The immaculate misconception

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You’re forgetting something important Spock.
Catholicism (and Christianity in general) judges people not just on their sexual feelings but also their thoughts and emotions.

The Catholic Church disapproves of any sex act unless its within the context of marriage, open to life (e.g. no contraception), and the people involved have the right motivation (e.g. no lust).

This means that if a man or woman becomes lustful when having sex with their spouse, the Church considers the activitiy sinful. The Church only approves of a very very narrowly defined kind of sex.

Here’s a Catholic definition of Lust (source: newadvent.org/cathen/09438a.htm) for a bit of context:
The inordinate craving for, or indulgence of, the carnal pleasure which is experienced in the human organs of generation.

Apparently you’re not supposed to crave or indulge when it comes to sex. If that’s true it appears that good Catholic sex is a non-pleasurable, joyless activity. The* problem *is that for the marital act to occur at all, base (e.g. instinctive) male arousal is (at the very least) required
You sure have raised a good point. The concept of “thought crime” was obviously not invented by George Orwell in 1984. Nor has the phrase “our duty to the Party” originated with him - which slogan was created by the Junior Anti-Sex League - joyless sex, where the woman simply lays there to be “had” without any pleasure.
 
Why do you view the world in black and white?
I don’t view the world in black and white. What I view in black and white is morality.

Acts which humans perform can be things which are simply acts we perform as animals. We sense. We eat. We sleep. We blink. We scratch itches. We move about. Those are not acts which have any sort of moral component.

When we use our intellect and will, however, we are performing a moral act. And all moral acts are either good or evil. They must be, based on how moral acts are defined.

A moral act is one which consists of an object (what is done) and an intent (what we have in mind when doing the object). If both the object and intent are good, then the act is good. If either or both are evil, then the act is evil. Circumstances can make a good act more or less good, or an evil act more or less evil, but can’t make good into evil or evil into good.

If an act with a good object (I give to the poor) has an evil intent (I want to be seen doing it so others will praise me for being so wonderful), then I have done evil. The fact that the object results in a poor person receiving a benefit does not justify having an objectively evil intent. If it did, then the means would justify the end and any evil intent could be excused by claiming a good object.

If an act with an evil object (stealing food from the grocery store) has a good intent (I want to feed my family), then I have done evil. The fact that one of the circumstances may be I am out of work and my family is starving does not justify doing something objectively evil. If it was permitted to do evil with the intent that good come from it, then the end would justify the means and any evil object could be excused by claiming a good intent.

Many contracepting couples have a good intent. There’s nothing wrong with avoiding pregnancy for a time if the reasons are just. However, a good intent does not a good object make. The object must be good in and of itself for the act to be good, and contraception is not a good object. It divides the unitive and procreative purposes of sex. That division, over time, has negative consequences for society at large.

In 1968, Pope Paul VI talked about some of those negative consequences in the encyclical Humanae Vitae. In the past 40+ years, we’ve seen his predictions come true.

But, as I’ve said before, when a negative consequence is not clearly self-evident then we can always come up with excuses for our actions. And the negative consequences of widespread use of contraception are not clearly self-evident. If you do not want to be convinced, then I’m afraid no one can convince you.
I am not here to be convinced or not. I am simply interested in the types of arguments that are brought up. Of course we can always declare a stalemate, and part on amicable terms.
You appear to be professing a detached academic interest. But that’s at odds with your behavior in this thread, which has been active defense of a specific argument.
 
I think you missed a very important word: **inordinate. ** Lust is one of the seven deadly sins. It is not appropriate to be lustful. There is nothing wrong with sexual desire or sexual pleasure - it was created by God. It is when sex is reduced to simply a physical act with no attempt to show love and increase bonding with one’s spouse that it becomes lust - lust occurs when a person is treated as a mere object.
And how much is too much enjoyment?

If a man is just kinda enjoying sex with his wife its a sinless activity, but if he completely loses himself in the moment it becomes sinful then?

Do you have any idea how ridiculous it appears to outsiders to try to measure and regulate desire like this?
 
A child is ***never ***a negative outcome. You write of seeing the world in black and white. What I see here is that you are doing exactly that. You have no idea of the possible effects of an unplanned child. Even if a child dies before birth that child has had a life here on earth and her life may have resulted in great good. Perhaps seeing the mother in a state of pregnancy stopped another pregnant woman from having the abortion she was considering. You don’t know and neither do I but I don’t believe that God creates children as “negative outcomes.” And if a woman loses her child while attempts are being made to save her life, that is not a direct abortion; the death of the child is a tragic consequence of those attempts. The mother’s life is just as important as the life of her unborn child (although I believe that most women would gladly forfeit their own lives if doing so would let their unborn children live).
All those “may”-s and “might”-s are your opinion. Take a family already down on their luck, hungry and barely surviving. They can barely provide for their existing children. An added child will push them the over the edge. In that case that added pregnancy would be a disaster. Such instances can happen. And you are not in the position to declare if a falimy regards a new pregnancy a “negative outcome”, or an outright disaster.
I’m assuming this means that your mind is closed to arguments that could actually change the minds of many people? I get this picture in my mind of a person with his hands over his ears saying “I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!” - *after *he has posted his own opinion.
Don’t assume anything. (You know what assume does, don’t you? Makes an “donkey” of U and ME…) If I would hear a rational, reasonable argument, I would listen and contemplate it.
 
And how much is too much enjoyment?

If a man is just kinda enjoying sex with his wife its a sinless activity, but if he completely loses himself in the moment it becomes sinful then?

Do you have any idea how ridiculous it appears to outsiders to try to measure and regulate desire like this?
If he loses himself to the extent that his child suffocates through neglect it is hardly ridiculous…
 
And how much is too much enjoyment?

If a man is just kinda enjoying sex with his wife its a sinless activity, but if he completely loses himself in the moment it becomes sinful then?
Hmmm…evidently you are unable or unwilling to understand. There is nothing wrong with sexual desire or sexual pleasure - it was created by God. It is when sex is reduced to simply a physical act with no attempt to show love and increase bonding with one’s spouse that it becomes lust - lust occurs when a person is treated as a mere object.
Do you have any idea how ridiculous it appears to outsiders to try to measure and regulate desire like this?
No. But as I have not tried to measure and regulate desire I don’t think your question is relevant.
 
If morality is what society determines then it is not really morality, as traditionally understood.
Understood by whom and when? How do you propose to define “morality”?
That is what is wrong is not really wrong in a metaphysical sense. It is just against the custom. And if this is true then there is no argument that ‘morals’ should be loosened because there is no objective truth to appeal to. What metaphysical obligation would I have to treat others with justice or fairness?
What the heck is a “metaphysical obligation”? The way we should treat others is the way that maximizes the outcome for both of us. Life is NOT a a zero-sum game!!! It is a win-win game, if conducted properly. And the optimum strategy is to be mutually helpful - without any “metaphysical obligation”.
Any duty I have would be what I elected to have. If I chose to be unfair to my fellow man I’d be doing nothing wrong in any real sense.
“Real” sense? You will reap what you sow. Is that not “real” enough?
What is consent and how can it have any objective value in a relativist system? That seems to me something arbitrary and invented by a culture. If our culture says the age of consent is 18 that decision is not reflective of any metaphysical truth. It could just as well be 8.
Not really. Children under a certain age - and that age DOES vary - are simply not developed enough to give a meaningful consent. And that is a biological fact, without any “philosophical” mumbo-jumbo.
 
I don’t view the world in black and white. What I view in black and white is morality.
And that is the problem. Not all decisions are “morally charged”. And which ones are morally charged is up for debate.
When we use our intellect and will, however, we are performing a moral act. And all moral acts are either good or evil. They must be, based on how moral acts are defined.
Sure. But what acts are morally significant is the problem here.
A moral act is one which consists of an object (what is done) and an intent (what we have in mind when doing the object). If both the object and intent are good, then the act is good. If either or both are evil, then the act is evil.
Fine. You need to give some real reasoning why “contraceptive” sex is “evil”. That is the point.
If an act with a good object (I give to the poor) has an evil intent (I want to be seen doing it so others will praise me for being so wonderful), then I have done evil. The fact that the object results in a poor person receiving a benefit does not justify having an objectively evil intent. If it did, then the means would justify the end and any evil intent could be excused by claiming a good object.
And with this example you are off your rockers. There is nothing “evil” in helping others, even if it might not be praiseworthy, if done for some “selfish” reasons. This is a perfect example of something being partially good (helping others) and partially bad (for selfish reasons). But to say that it will become “evil” is truly nonsensical.
If an act with an evil object (stealing food from the grocery store) has a good intent (I want to feed my family), then I have done evil. The fact that one of the circumstances may be I am out of work and my family is starving does not justify doing something objectively evil. If it was permitted to do evil with the intent that good come from it, then the end would justify the means and any evil object could be excused by claiming a good intent.
Another nonsensical example. It is not that “the end justifies the means” … it is that “the end and means TOGETHER make a justifyable scenario”.
Many contracepting couples have a good intent. There’s nothing wrong with avoiding pregnancy for a time if the reasons are just. However, a good intent does not a good object make. The object must be good in and of itself for the act to be good, and contraception is not a good object. It divides the unitive and procreative purposes of sex.
It does, and my answer is: “who cares”?
That division, over time, has negative consequences for society at large.
Repeated now ad-nauseam. Tell me how? Explicitly… Not that it MAY or MIGHT hurt society… but how DOES it hurt… in each and every case. Show me the direct, logical line of reasoning how an act of contraception “hurts” society. Exactly and precisely. It does not have to be immediate. But you must show a logical line of causative relationship (not some ill conceived correlation!) that the idea of “contraception” leads to some dire consequences.
 
All those “may”-s and “might”-s are your opinion.
No - they are not my opinion. They are possibilities and need to be taken into consideration.
Take a family already down on their luck, hungry and barely surviving. They can barely provide for their existing children. An added child will push them the over the edge. In that case that added pregnancy would be a disaster. Such instances can happen. And you are not in the position to declare if a falimy regards a new pregnancy a “negative outcome”, or an outright disaster.
There is help available to families who are struggling. There is help for your hypothetical family even without the addition of an unplanned pregnancy. In fact, there is a lot of help and it includes free pre- and post-natal care, free OB services, food, clothing, housing, and much more. If the parents cannot afford to keep their child she can be put up for adoption. People want to adopt children. Desperately. The help is not hard to find.

I don’t remember ever stating that I am in the position to declare if a “falimy regards a new pregnancy a ‘negative outcome,’ or an outright disaster.” But I am in the position to declare that it isn’t a “negative outcome,” or an outright disaster and that is simply because it isn’t.
Don’t assume anything. (You know what assume does, don’t you? Makes an “donkey” of U and ME…) If I would hear a rational, reasonable argument, I would listen and contemplate it.
From one of your prior posts I got the impression that you weren’t here to be convinced or not. I wonder how I got that impression? Oh, wait, I know! You said so! How silly of me. However, your posts lead me to the sad conclusion that you have no intention of considering any argument presented by a Christian to be rational and/or reasonable simply because the argument is being presented by a Christian (and yes, I know the tired joke about the word “assume” and I also know that what I have written in this part of my post is only my opinion).
 
No - they are not my opinion. They are possibilities and need to be taken into consideration.
Reality is what counts. Possibilities are only wishful thinking.
There is help available to families who are struggling. There is help for your hypothetical family even without the addition of an unplanned pregnancy. In fact, there is a lot of help and it includes free pre- and post-natal care, free OB services, food, clothing, housing, and much more. If the parents cannot afford to keep their child she can be put up for adoption. People want to adopt children. Desperately. The help is not hard to find.
Everywhere? Even in black Africa? Or in Bangladesh? In Afganistan? What about the woman for whom the next pregnancy is almost (but not quite certain) death? What about them? Indeed there are many people who wish to adopt. Adopt what? Black children? Dream on buddy.
I don’t remember ever stating that I am in the position to declare if a “falimy regards a new pregnancy a ‘negative outcome,’ or an outright disaster.” But I am in the position to declare that it isn’t a “negative outcome,” or an outright disaster and that is simply because it isn’t.
Keep on dreaming.
 
Repeated now ad-nauseam. Tell me how? Explicitly… Not that it MAY or MIGHT hurt society… but how DOES it hurt… in each and every case. Show me the direct, logical line of reasoning how an act of contraception “hurts” society. Exactly and precisely. It does not have to be immediate. But you must show a logical line of causative relationship (not some ill conceived correlation!) that the idea of “contraception” leads to some dire consequences.
I believe the poster has given you the answer you are still requesting - in the post to which you have responded. It divides the unitive and procreative purposes of sex. I will take it a bit further and say that it is not what God intended. I know this is true because God’s Church has made it official teaching and that is infallible. Every act of contraception is evil and it is also Church teaching that every evil is pervasive and effects every person in the world in a negative way.

I would also like to say that the use of ad hominems is usually an indication that the person using them is running (or has already run) out of ammunition, is always off-topic, is always uncharitable, and is a violation of Forum rules. If you wish to get this thread closed that is a good way to do it.
 
Reality is what counts. Possibilities are only wishful thinking.
Ilogical, oh second-in-command. “Reality is what counts.” Do you mean that as a blanket statement? Possibilities require an open mind. I thought you wanted open-mindedness, for people to stop thinking in black and white.
Everywhere? Even in black Africa? Or in Bangladesh? In Afganistan? What about the woman for whom the next pregnancy is almost (but not quite certain) death? What about them? Indeed there are many people who wish to adopt. Adopt what? Black children? Dream on buddy.
No; not everywhere and that is a valid response. Through the parable of the sheep and the goats Jesus taught us that whatever we do to to even the least of His brethren we do to Him. It is our responsibility to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. There is help available in those places but certainly not enough. This world is broken. So we do the best we can to save lives no matter where people live, or attempt to live. *Catholic Charities * is a huge organization. The people who work for it are trying to help those people in Bangladesh, in black Africa, in Afghanistan. That does not mean, however, that we should turn our backs on those in western society. As for women for whom the next pregnancy is almost death, that is extremely rare and the unborn child is just as precious as her mother. Both lives must always be taken into consideration. I have already covered this.

I find your statement about black children racist and insulting. You stated “Adopt what? Black children?” People do not adopt “whats.” They adopt people. There are black couples in secure marriages who want to adopt children of any color but that are turned down for petty reasons and there are white and mixed couples in secure marriages who want to adopt children of any color but are turned down, too. The problem is a bloated bureaucracy which chews potential adoptive parents up and spits them out with a label: “wrong color” or “too old” or “don’t make enough money.” The laws, rules, and regulations regarding adoption need to be changed. And that is where the emphasis should be; not on defending abortion. If I were allowed to adopt a black disabled child I would jump at the chance.
Keep on dreaming.
I am wide awake; much more awake than when I was agnostic and wandering through this world with no answers to the many questions I had.
 
Understood by whom and when? How do you propose to define “morality”?
I believe that there is objective morality and that it is not simply what a society decides.
What the heck is a “metaphysical obligation”? The way we should treat others is the way that maximizes the outcome for both of us. Life is NOT a a zero-sum game!!! It is a win-win game, if conducted properly. And the optimum strategy is to be mutually helpful - without any “metaphysical obligation”.
By metaphysical obligation I mean an actual obligation that exists as opposed to an obligation that does not exists because duty is just a social construct. Should implies obligation but there is actually no should if there truly is no objective morality.

The optimum game strategy would be to follow the logic of the prisoners dilemma. I should let everyone else act morally and should lie and deceive others to get them to believe I act morally. In reality I should act immorally. That would optimize my happiness.
Not really. Children under a certain age - and that age DOES vary - are simply not developed enough to give a meaningful consent. And that is a biological fact, without any “philosophical” mumbo-jumbo.
Consent is not biological at all. How would I observe and measure consent? What part of the human can I put under a microscope to evaluate consent? How do you know a dog, for instance, does or does not consent? Consent is definitely a philsophical concept.
 
Non sequitur.
No, I genuinely believe that the Old School (by Western standards) tendency to see sexuality as wicked but violence as good (or at least excuseable and useful) is very harmful.
 
What is your point? Of course souls are fragile and are easily hurt. But God’s grace and mercy restores them. They are also immortal. They can’t be destroyed. And they do exist, even if you don’t believe it.

Robert Sock is correct in his statement.
If souls are so easy to damage, hurting a soul is a relatively trivial (or at least normal) offense because its so common and unavoidable.
 
Hurt, but not destroyed. It is immortal. And, not “everything”, just sin.
Yes, but as the Catholic Church is usually quick to remind everyone, we live in a Fallen world where sin touches virtually everything we do. Even perfect behavior is not enough, our thoughts and emotions must be pure too (according to the Church).
 
What is the real meaning of the word? And why is it the only meaning?
The real meaning of the word is enforced servitude, being forced to work without pay or other compensation, and of course being treated and regarded as property instead of a person.
 
Are you sure know much about the Church and what she teaches?

Your problem above is of your own making.
Not really.

The Catholic Church and its basic theology existed long before I was born. Although I suppose you could argue that since I am not Catholic, nor am I forced to live under a Catholic ruler or laws based on Catholic theology, the Church’s position on sin and sex isn’t actually a problem for me unless I choose to treat it as one.
 
How is speaking the truth, self centered?
How is pointing outside oneself for the ground of morality anywhere close to being self centered?
Because he is using himself as the standard and default setting, and assuming that civilization would simply end without such people.

How can that not be arrogance?
 
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