Questions for Protestants about Contraception

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I’m a convert - but this is how I understood it as a Protestant…

As a Protestant we (where I was at, at least) focused on when a “baby” is a “baby” - at conception - as in when the fertilized egg is actually implanted into the womb. We never discussed Dignity of Women, etc. Therefore, birth control was not against God at all but abortion still evil. I think that this is a key difference to note when discussing BC between faiths. It is also a huge mindset to overcome when converting - at least for me anyway. I still have difficulty with it!
 
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ahimsaman72:
But isn’t NFP “spilling the seed”? I realize the intent is different. Onan didn’t want to create children and those who use NFP just don’t want them right now. It seems to me that each temporarily are doing the same thing. NFP seems to be used by those who simply want to “space out” their children’s arrivals. I don’t see much difference. Maybe you can clear this up for me.

Peace…
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NFP is essentially abstinence based. Start with the baseline that a couple has sex everyday, during fertile and infertile periods. This would be fine right? They can choose to take time off whenever they want. NFP is just taking that time off during fertile periods. The seed is always deposited where it should be and the couple is always open to the possibility that pregnancy will occur. Essentially, you are not mandated to have sex during every fertile period and you are not prohibited from having sex during infertile periods. So abstaining during fertile periods is fine (as long as there is a serious reason of course).
 
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ahimsaman72:
But isn’t NFP “spilling the seed”? I realize the intent is different. Onan didn’t want to create children and those who use NFP just don’t want them right now. It seems to me that each temporarily are doing the same thing. NFP seems to be used by those who simply want to “space out” their children’s arrivals. I don’t see much difference. Maybe you can clear this up for me.

Peace…
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There can be legitimate reasons for wanting to wait to have children. But unlike artificial birth control methods, NFP does not intentionally block (condoms) or abort (pill, iud) the will of God. Onan’s sin provided zero chance for procreation. Onan’s seed was spilled on the ground. Periodic abstinence (NFP) is not spilling(wasting) seed–because no seed is spilled. Hope this helps somewhat ahim. Peace be with you.
 
I would like to reccomend Kimberly Hahn’s book Life-Giving Love. She and Scott also began their journey to the Catholic church by seeking the truth about this issue. It is a wonderful read. Really inspiring and chock full of Biblical references and Church teaching. It’s a great and easy way to start, Curious! 👍
 
Hate to rain on the party but as a Protestant I had WAY more friends who didn’t practice any birth control (and had very large families - 6, 7, 8 kids) because they believed that “Children are a blessing from the Lord.” Now that I’m becoming Catholic and have met lots of Catholics, I know VERY few who obey the church’s teaching on artificial birth control. Several women have told me their husband’s have had vac’s and almost all marvel at my LARGE family (4 kids) even though by my old church’s standards, it’s just average. So rather than asking Protestants why they think birth control is OK, I think a better question is why don’t more Catholics think it’s wrong?
 
carol marie:
Hate to rain on the party…
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No problem Carol. But would appreciate it if you could stay on topic. We are discussing Church teaching here, not the personal sins of your freinds.
 
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Stevereeno:
No problem Carol. But would appreciate it if you could stay on topic. We are discussing Church teaching here, not the personal sins of your freinds.
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I would suggest that YOU stay on topic because the original question was asking why Protestants think that Artificial Birth Control is OK- not, as you suggested, the Catholic Church’s teacing on Birth Control. I was pointing out that as a PROTESTANT (see, I am one so I am qualified to answer) I was not taught that birth control was OK, but rather that children are a blessing. I also wanted to mention that many Catholics don’t practice what is preached - so don’t go throwing stones.
 
The difference between NFP and contraception is very similar to that which exists between a woman who wants to lose weight and does so by eating less, and one who wants the same thing, but does so by binge eating and then inducing herself to vomit: or by developing a pill (I gather that one already exists, or nearly so) which will prevent absorption of nutrients by the body. To want the pleasure without the consequences, to separate the action from its necessary outcome, can be seen in the case of food to be wrong; I don’t see why it’s any different in the case of sex and procreation.

Sue
 
carol marie:
I would suggest that YOU stay on topic because the original question was asking why Protestants think that Artificial Birth Control is OK- not, as you suggested, the Catholic Church’s teacing on Birth Control. I was pointing out that as a PROTESTANT (see, I am one so I am qualified to answer) I was not taught that birth control was OK, but rather that children are a blessing. I also wanted to mention that many Catholics don’t practice what is preached - so don’t go throwing stones.
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Calm down. The only way that the original question makes sense is if you assume the poster was contrasting the position on contraception of Protestant denominations vesus the Catholic position on contraception, not of individual Catholics or Protestants. However, if you wish to insist otherwise, the so-called Catholics you addressed are Protestant in-spirit and, thus, should not be regarded as Catholic.

I don’t know what denom you are from, so this question may be inappropriate. Has the governing body of your denomination made a general declaration regarding contraception?
 
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Stevereeno:
Calm down. The only way that the original question makes sense is if you assume the poster was contrasting the position on contraception of Protestant denominations vesus the Catholic position on contraception, not of individual Catholics or Protestants. However, if you wish to insist otherwise, the so-called Catholics you addressed are Protestant in-spirit and, thus, should not be counted as Catholic.

I don’t know what denom you are from, so I don’t know if this question is appropriate. Has the governing body of your denomination made a general declaration regarding contraception?
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Sorry to be unclear. I did mean denominations. The general stance of many Protestant denominations is that they accept birth control. Knowing the Catholic teaching myself, it was very hard for me to see the position of these denominations. I think any Christian regardless of denomination would come to the conclusion that contraception is wrong if they really looked at the issue critically. I doubt many have which is why I wanted to see how they defended it. Thanks for the awesome posts so far!
 
OKAY!! EVERYONE SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!!! DON’T TALK ABOUT TAKING AWAY MY PILL!!!

Well…that’s kind of what I would **like **to say. But I won’t say that for real. Let’s see…
  1. WHY do you take the pill? 2. Are you married? :bounce:
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Okay Exporter you first.
  1. I take the pill because I don’t want to be pregnant - yet.
  2. Yes I’m married. 😃
Now to address some other posts. The pill has been very effective for me thus far. And even if it did not any way cause abortions or something, I have had the this thought: Perhaps being on the pill is giving a person a control that no person has meant to have. You can pretty much just “decide” when you’re going to get pregnant. I must admit that’s unnatural.

And yes I agree, the pill is not 100%. So…well…maybe a kid has tried to implant in me. 😦
So I prefer not to think about that. I know that’s irresponsible and I know it’s not very mature. I’m muddled, as usual.

If were to become Catholic, I wouldn’t take the pill, out of sheer trying to do the right thing according to the Church. I wouldn’t like it. But I’d do it.
 
"Perhaps being on the pill is giving a person a control that no person has meant to have. You can pretty much just “decide” when you’re going to get pregnant. I must admit that’s unnatural.

And yes I agree, the pill is not 100%. So…well…maybe a kid has tried to implant in me. 😦
So I prefer not to think about that. I know that’s irresponsible and I know it’s not very mature. I’m muddled, as usual."

Ok, so you hit the nail on the head. DOesn’t this sound like what the Devil promised Adam and Eve? Gave them the power of Knowledge, they would be like God, etc…in essence, this is the same thing, you are playing God by “tricking” your body…God may want to bring a child into the world through you and you are saying no to God. In doing so, you will suffer his condemnation, especially because you have full knowledge and full consent to a grave matter. This applies whether you are Catholic or not. Remember, it is God who decides whether a child comes into the world, not you. So please stop using ABC, NOW, even though you are not Catholic.
 
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Mickey:
There can be legitimate reasons for wanting to wait to have children. But unlike artificial birth control methods, NFP does not intentionally block (condoms) or abort (pill, iud) the will of God. Onan’s sin provided zero chance for procreation. Onan’s seed was spilled on the ground. Periodic abstinence (NFP) is not spilling(wasting) seed–because no seed is spilled. Hope this helps somewhat ahim. Peace be with you.
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Thanks Mickey for the further thoughts on this.👋
 
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Genesis315:
NFP is essentially abstinence based. Start with the baseline that a couple has sex everyday, during fertile and infertile periods. This would be fine right? They can choose to take time off whenever they want. NFP is just taking that time off during fertile periods. The seed is always deposited where it should be and the couple is always open to the possibility that pregnancy will occur. Essentially, you are not mandated to have sex during every fertile period and you are not prohibited from having sex during infertile periods. So abstaining during fertile periods is fine (as long as there is a serious reason of course).
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Thanks Gen for the further explanation. I suppose I see your point. The end result is basically the same it seems while the motives are different than with Onan. I always thought (or was taught rather) that Onan’s sin was more of a prohibition against men gratifying themselves (can I say that??). Anyway, thanks and peace be to you…
 
Hi all!

I’ll chime in with my $0.02.

Orthodox Judaism frowns on contraception. It is not generally permitted unless there is some overriding health concern (i.e. pregnancy would place the mother’s mental or physical health and/or life at risk); non-barrier methods are acceptable in such cases (barrier methods are not). An orthodox Jewish couple wishing to use birth control, for whatever reason, would have to ask their LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi) for a ruling. There are grounds for some leniency (vis-a-vis a ruling on whether or not a given couple may use birth control) in cases unrelated to maternal health if the LOR is satisfied that the couple are committed to having children or if they already have children and wish/need to space births (or if having additional children would place undue hardship on the family). Since sexual relations outside of marriage is prohibited in (orthodox) Judaism, the use of birth control by unmarried individuals is not an issue. (The flipside of this is that orthodox Judaism has always encouraged early marriage.)

Howzat?

Be well!

ssv 👋
 
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ahimsaman72:
I always thought (or was taught rather) that Onan’s sin was more of a prohibition against men gratifying themselves (can I say that??). Anyway, thanks and peace be to you…
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I think you’re on target with this statement. When married couples contracept, sex is no longer a loving - procreative act; it is now nothing more than mutual masterbation.
 
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Genesis315:
NFP is essentially abstinence based. Start with the baseline that a couple has sex everyday, during fertile and infertile periods. This would be fine right?
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Hi Gen:

Do you know whether the Pope has discussed NFP and do you know in which document it is contained (Theology of the Body, perhaps)? I am most interested whether he has given guidelines as to what constitutes a “serious reason” to use it.
 
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Stevereeno:
Hi Gen:

Do you know whether the Pope has discussed NFP and do you know in which document it is contained (Theology of the Body, perhaps)? I am most interested whether he has given guidelines as to what constitutes a “serious reason” to use it.
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Here is Humanae Vitae:

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

It’s actually very vague on these reasons. It mentions physical or psychological reasons as well as outside circumstances. It come down to your own conscience. Is your motivation selfish? That’s the question to ask. I don’t think the Church can have a definitive test that says “this is serious and this is not” because every individual’s circumstances are different. Hope that helps!

Theology of the Body also deals with this. It’s a good read. Christopher West has written some great stuff on it.
 
One of my first truths I found about the catholic church was the truth that I had sinned. I have 2 disabled children (more abled than disabled really) and my third pregnancy put me on bed rest for 4 months and killed off my thyroid. I was told by competent medical practicioners that another child would cause several problems. If it was a boy they had a very great chance of sharing my sons disabilities. My health would also suffer. I would become diabetic permanently with another pregnancy. I would probably not be able to maintain a pregnancy and would miscarry due to my thyroid shutting down durring my last pregnancy. Paying for the medical and therapy bills of my other children were draining me and my family. I was severely depressed and saw any more children comming to my family as a curse and not a blessing so I had my tubes tied with the full support of my lds clergy.
Now I know that I put my wisdom above gods, my will over his, the doctors knowledge over his knowledge. It grieves me to know that through my own free will I have cut myself and my husband off from the ability to continue to serve in whatever functions God would have for us, that includes another child. I didn’t know about NPR at the time. I was told that I was doing the right thing. Even in the catholic church I am sure that the local clergy would have agreed that I should use NPR for a time to give my body and my family the time it needed to recover. The decision I made in error is a permanent one and I freely ackowledge my error and am very repentant.
I knew in my heart what I was doing was wrong but I wasn’t listening to my heart at the time. It is nice that I finally found a religion that agrees with my heart.
 
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Genesis315:
One thing I can never understand is how Protestants can approve of contraception.

Do you guys approve of the pill, which leads to abortions?

Do you believe that God intended man to use condoms, diaphragms, and spermicide to stifle one of the purposes in His design for sex?

Do you believe surgically sterilizing oneself is part of God’s plan for sex?

Why do you think the Catholic position on contraception is wrong?
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One thing I always ask is, “Do you believe that homosexuality is wrong? Why?”

If they say yes, and the reason is because it cannot lead to life . . . well, there you go.
 
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