what are some religious views on contraception?

Question

i know that Catholicism frowns upon the use of contraception; however, they allow for the use of natural family planing. could someone help to further explain this? also, consider the argument of using contraception responsibly, ie for the same reason of natural family planing in delaying/spacing births so as to be open to family responsibly (being sensitive to the female body's increased stress with each pregnancy as well as for financial/economic reasons).

I am just a curious Catholic

i of course abhor abortion of any kind. the use of contraception for the purpose of this question is to be seen as unselfish planing for family and children. ie dont have children if you cant dutifully support them financially, spiritually, and parentally.

Answer 1

Sex is for love and procreation. It is a giving of yourselves to one another. There are several reasons why the Church has problems with contraception.

First, the chemical/hormonal methods prevent ovulation about 80% of the time, but also strip the lining of the uterus so that, if the woman does conceive, there is almost no hope that the embryo will be able to implant and survive. If you believe human life begins at conception when 23 chromosomes from daddy join with 23 chromosomes from mommy forming a genetically complete human life that just needs time, oxygen, nourishment and a safe place to grow (just like what we all need even into adulthood), then taking action to ensure that this tiny human life does not survive is a problem.

As for barrier methods, or ligations, which prevent sperm from meeting egg, this is not quite so serious because it does not have the early abortion thing, but still there is a problem: instead of an act of giving yourselves to one another, sex without the potential for consequences can become mere selfish pleasure. Usually it's the woman who ends up feeling used when sex is oh-so-convenient. While the Billings Method of Natural Family Planning is highly effective, it requires some sacrifice which helps maintain the giving nature in sex, and not the selfish nature. Remaining open to life is an important part of it -- it ensures that lifetime commitment to eachother, come what may. Whereas when you divorce sex from procreation you get empty, selfish pleasure.

The Billings Method of Natural Family Planning is not the calendar rhythm method -- that was designed in the 1930s and thankfully, science has come a long way since then. Now a woman can know EXACTLY when she's fertile and when she's not. Come on, you don't want to use condoms all your life, do you? And she probably doesn't want to put chemicals in her body until she's in her mid-40s, either. In the 1970s the World Health Organization did a two-year study in five different countries and determined that when couples understand it and follow the guidelines, the Billings Method of NFP is 98% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Catholics also will tell you how it has helped keep the romance in their marriage. You see, a man needs sex to feel loved, but a woman needs to feel loved to have sex. NFP sets aside some time each month where you can show her your love and affection, kissing and snuggling, and knowing full well you're not gonna "get any." She'll feel so loved and respected, she's probably going to want to make it up to you. NFP users actually end up having MORE sex than couples using a chemical method.

So log on to wwomb.com or google "Billings Method" and talk it over with her.

Answer 2

Why do people quote from the Old Testament when answering "Catholic" questions ? It's a New Testament religion.

Catholic church teachings state that you should accept children lovingly from God. You agree to this in your marriage vows. As the contraceptive pill/condom/iud etc effectively prevents this, it is a sin against God. Using the rhythm method is ok as you still have a chance of getting pregnant, like it's God's will or something that you did. Seems to me like you are trying to trick God, but the church says it's ok.
Personally, I truly believe it's ok to use contraception of any sort.

Answer 3

I have always felt religions that are against contraception are just trying to increase their flock its a very self serving view.
I mean is a nocturnal emission really a sin since it didn't occur while trying to make a baby.

Answer 4

I think its important to have a parenting plan. And before you marry someone know what the other wants and come to agreement.
And contraception use I think should be used if your not ready financially.Even though I couldn't stand the way it made me feel.(BC)
So... my husband had a vasectomy.

Answer 5

thats a tough question ,because the Bible never really mentions it.But seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and the rest shall be added unto thee......In the old testament God killed a man for spilling his semen ,but it was because he did not want to Father a child for his dead brother.So I think he was punished for an attitude and not just the act.( i just mentioned this because I figured someone might use it as way to be against contraceptives).....I think as a person who believes in God you should distance yourself from your religion and seek God first,then he will answer every question you will ever have in his own time.

Answer 6

Man was commissioned by God "to be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) and marriage was instituted by God as a stable environment to have and rear children. In our society, children are often considered a nuisance and a burden. They stand in the way of people's career paths, financial goals, and they “crimp your style” socially. Often selfishness is at the root of contraceptive use.

Genesis 38 tells of Judah's sons, Er and Onan. Er married a woman named Tamar, but he was wicked and the Lord killed him, leaving Tamar with no husband or children. Tamar was given in marriage to Er's brother, Onan, in accordance with the law of levirate marriage in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. Onan did not want to split his inheritance with any child that he might sire on Tamar on his brother's behalf, so he practiced the oldest form of birth control. Genesis 38:10 says "What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so He put him to death also." Onan's motivation was selfish: he used Tamar for his own pleasure, but refused to perform his “brotherly” duty of creating an heir for his deceased brother. This passage is often pointed to as evidence that God does not approve of birth control. However, it was not the act of contraception that caused the Lord to put Onan to death, but rather Onan’s selfish motives behind the action.

Here are some verses that describe children from God's perspective. Children are a gift from God (Genesis 4:1; Genesis 33:5). Children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3-5). Children are a blessing from God (Luke 1:42). Children are a crown to the aged (Proverbs 17:6). God blesses barren women with children (Psalm 113:9; Genesis 21:1-3; 25:21-22; 30:1-2; 1 Samuel 1:6-8; Luke 1:7, 24-25). God forms children in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16). God knows children before their birth (Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15).

It is important to view children as God sees them, not as the world tells us we should. Having said that, the Bible does not forbid contraception. Contraception, by it's definition, is the merely opposite of conception. It is not the act of contraception itself that determines whether it is wrong or right. As we learned from Onan, it is the motivation behind the contraception that determines if it is right or wrong. If a person is practicing contraception because they will have more for themselves, then it is wrong. If a person is practicing contraception in order to temporarily delay children until they are more mature and more financially and spiritually prepared, then it is perhaps acceptable to use contraception for a time. Again, it all comes back to your motivation.

The Bible always presents having children as a good thing. The Bible “expects” that a husband and wife will have children. The inability to have children is always presented in Scripture as a bad thing. There is no one in the Bible who expressed a desire to not have any children. We definitely believe that all married couples should seek to have children. At the same time, we do not believe it can be argued from the Bible that it is explicitly wrong to use birth control for a time (please note that we are not referring to forms of birth control that function as abortificants, ending the life of the fetus. We are referring only to birth control methods that prevent fertilization). All married couples should seek the Lord’s will in regards to when they should try to have children, and how many children they seek to have.

Recommended Resource: Birth Control for Christians: Making Wise Choices by Jenell Paris.

Answer 7

I don't see problems with it as a Protestant, as long as it prevents conception. But something like a morning after pill, I see as abortion, which is sin.

Answer 8

God doesn't wear a condom.