Some Questions About Contraception...
As an atheist, I have absolutly no qualms about using contraception as I believe that a child has the right to be wanted and not just a result of mummy and daddy having a drunken fumble.
However, I am genuinely intrigued by the religious attitudes towards it.
Why is the catholic church so opposed to it?
What is the muslim teaching about it?
There is no mention in the bible of contraception, (and they all had large families) so how do protestants account for it?
What about families that CAN'T have children? Are they justified in having fertility treatment?
What about abortion? Is it acceptable in certain cases (rape, incest)?
Not looking to debate anyone here, just very curious as to a very debatable subject and interested in different viewpoints.
wizard66 Wed 26/03/08 22:59
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Question Author
After posting this, I've just realised how little I know about the teachings of other faiths about it. Buddhism, Siekism, Hinduism etc.
Any answers appriciated.
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I do not simply believe, but feel, that abortion is wrong, unless it in anyway compromises the physical or mental health of the mother, (rape, incest, etc), but contraception per se is not wrong, as man and woman are Gods' gift to each other to enjoy in a loving relationship, and the love is expressed in sexual intercourse, for its own sake, not just for procreation.
...... and of course, if there's nothing on the telly?
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Question Author
Gett over Theland...you aint having your tele back,.
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Oh, Wiz, for heaven's sake give him his TV back! This is doing him no good at all!
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Question Author
You been watching Bob Larson again tonight Theland? (seriouisly)
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And think of Mrs T. Hasn't she suffered enough?
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Question Author
naomi..he's waching it somewhere...........
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In the days when we 'made' six kids, we only had four channels ........ the rest, as they say, is history.
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Errrr .... is there something he's not telling me?
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Been making fairy cakes with the grandkids. Time moves on. It was fun.
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Inthose days we didn't have a remote ...... in fact nothing had batteries in it!
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Question Author
sorry guys, my lady is shouting to me to come watch the latest addition of "Benidorm"....Must go
Tra.....
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"Benidorm ...... " Never heard it called that before .......
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Didn't see Bob Larson. But who is Bob Larson? Am I supposed to know this or is it a trick question?
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Time for bed Theland. . New day tomorrow- more cakes to be baked! x
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Mrs Bath - You are right. The packet is in the cupboard and the kids are tucked up in MY bed! We are top 'n tail tonight!
The wine was nice - I deserved it!
Goodnight all!
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OK, lots of questions. But being a Roman Catholic (oi! who threw that??)….
I won’t get into a debate on contraception/condoms in Africa, since I disagree entirely with the Popes adherence to the Humanae Vitae encyclical in this respect. Although equally I cannot comprehend an individuals lack of respect to their fellow man (or woman) and the apparent slippery shoulders of personal responsibility.
I have no qualms about the use of contraception, even for me - especially if it means getting a bit of hows-your-father more often. Although I do abhor people who routinely have unprotected sex (assumed acquiesced) and then routinely use morning after pills and/or abortion as a matter of course. More to do with personal responsibility/self respect than religion.
I support the use of fertility treatment for couples who are unable to have children.
As regards abortion I do have a certain bęte-noir towards it, but I respect freedom of choice and certain situations which make it a necessity. I know it is not an easy decision to make and have/would support a partner in this respect.
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As a Christian I have no problems with contraceptive - nothing in my bible to suggest there is anything wrong with it. There is an account in the bible of a man "spilling his seed onto the ground" to prevent the lady from getting pregnant, but he was in trouble for it not because he was protecting her, but because he was using her for pleasure, whilst preventing her from having the child she was sleeping with him for. I guess without the invention of latex or contraceptive pills, I guess the general practise was "spilling the seed" and the fact that they had big families was cultural - to have lots of sons was seen as a huge blessing, and not a drain on society as it is today! Also infant mortality was higher in those days so to give their family name a chance of surviving they probably didn't bother spilling their seed too often!!
Fertility treatment is OK too, so long as the couples involved are not damaged by the obsession to have kids - which can often happen.
Abortion is something that I cannot bring myself to accept as right. And in these days of freely available contraception something that I feel should be made even more difficult to obtain. There is now the morning after pill, which I do not disagree with as it is more preventative in my view than anything, and if people have been irresponsible then there is that as a final option. I had an abortion some years ago and this was before I had formed an opinion either way on it, but I have to say, the effect on me was traumatic - especially after giving birth to my son some time later. I think that abortion should only be allowed, as Theland said, there is a genuine medical reason for it. Being a young silly girl who has got herself into a bit of a pickle is not a good enough reason.
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Contraception and abortion are allowed in Islam in special circumstances. Mainly to do with the health of the mother. However contraception is not allowed because of the fear of poverty.
If it is to do with family planning then Quran tells us,
Allah says in the Qur’an “The mothers shall give suck to their offspring for two whole years...” (Al-Qur’an2:233)
And to go with that medical science tells us now,
Allah (swt) has provided a natural method of planning the family,
which is medically known as lactation amenorrhea. After the women gives birth to a child, till she breast feeds she does not have her menstrual cycle, thus the chances of pregnancy in this period of lactation is minimal.
Abortion otherwise is not allowed,
Treatment where someone can get some happiness is allowed as long as the consequences of that treatment and the side effects are known and will not create problem later on in the society.
For more detailed information if someone really wants to know, this may help.
http://www.esnips.com/nsdoc/069ebd28-07f2-4a1d -a61b-76b4e0386c74
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