Jewish views of contraception/abortion

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I know there are many different Jewish sects, but from what I’ve heard, the Jewish stance on contraception and abortion are very different than the Catholic one.

For example, contraception is ok as long as there is no barrier between the man and the woman, and fluid transfer can take place. Therefore condoms are not ok, but the pill is morally fine.

Also, concerning abortion, I’ve heard that Jewish rabbis believe that during the first three months of pregnancy, the fetus is just “blood and water,” and not yet a person with a soul.

My questions are…is this true? Also, why such a difference between Jewish and Christian opinions on this, when they come from the same roots?

Thank you very much! 🙂
 
Well, attitudes differ, inevitably.

Certainly, in the case of the life of the mother, then the mother’s life is chosen - it’s mandatory - over that of the child, until most of the child’s body has emerged.

On contraception, well that differs also but since women are not capable of the ‘sin of Onan’ it rather falls on us. 😉 We don’t have the same problems over the Pill that Catholics have.
 
Thanks! So Jewish views on contraception kind of go back to, and are based on, the “sin of Onan.” This makes sense to me. The Catholic view is centered on the purposes of a marital union, and we aren’t supposed to separate those purposes, so its different…though I am not sure of exactly what the Catholic view is based on.

Since Catholicism sprung out of Judaism, I am wondering where these two views diverged, and why. I guess that is the heart of my question. I might have to think of a way to re-word it and make a new thread…

Thanks again
 
Garyjohn2 said:
Thanks! So Jewish views on contraception kind of go back to, and are based on, the “sin of Onan.” This makes sense to me. The Catholic view is kind of like “life is a gift from God, and we are not to deny that gift” so its different…though I am not sure of exactly what the Catholic view is based on.

Since Catholicism sprung out of Judaism, I am wondering where these two views diverged, and why. I guess that is the heart of my question. I might have to think of a way to re-word it and make a new thread…

Thanks again
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Well, we’re supposed to ‘multiply’ but, generally-speaking, we’re not expected to have hordes.

The two religions are very, very different, they just don’t ‘work’ the same way.
 
Garyjohn2 said:
I know there are many different Jewish sects, but from what I’ve heard, the Jewish stance on contraception and abortion are very different than the Catholic one.

For example, contraception is ok as long as there is no barrier between the man and the woman, and fluid transfer can take place. Therefore condoms are not ok, but the pill is morally fine.

Also, concerning abortion, I’ve heard that Jewish rabbis believe that during the first three months of pregnancy, the fetus is just “blood and water,” and not yet a person with a soul.

My questions are…is this true? Also, why such a difference between Jewish and Christian opinions on this, when they come from the same roots?

Thank you very much! 🙂
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Yes, even among the Orthodox, abortion is permissible during the first trimester but, of course, not for “frivolous” purposes. The soul is thought not to be imparted until late pregnancy. But even then and almost up to the actual birth of the child, abortion can be performed if it is a dire emergency necessary to save the mother’s life. There are also allowances made for rape and incest, both of which cause extreme psychological trauma in themselves, which would be compounded by the “requirement” to continue the pregnancy.
 
meltzerboy said:
The soul is thought not to be imparted until late pregnancy.
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This is getting to the meat of my inquiry. Do you know where, or when, this belief originated? What is it based on? Has this always been the case?
 
Garyjohn2 said:
This is getting to the meat of my inquiry. Do you know where, or when, this belief originated? What is it based on? Has this always been the case?
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The Jewish view that the fetus attains full status as a human being only at birth (or very nearly before) comes from Genesis, in which Adam’s body was fashioned by G-d from the earth and then and only then did G-d infuse the breath of life (the soul) into Adam’s body.
 
meltzerboy said:
The Jewish view that the fetus attains full status as a human being only at birth (or very nearly before) comes from Genesis, in which Adam’s body was fashioned by G-d from the earth and then and only then did G-d infuse the breath of life (the soul) into Adam’s body.
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Ooohh…very fascinating!!! Thank you!
 
meltzerboy said:
The Jewish view that the fetus attains full status as a human being only at birth (or very nearly before) comes from Genesis, in which Adam’s body was fashioned by G-d from the earth and then and only then did G-d infuse the breath of life (the soul) into Adam’s body.
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Well, we also have to remember the Exodus 21:22/23/24 sequence where the foetus falls outside the ‘eye for eye’ recompense formulae.
 
I would prefer to focus on our similarities with the Jewish Faith. The problem I find is that if you concede the point of contraception you abandon the issue of personal responsibility and honor. Freedom of choice occurs before conception, not after.
 
WTSherman said:
I would prefer to focus on our similarities with the Jewish Faith. The problem I find is that if you concede the point of contraception you abandon the issue of personal responsibility and honor. Freedom of choice occurs before conception, not after.
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From experience, similarities tend to be more apparent than real.
 
WTSherman said:
I would prefer to focus on our similarities with the Jewish Faith. The problem I find is that if you concede the point of contraception you abandon the issue of personal responsibility and honor. Freedom of choice occurs before conception, not after.
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I also think that focusing on similarities is a very positive thing. It also makes for interesting discussion! However there were just these specific differences that were really puzzling to me, and I wanted to get to the root of it in a way that is conversational and not confrontational (like so many threads turn out to be!)

Thank you for helping me out guys! The explanations/examples you have given me are much more simple and straight-forward than I thought they would be, and I understand them better now. Any other thoughts are welcome as well!
 
When referring to the Jewish faith I feel the vanity and need to draw a distinction between U.S. Jews and Israelites. I am presently disappointed in American Jews for not demonstrating enough support for Israel in light of their being surrounded by utter turmoil.
 
Garyjohn2 said:
I also think that focusing on similarities is a very positive thing. It also makes for interesting discussion! However there were just these specific differences that were really puzzling to me, and I wanted to get to the root of it in a way that is conversational and not confrontational (like so many threads turn out to be!)

Thank you for helping me out guys! The explanations/examples you have given me are much more simple and straight-forward than I thought they would be, and I understand them better now. Any other thoughts are welcome as well!
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I didn’t mean to imply that there was anything wrong with your post!
 
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