Jehovah's Witnesses & Birth Control (Pre-1930)

[Melchior_1]

Hello to Jehovah’s Witnesses who visit this board, I have a question for you. Additionally, if there’s anyone else out there who could help with finding an answers, I would appreciate it.

I’ve been wondering about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their historical stance on birth control. I’m aware of the current stance, however I was curious as to what the Jehovah Witnesses taught about birth control before the Seventh Lambeth Conference in 1930.

Essentially, have they always believed that birth control was acceptable, even before 1930? Did they say anything after 1938 when the Comstock Act ended? When was the first time the Watchtower talked about birth control?

 

[Melchior_1]

Cliff notes from “The Golden Age” magazine, July 1923.

• Disease riddled prostitutes won’t have children.
• Parents are more likely to be less overwhelmed and overworked.
• Kids will be treated better (better clothes, more food, misc etc).
• Over-population being a cause of war and countries expanding.
• Sub-normal parents are “more prolific” than others.

And of course:

• “There’s nothing in the Bible about birth control”.

I’m looking into things further, but it looks as if before 1923 nothing was mentioned. Later on in the 30’s, the magazine printed Margaret Sanger’s rebuttal to the Pope. So it appears that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have always been completely fine with artificial birth control - in stark contrast to traditional Christian teaching on the subject.

 

[JMM1957]

Unless something has changed recently, last time I spoke with JW’s about birth control, they said that it is mainly for the reasons given in the earlier post. Not using birth control is not being a responsible person in their eyes.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I, don’t know enough about it to know, and also I’m Catholic.

 

[Melchior_1]

Yeah, nothing before 1923. For all intents and purposes, the JW’s have never been opposed to birth control.