waste.

americanrevert

Given the ‘fertility rate’ of Turkey and The Islamic Republic of Iran, ‘medicinal purposes’ must be pretty endemic.

 

[Rawb]

I’m not a Christian so I’m not exactly an expert on the ‘Catholic afterlife’ but are you saying that you expect to have sex and breed?

It’s Catholic teaching that in Heaven there is no sin, or disordered desires. As such, there is no contraception. Catholics do not believe there is sex in Heaven, because the Trinity is in Heaven, and sex is just a blurry prefigurment of the Blessed Trinity. It’s served its purpose by then, and so no longer is needed.

 

[Kaninchen]

It’s Catholic teaching that in Heaven there is no sin, or disordered desires. As such, there is no contraception. Catholics do not believe there is sex in Heaven, because the Trinity is in Heaven, and sex is just a blurry prefigurment of the Blessed Trinity. It’s served its purpose by then, and so no longer is needed.

Ok, I’d just been wondering about ‘paradise’ where contraception would ‘probably’ be zero.

 

[rskempf]

I agree with RAWB in the previous post.

Heaven will be filled with souls completely devoted to our God. Completely devoted means, among other things, in agreement (communion!) with the teaching and will of our God.

Those around us in Heaven will be of similar mind. Being there will be like nothing we have ever experienced. The “blurry shadows” we have here on earth as a foretaste of heaven include sex. To corrupt this great gift is truly sad.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Actually, ‘contraception’ has been going on for thousands of years but it’s only relatively lately in human history that effective methods have been universally available.

Whether one likes it or not, the chances of contraception losing its popularity approximate to zero.

Yes, sort of like war it seems. Your point?

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Given the ‘fertility rate’ of Turkey and The Islamic Republic of Iran, ‘medicinal purposes’ must be pretty endemic.

How about the fertility rate of Turks and Iranians in Germany? The only blip in an enemic fertility rate.

Do you speak Turkish by chance? Persian?