I realize birth control is a little broader than contraception but am considering them interchangeable for this purpose. I am also defining the term to mean preventing the climax of the sex act which would result in a child being born. Do you consider birth control a sin? Why or why not?

There are certain medical conditions for which hormonal birth control can be beneficial.

But used as a method to prevent pregnancy and partake in recreational sex, yes it is. In fact, this was pretty much the take of all Christian denominations until the 1960s or so.

What about for a married couple ?

DAC said:

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What about for a married couple ?

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Even for a married couple. I don't think people today realize how far western Christianity has spiraled out of control in the 20th century, specifically the overthrow of historical Christian morality since 1960.

I do not think using birth control is a sin.

I do not agree with abortion. However, I do not agree with criminalizing women who have had an abortion.

Guy Noir said:

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I do not think using birth control is a sin.

I do not agree with abortion. However, I do not agree with criminalizing women who have had an abortion.

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Why not?

I think a lot of people don't know (I certainly didn't) that until the 20th century almost no Christian Church accepted birth control or contraception as legitimate

Episcopalians/Church of England were the 1st and not until the 1930s

[The Lambeth Conference of 1930 marked a significant shift in the Church of England's stance on artificial contraception, becoming the first major Christian body to publicly support its use under certain circumstances. Historically, the Christian doctrine, rooted in teachings from figures like Saint Augustine, had opposed contraception, emphasizing procreation as the primary purpose of marriage…]

My view it's that is probably a sin and the Catholics have gotten it right in their teachings on the matter…

[In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (Latin, "Human Life"), which reemphasized the Church's constant teaching that it is always intrinsically wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence.

Contraception is "any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" (Humanae Vitae 14). This includes sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods.

Contraception is wrong because it's a deliberate violation of the design God built into the human race, often referred to as "natural law." The natural-law purpose of sex is procreation. The pleasure that sexual intercourse provides is an additional blessing from God, intended to offer the possibility of new life while strengthening the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife. The loving environment this bond creates is the perfect setting for nurturing children.

But sexual pleasure within marriage becomes unnatural, and even harmful to the spouses, when it is used in a way that deliberately excludes the basic purpose of sex, which is procreation. God's gift of the sex act, along with its pleasure and intimacy, must not be abused by deliberately frustrating its natural endprocreation.]

Contraception is completely antithetical to Christian morality. It's among the root causes of the West's current crisis by way of countless societal ills (fatherless homes, generational poverty, population decline, etc.).

complicated issue for me. As a parent of an adopted child who's birthmother made and adoption plan as she wasn't in a place to have a child (praise be to her) as she was in college. Having said that, I don't have a problem with birth control as I think it is responsible.

Contraception used by a married couple that does not destroy or disrupt the implantation of the fertilized egg is in of itself not a sin, imo. Scripture is silent on the matter. There is no scriptural command that sex between a married man and woman be ONLY for the purpose of producing children. If it were, then ANY case of guarding against conception, such as knowingly avoiding the ovulation period, aka the rhythm method, would have gotten the early Israelite in trouble with God. If that were the case, you'd think there would be some mention of it. Some will point to Onan in Deuteronomy as a case where guarding against conception is a sin, but that is debatable, as Onan was practicing contraception specifically to avoid fulfilling his duty according to their Law.

I believe it's in an arena where married Christians can exercise freedom, but with responsibility. It can be a sin NOT to practice contraception - if a married couple is not ready to support a child, then they would knowlingly risk putting a strain on them, their family, and society as well as risk endangering the well-being of a potential child by their not using contraception. It would be a selfish, irresponsible, and unloving act. So that has to be factor that's considered too. I think it's a case where if a married Christian couple believes that it's loving God and loving others as yourself to NOT use contraception, then that's what they should do - and if a married Christian couple believes it's loving God and loving others as yourself TO use contraception, then that's what they should do.

And if one thinks "recreational sex" between a married couple for pleasure is wrong, they should try reading Song of Solomon. Without blushing. Sex between a married couple is also symbolic of the intimacy between Jesus and his bride, the Church. So I don't think it has to only be for a functional purpose, it can be for joy as well.

Sam Lowry said:

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Contraception is completely antithetical to Christian morality. It's among the root causes of the West's current crisis by way of countless societal ills (fatherless homes, generational poverty, population decline, etc.).

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It's a interesting point

Did the decline of the West (and other civilizations) start with a collapse in the will to have children.

"In science, technology, economics, industry, agriculture, armaments, and democratic rule, America, Europe, and Japan are generations ahead. But…something the West has lost: a desire to have children and the will to carry on their civilization, cultures, families, and faith." -Pat Buchanan

Realitybites said:

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DAC said:

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What about for a married couple ?

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Even for a married couple. I don't think people today realize how far western Christianity has spiraled out of control in the 20th century, specifically the overthrow of historical Christian morality since 1960.

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Yep and with something like birth control pills that started expanding in the 1950s, there wasn't any scripture directly about it. With the "silence" of the text, they ignored the consistent Phronema (mind) of the Church and the witness of the Church Fathers, who were universally opposed to separating the unitive and procreative aspects of intimacy.

Doc Holliday said:

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Realitybites said:

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DAC said:

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What about for a married couple ?

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Even for a married couple. I don't think people today realize how far western Christianity has spiraled out of control in the 20th century, specifically the overthrow of historical Christian morality since 1960.

---

Yep and with something like birth control pills that started expanding in the 1950s, there wasn't any scripture directly about it. With the "silence" of the text, they ignored the consistent Phronema (mind) of the Church and the witness of the Church Fathers, who were universally opposed to separating the unitive and procreative aspects of intimacy.

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"Contraception" isn't just birth control pills. According to your view, even avoiding the ovulation period in order to prevent a pregnancy (rhythm method) is still a means to "separate the unitive and procreative aspects of intimacy", and therefore would be a sin. Is this what you believe? After all, what's the difference between that and using birth control pills, with regards to intent? I'm sure early man, including the early Israelites were able to discover this method, and therefore if such a thing was abominable to God, wouldn't he have mentioned it?

And if the fruits of this "Phronema" of the church as you regard it has led to the clear and egregious heresy and idolatry of Mary as to say "Mary is the propitiation, the acceptable sacrifice, the salvation of my soul"..... then how reliable can this Phronema be?

I think that a lot of societal changes came about because people realized that the earth was getting overpopulated. The earth is getting polluted and running out of resources.

It is irresponsible for a couple to have more children than they can afford to raise.

Maybe before this proceeds everyone posting here could indicate how many non-adopted children they have or desire to have. Then we'd have a clearer picture as to the purpose and point of this thread.

But hey, I'll go first. 2. But only because of a medical condition that precluded any more naturally born to us.

No. Is it a sin for married couples to avoid sex during or right before ovulation? What if they have 8 already? What if they cannot afford to take care of the child? Was that really the purpose?

There is a middle ground here. Biblical rules were never handed out without reason, like the prohibition on pork. Jesus didnt just lift the prohibition. He showed that it had a purpose but was not an absolute rule for all of time.

So if we consider this rule, that any ejaculation needs to aim towards child birth, and otherwise is sin, we have to consider the time at which it was given, and our current time. Plus the simple practicality of it.

You cannot think that we all need 18 children today. But at the same time, you can think that children are the ultimate goal of marriage, and a fulfillment of a basic principle of Christianity, the constant renewal of the body.

Porteroso said:

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No. Is it a sin for married couples to avoid sex during or right before ovulation? What if they have 8 already? What if they cannot afford to take care of the child? Was that really the purpose?

There is a middle ground here. Biblical rules were never handed out without reason, like the prohibition on pork. Jesus didnt just lift the prohibition. He showed that it had a purpose but was not an absolute rule for all of time.

So if we consider this rule, that any ejaculation needs to aim towards child birth, and otherwise is sin, we have to consider the time at which it was given, and our current time. Plus the simple practicality of it.

You cannot think that we all need 18 children today. But at the same time, you can think that children are the ultimate goal of marriage, and a fulfillment of a basic principle of Christianity, the constant renewal of the body.

---

Assuming you're referring to the body of Christ, His body is not renewed through physical birth, but through being born of the Spirit. I'd sincerely like to see where in Scripture Jesus says that said rule is not an absolute rule for all of time.

Chapter and verse. And context. Any text yanked out context is nothing but pretext.

canoso said:

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Porteroso said:

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No. Is it a sin for married couples to avoid sex during or right before ovulation? What if they have 8 already? What if they cannot afford to take care of the child? Was that really the purpose?

There is a middle ground here. Biblical rules were never handed out without reason, like the prohibition on pork. Jesus didnt just lift the prohibition. He showed that it had a purpose but was not an absolute rule for all of time.

So if we consider this rule, that any ejaculation needs to aim towards child birth, and otherwise is sin, we have to consider the time at which it was given, and our current time. Plus the simple practicality of it.

You cannot think that we all need 18 children today. But at the same time, you can think that children are the ultimate goal of marriage, and a fulfillment of a basic principle of Christianity, the constant renewal of the body.

---

Assuming you're referring to the body of Christ, His body is not renewed through physical birth, but through being born of the Spirit. I'd sincerely like to see where in Scripture Jesus says that said rule is not an absolute rule for all of time.

Chapter and verse. And context. Any text yanked out context is nothing but pretext.

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Mark 7:19 is where he partially contradicts the rule about pork. Acts 10 is where, in a vision, Peter says

Quote:

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I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

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I think we can model God's will after Africa. Nothing brings more glory to the creator than a 35 year old Nigerian woman with 12 children.

Using contraception isn't a sin. Using contraception to live a sinful life is. Unfortunately I am willing to admit since its advent the latter has created family and social crisis.

Why should we care?

ATL Bear said:

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Using contraception isn't a sin. Using contraception to live a sinful life is. Unfortunately I am willing to admit since its advent the latter has created family and social crisis.

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I don't understand. Seems to me, lack of birth control has created the problems y'all speak of.

Birth control prevents abortions and out of wedlock births.

No judgement on anyone else. But as far as my children and what I teach them:

Put me in the yes category. I'll own that it has taken me a long time to get there in my heart, but I do think severing the link between the conjugal act and procreative act (open to life) is a breaking of God's design and intent. I also think from a practical standpoint the unitive nature of sex gets degraded for the married couple when contraceptives are present. I suppose I think it is more problematic within the confines of marriage.

This does leave room for NFP as NFP does not break the link between the two, it simply avoids both.

We have a blend of bio and adopted kids in our family. We tried and would have loved to have more in both categories, but it didn't quite work out for us.

Quote:

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16
To the woman he said:
I will intensify your toil in childbearing;
in pain* you shall bring forth children.
Yet your urge shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.

17
To the man he said: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat from it,
Cursed is the ground* because of you!
In toil you shall eat its yield
all the days of your life.

18
Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you,
and you shall eat the grass of the field.

19
By the sweat of your brow
you shall eat bread,
Until you return to the ground,
from which you were taken;
For you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.

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I don't know. The older I get the more I come back to the above and contemplate it. Even if you don't believe it is divinely inspired, a whole lot of understanding in the short passage above.

Mitch Blood Green said:

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ATL Bear said:

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Using contraception isn't a sin. Using contraception to live a sinful life is. Unfortunately I am willing to admit since its advent the latter has created family and social crisis.

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Birth control prevents abortions and out of wedlock births.

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No…it just prevents kids from being born

Abortion and out of wedlock briths are issues of culture/ social norms

Redbrickbear said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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ATL Bear said:

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Using contraception isn't a sin. Using contraception to live a sinful life is. Unfortunately I am willing to admit since its advent the latter has created family and social crisis.

---

Birth control prevents abortions and out of wedlock births.

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No…it just prevents kids from being born

Abortion and out of wedlock briths are issues of culture/ social norms

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The Amish for instance live in a nation were abortion is legal and there is little stigma to out of wedlock birth

Yet they have no abortion to speak of and a out of wedlock rate of below 5%

Some absolutely INSANE numbers about the Amish.

Average woman gives birth to 6 children in their lifetime.
~4% of first births are to unwed mothers.

But here's crazier numbers:
They convert virtually NO ONE. 154 total in 100 years.
Retention: 85% pic.twitter.com/Xmbu35bClz

— Ryan Burge 📊 (@ryanburge) April 13, 2026

ron.reagan said:

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I think we can model God's will after Africa. Nothing brings more glory to the creator than a 35 year old Nigerian woman with 12 children.

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Nigerian women don't have 12 kids anymore…in fact they never did…their fertility rate was never as high as 12

And in fact the fertility rate there and all over Africa is in free fall.

Nations once they embrace modern values, birth control-family planning tech, and move off the farm and leave behind agriculture for urban development…all see their birth rates drastically reduce

Africa is going through the exact same process the West and Asia went through.

Across Africa the fertility rate is now down to 4.5 (some say 4.0) ….and the USA in 1960 was at 3.6

So it's nearly at the same rate America was when the boomers were kids.

And the African decline continues at pace….

Seems like fertility decline hit Africa later but it’s now collapsing similarly to Asia pic.twitter.com/IYDDaQ0nzC

— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) April 7, 2023

"A little-known fact is that even Africa's fertility rate is falling fast -- it's now down to 4, and at this pace of decline it'll go below replacement in 33 years."

Mitch Blood Green said:

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ATL Bear said:

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Using contraception isn't a sin. Using contraception to live a sinful life is. Unfortunately I am willing to admit since its advent the latter has created family and social crisis.

---

I don't understand. Seems to me, lack of birth control has created the problems y'all speak of.

Birth control prevents abortions and out of wedlock births.

---

Really? We have more abortions and out of wedlock births by an incredible multiple compared to before birth control.

What birth control created was a fundamental altering of sexual mores. And as a result we have everything from the aforementioned abortions and out of wedlock births, to broken families, accepted promiscuity and deviancy, and a sexualized culture that impacts our youth at a younger and younger age. Yes, it's prevented some unwanted pregnancies along the way, but at what cost did decoupling sex and responsibility have on our society? Incalculable.

Redbrickbear said:

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"In science, technology, economics, industry, agriculture, armaments, and democratic rule, America, Europe, and Japan are generations ahead. But…something the West has lost: a desire to have children and the will to carry on their civilization, cultures, families, and faith." -Pat Buchanan

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History would have been very different- and much better - had we picked Buchanan over Bush. We would have had a measured, highly intelligent president to advance MAGA instead of the current sock puppet.

If God was going to send America a prophet, Pat Buchanan was our Jeremiah.

ron.reagan said:

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I think we can model God's will after Africa. Nothing brings more glory to the creator than a 35 year old Nigerian woman with 12 children.

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If she is a married Christian SAHM who is raising her children in accordance with Ephesians 6:4, she has found greater favor with the Lord than an army of single, childless 40 year old degreed Karens in America…whether or not they go to a Sunday morning worshiptainment event.

ATL Bear said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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ATL Bear said:

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Using contraception isn't a sin. Using contraception to live a sinful life is. Unfortunately I am willing to admit since its advent the latter has created family and social crisis.

---

I don't understand. Seems to me, lack of birth control has created the problems y'all speak of.

Birth control prevents abortions and out of wedlock births.

---

Really? We have more abortions and out of wedlock births by an incredible multiple compared to before birth control.

What birth control created was a fundamental altering of sexual mores. And as a result we have everything from the aforementioned abortions and out of wedlock births, to broken families, accepted promiscuity and deviancy, and a sexualized culture that impacts our youth at a younger and younger age. Yes, it's prevented some unwanted pregnancies along the way, but at what cost did decoupling sex and responsibility have on our society? Incalculable.

---

None of that has anything to do with birth control. It's all the change in society. The cause is far more complicated than whether I wore a condom or not. In my parents' generation, pregnant women married the guy and sometimes suffered through a horrible marriage due to a lack of resources and opportunity.

Today, she's foolishly a "strong" single mom." At times, she's a 4th-generation single mom. No shame in having 4 kids by 4 men. Birth control would have made those women more desirable to the eligible men they want at 30.

From what I see online, there's a huge fissure between men and women that I don't know how to solve. From what I see, more people are choosing not to marry. That's where I'd start. I have several successful marriage-eligible nephews who are avoiding marriage and avoiding American women.

Marriage in and of itself is a pretty effective form of birth control.

Redbrickbear said:

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ron.reagan said:

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I think we can model God's will after Africa. Nothing brings more glory to the creator than a 35 year old Nigerian woman with 12 children.

---

Nigerian women don't have 12 kids anymore…in fact they never did…their fertility rate was never as high as 12

And in fact the fertility rate there and all over Africa is in free fall.

Nations once they embrace modern values, birth control-family planning tech, and move off the farm and leave behind agriculture for urban development…all see their birth rates drastically reduce

Africa is going through the exact same process the West and Asia went through.

Across Africa the fertility rate is now down to 4.5 (some say 4.0) ….and the USA in 1960 was at 3.6

So it's nearly at the same rate America was when the boomers were kids.

And the African decline continues at pace….

Seems like fertility decline hit Africa later but it’s now collapsing similarly to Asia pic.twitter.com/IYDDaQ0nzC

— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) April 7, 2023

"A little-known fact is that even Africa's fertility rate is falling fast -- it's now down to 4, and at this pace of decline it'll go below replacement in 33 years."

---

Are you planning a mission trip to fix this? We can't have women walking around without babies in their arms

Realitybites said:

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ron.reagan said:

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I think we can model God's will after Africa. Nothing brings more glory to the creator than a 35 year old Nigerian woman with 12 children.

---

If she is a married Christian SAHM who is raising her children in accordance with Ephesians 6:4, she has found greater favor with the Lord than an army of single, childless 40 year old degreed Karens in America…whether or not they go to a Sunday morning worshiptainment event.

---

According to the gospels the Lord is only into young virgins

ron.reagan said:

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Redbrickbear said:

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ron.reagan said:

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I think we can model God's will after Africa. Nothing brings more glory to the creator than a 35 year old Nigerian woman with 12 children.

---

Nigerian women don't have 12 kids anymore…in fact they never did…their fertility rate was never as high as 12

And in fact the fertility rate there and all over Africa is in free fall.

Nations once they embrace modern values, birth control-family planning tech, and move off the farm and leave behind agriculture for urban development…all see their birth rates drastically reduce

Africa is going through the exact same process the West and Asia went through.

Across Africa the fertility rate is now down to 4.5 (some say 4.0) ….and the USA in 1960 was at 3.6

So it's nearly at the same rate America was when the boomers were kids.

And the African decline continues at pace….

Seems like fertility decline hit Africa later but it’s now collapsing similarly to Asia pic.twitter.com/IYDDaQ0nzC

— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) April 7, 2023

"A little-known fact is that even Africa's fertility rate is falling fast -- it's now down to 4, and at this pace of decline it'll go below replacement in 33 years."

---

Are you planning a mission trip to fix this? We can't have women walking around without babies in their arms

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I don't even know what you mean by this....and you probably don't as well.

I assume its some kind of dumb jab against anyone who worries about human depopulation collapse or who might see negatives theologically with mass contraceptive use.

Christianity is pro-child. If you don't like then you might need to find another religion.

And modern Human advanced economies need at the very least replacement rate fertility to keep going....if not...then economic collapse is inevitable.

I assume you enjoy living in the modern world with nice convivences....that is built on having enough babies being born to keep the whole thing going into the next generation.