The Truth Is More Important Than The Facts:

apparently i misread robins suggestion, it was actually: birth control VS. family planning. so i will abandon my views/questions on contraceptives in marriage for a moment and assume that the question is actually how and not if. i will assume that by birth control Robin means "the Pill" and that by family planning she means things like the rhythm method, dietery and other non-chemical contreceptives.

not a big fan of the pill. it has been link to certain kinds of cancer, though it may also help prevent other kinds (flip a coin). biggest problem i've seen close up is mood changes that make the user quite unhappy (and subsiquently those around her.) of course, side affects aren't the same in everyone. but the side affects only directly affect the wife, not the husband. seems unfair. if you're gonna mess with your body chemistry i've heard of a way that requires both partners to change their diets.. that seems more natural and more fair. (of course pregnacy is a little one sided to, so to even things out maybe contraception should all be on the husband.)

i'd like robin to give a better explanation of "family planning" before we go into that.

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Don't get me started on the down-sides of the pill right now. I am annoyed with the medical industry pushing the pill so much for non family planning purposes. Ugh!

Posted by: Sally | September 30, 2005 8:33 PM

A while back I listened to a CD series based on Pope John Paul's "Theology of the Body". I never really understood why Catholics are taught to use only natural family planning methods - i.e. no pill, no condom, no surgeries. However, the series really helped to explain everything in a systematic way.

"Theology of the Body" goes far beyond the topic of sex, into how gender plays a significant part of Christian theology.

I haven't read the actual book Pope JP wrote, I've simply listened to this CD series (10 cd's - it takes a while to get through). However, I have an extra copy of the CDs that I can bring up to Saskatoon and lend out if anyone wants a listen.

I've only listened to the CD's on my own, and have discussed them in Catholic circles. However, it would be great to hear what my Protestant/Anabaptist friends think.

Posted by: jenjie | October 2, 2005 4:08 AM

i'd find that very interesting

Posted by: eustace (matt w) | October 2, 2005 4:24 AM

I'm up this weekend for Thanksgiving. If I don't see you, I'll leave them with someone to pass on.

Posted by: jenjie | October 3, 2005 1:45 AM

ok, sorry for taking so long to get back to you on this...
by 'family planning' i meant the 'rhythm method' as you put it. not fully effective, i know, but i do know some people who use it, and wanted to know what you thought of it... i am not sure if i like the pill idea either - simply because i'm not into messing with hormones... but it may just be the best option as far as effectiveness goes (besides abstinence, of course).

Posted by: ~robin~ | October 4, 2005 4:24 PM

in the end it becomes about effectiveness versus safety. how much of a chance are you willing to take compared to how much are you willing to risk as far as your health. here are some failure rates for interest sake:
# Implants and injectables
2-4%

# Oral contraceptives
9%

# Diaphragm and cervical cap
13%

# Male condom
15%

# Periodic abstinence
22%

# Withdrawal
26%

# Spermicides
28%

in the article i found this in, it also had a list of women with the highest risk of contraceptive failure. this list did not include married women.. go figure.

Posted by: eustace (matt w) | October 4, 2005 9:58 PM

The Truth Is More Important Than The Facts

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