The Russian Orthodox Church and contraception.

PatricaMcKay2

Im not against contraception as such, but when it comes to condoms I have grave doubts that they are a suitable method for Christians to use as they stop a husband and wife being "one flesh" as such. I know that liberal Muslims share my view on this as do most Jews. Thoughts?

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=7945

PatricaMcKay2

http://www.rocorunited.com/2010/11/fr-vsevolod-chaplin-says-that-mp-allows.html

Outside of the Old Calendarists Orthodox Churches generally allow contraception through "economy".

Newsite

PatricaMcKay2 wrote: »

Im not against contraception as such, but when it comes to condoms I have grave doubts that they are a suitable method for Christians to use as they stop a husband and wife being "one flesh" as such. I know that liberal Muslims share my view on this as do most Jews. Thoughts?

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=7945

Seems a little bit silly. Becoming 'one flesh' is obviously metaphorical/symbolic, rather than literal. So by that token how would using a condom in any way negate that?

georgieporgy

It has been suggested by some that the use of artificial contraceptives (eg condoms) is a rather selfish act.

Unlike the Blessed Virgin who said 'yes' when asked if she wished to cooperate with God in his plan of creation, the contraceptive user says 'no'.

God cannot create another human being without the cooperation of man (mankind for feminist readers)

PDN

georgieporgy wrote: »

It has been suggested by some that the use of artificial contraceptives (eg condoms) is a rather selfish act.

And it has been suggested by many more that the refusal to wear a condom is often a very selfish act.

Unlike the Blessed Virgin who said 'yes' when asked if she wished to cooperate with God in his plan of creation, the contraceptive user says 'no'.

I don't actually know of any contraceptive users who have received angelic visitations informing them that they had been chosen to bear the Redeemer of the world.

God cannot create another human being without the cooperation of man (mankind for feminist readers)

Since He is omnipotent, I think He probably can. But I strongly suspect He has chosen not to.

PatricaMcKay2

georgieporgy wrote: »

Unlike the Blessed Virgin who said 'yes' when asked if she wished to cooperate with God in his plan of creation, the contraceptive user says 'no'.

Well contraception fails on a regular enough basis, so if God really wants you to concieve its always possible.

I think the discussion around contraception comes down to in the end what you believe is the primary end of sexual intercourse and just how important secondary ends may be.

PatricaMcKay2

Newsite wrote: »

Seems a little bit silly. Becoming 'one flesh' is obviously metaphorical/symbolic, rather than literal. So by that token how would using a condom in any way negate that?

I think its a bit more than just that.

The problem is that live surrounded by a society that doesnt take the topic of sex very seriously at all, in which it is reduced to the level of mere recreation, not much different from a game of tennis. In reality though it is something extremely powerful on various levels of being. Husbands and wives become one flesh in a very real way, their bodies no longer belong just to themselves but to each other; I think that condoms in a very real way create a blockage in this unifying, and Im not alone.

But perhaps best to drop this topic before it gets to biological.

PatricaMcKay2

http://www.johnthebaptist.us/jbw_english/documents/books/rjmi/br14_nfp_is_contraception.pdf

The lunatic fringe of Roman Catholicism considers that Pius the 12 th lost his office through the heresy of natural family planning.