Actually, no, prior to 1930 it was never debated, anywhere, in Christian writings. The interpretation of the Onan incident has been unanimously upheld by Protestants, Orthodox, and Catholics until just 4 generations ago.
Therefore anyone who proposes an alternative interpretation has the obligation to disprove the prior unanimous interpretation and prove their own.
Fortunately Deuteronomy 25:5 gives us the key to its proper interpretation, and that was certainly taken into consideration by Protestants, Orthodox, and Catholics until just 4 generations ago.
Deuteronomy 25:5 speaks of an obligation to marry your brothers wife and conceive a child there is no mention of “spilling seed”. Which leads me back to God was angry Onan disobeyed his will not because he ejaculated outside the wife. None of which leads to unproductive ejaculation as a reason he was struck down. Maybe I’ve missed something.