Protestants on Contraception

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I found the following statement from the Lambeth Conference of 1930, which signaled the Protestant movement towards contraception.

It seems like the common view of Protestants has changed a lot in the last 75 years.

"Where there is clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipline and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception control from motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience."

-- James (stinkcat_14@hotmail.com), February 16, 2005

Answers

1: Not all Protestants agree with Contraception.

2: even those that do ddidnt start automaticllay form Lambeth, many wodl have moved that direction anwyay.

Similarly, Gay Clergy didnt realy origionate withte Anglicans, since the MCC and other groups had Gay Clergy earlier, soemone wodl have started them...

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), February 16, 2005.


I still feel there is more to intercouse than reproduction. Adam and Eve were naked in the garden before they ever had children. What changed? Did they never experience sexual relations prior to their banishment?

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), February 17, 2005.

why wouldn't they have? God made them with all of their faculties intact and He made them a married couple AND he told them be fruitful and multiply before they were banished. i get the impression that they didn't last 9 months in the garden before committing that first sin, but then again, i'm not one to want to read between the lines of something we really don't know about.

-- Rina (emailmarina@yahoo.com), February 17, 2005.

In these times over eighty percent of Catholic married couples practice contraception. It seems that to most people they are a religion unto themselves.

-- TC (Treadmill234@south.com), February 17, 2005.

Zarove is right. I know many Protestant couples who do not use contraception. There is even a book out called "A Protestant Couple rethinks contraception" or something like that.

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), February 17, 2005.


Luke says:

"I still feel there is more to intercouse than reproduction."

You are absolutely right, Luke. There are two purposes to intercourse, to promote unity between the spouses and for procreation. Now the question that divides many protestants and catholics is whether we can artificially separate these two. The Catholic Church says no, many protestants say yes, although some say no as well.

Here is my question: The Lambeth statement says that there are times when abstinance is the appropriate response to a couples desire not to have more children. My question is, when is abstinance appropriate and when is articial birth control appropriate? Is there any guidelines that help us determine what the appropriate response is?

-- James (stinkcat_14@hotmail.com), February 21, 2005.


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