Throughout history, Catholics have made better art than Protestants especially where the beauty and celebration of the human body is involved. Both clothed and nude. - Tour through Europe and bask in the reverent merging of the sensual and the sacred in the greatest works of Western art. Sistine Chapel anyone?
Catholic cultures also tend to be more comfortable with dance, touch, and affection (both romantic and platonic) in ways that Puritanical cultures to their detriment are not.
You don’t need to be Catholic to hold a pro-life view on sex. I know of Protestants with beautiful marriages and families who do.
In fact, Protestants historically held the SAME stance with regard to artificial contraception. It was not until the 1931 Lambeth Conference for example, that the Church of England changed its doctrine on the matter — as the Western world embarked upon its slippery slope down the culture of abortion and sexual chaos.
Make no mistake, the contraceptive mentality is spiritual poison and is at the *root* of the sexual brokenness, gender identity crises, and dysfunction plaguing much of modern society. The papal encyclical “Humanae Vitae” explains why in philosophical and logical terms. Even just physically speaking, the pill has wreaked havoc on so many women’s bodies and mental health.
At heart this is an issue of “faith alone” in “God alone.” I find it strange Protestants apply this to something as overwhelmingly encompassing as salvation, but then put a caveat with regard to sex.
Do we entrust God with our sex lives or not. Do we trust God with our wombs or not. The pill, the condom, these are all designed as buffers against God.
Is it not *sexier* to take the leap of faith than to plan children out like financial line items spread out over an Excel spread sheet? (I was at a Bible study and this was how a newlywed couple’s perspective on their future children sounded like. Just a bunch of bills. “Planned parenthood” in its truest sense: a long term secular life insurance policy with some children thrown in. Nil mention of what God may want.)
So unsexy.
So what?
And that's a matter of opinion.
Puritans are puritans and do not reflect all of evangelical or Protestant Christianity.
For that matter your comment is ludicrous considering the immorality that looseness so many of us former Catholics are charged with.
This should be obviuous to anyone who even reads the headlines. Look at the collapse of the faith in Ireland, with the intentional "popular" vote for the slaughter of Irish children before they see the light of day. What I would have you notice, is that one of the necessary (and apparently sufficient) causes for this was their acceptance of contraception: this paved the way for abortion.
In 1983, 66% of the Irish voters voted to put a highly protective pro-life provision, Amendment 8, into their Constitution. (Abortion was already illegal, but this mad it unconstituional as well>). Irish children were welcomed by love and protected by law.
In 1985, for the first time, condoms and spermicides were legally sold to people over 18 without a prescription.
In just one generation, the evil of this matured:
In 2018, the Irish mentality was exactly reversed against the children. As all aware FReepers know, the debauched Irish voted 66& to 34% TO REPEAL Amendment 8, and the floodgates have now been opened for the extermination of Irish children.
In every country in the world with the exception of Russia, it was contraception which so turned the minds of people against their own fertility --- and against natural female physiology, coming to see it as a national problem rather than as a loving treasure. Abortion became the "necessary backup" and inevitable outcome of the contraceptive mentality.
Textbook example of how contraceptive acceptance does not prevent abortion. It necessitates it.
What makes you think people who may use some form of contraceptive AREN'T still trusting God? I know a few women who got pregnant WHILE taking the pill. My own father sired two more sons after his vasectomy. We can't thwart the will of God. Look at Sarah and Moses - they got pregnant when they were senior citizens! John the Baptist's parents as well.
Question: Does God expect us to provide for our children, to be able to feed and clothe them and ensure they have a roof over their heads and the security of loving parents? It's called RESPONSIBILITY.
Please understand, I am not in any way condoning sex outside of marriage nor do I think abortifacient contraceptives (IUD, BC pill, hormone implants, etc.) are acceptable. But using some kind of barrier method - though NOT 100% effective - isn't all that different than Natural Family Planning (NFP) that Catholicism doesn't have a problem with. Like I said, giving guidance and education WRT Biblical principles IS the role churches should play in families' lives. To state ALL CONTRACEPTION IS ALWAYS EVIL is overkill - pardon the pun.
What makes you think people who may use some form of contraceptive AREN'T still trusting God? I know a few women who got pregnant WHILE taking the pill - they kept their babies. My own father sired two more sons after his vasectomy (my brothers). We can't thwart the will of God. Look at Sarah and Moses - they got pregnant when they were senior citizens! John the Baptist's parents as well.
Question: Does God expect us to provide for our children, to be able to feed and clothe them and ensure they have a roof over their heads and the security of loving parents? It's called RESPONSIBILITY.
Please understand, I am not in any way condoning sex outside of marriage nor do I think abortifacient contraceptives (IUD, BC pill, hormone implants, etc.) are acceptable. But using some kind of barrier method - though NOT 100% effective - isn't all that different than Natural Family Planning (NFP) that Catholicism doesn't have a problem with. Like I said, giving guidance and education WRT Biblical principles IS the role churches should play in families' lives. To state ALL CONTRACEPTION IS ALWAYS EVIL is overkill - pardon the pun.
BTW...not for nuthin'...Michelangelo's magnificent Sistine Chapel ceiling as well as his other works of sculpture and paintings are some examples of what is called homoerotic art as he was rumored to be a homosexual through out his life.