Nadezhda:
Good afternoon! I'm reading your site and have a question:- What does the Bible say about the use of contraception?
— Should Christians use contraception?
Thank you!
25.04.2020
Hello, Nadezhda.
The Bible does not prohibit the use of contraception. If contraception is used for a temporary delay until a more appropriate moment: spiritual and financial readiness, then, in this case, the use of contraception may well be acceptable.
Islam
The representative of the Coordination Center for Muslims of the North Caucasus, Mufti Shafig Pshikhachev, told the RIA Novosti news agency that for Muslims procreation is the main goal of creating a family.
“Our Prophet said that on the day of the Great Judgment a person will be responsible for every penny he spends. But he will not account for the funds that were allocated for the well-being of the family,” the mufti said.
However, the agency's interlocutor noted that if a woman cannot give birth for health reasons, then Islam allows the use of contraception.
Judaism
There is no consensus in Judaism on contraception, Borukh Gorin, a representative of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FJC), told RIA Novosti.
“For a childless person, from the point of view of Judaism, contraception creates a greater problem than for someone who already has two children of different sexes. For most rabbis, the birth of a boy and a girl is considered the fulfillment of the commandment to be fruitful and multiply,” Gorin said.
A FJC representative told the agency that in Judaism, “the health of the mother is more important than the birth of a child.” If one of the spouses is diagnosed with HIV, then the second spouse “not only can, he must use protection.”
© RIA Novosti. Marina Makovetskaya Muslim - resident of Ainisky district of Tajikistan with children
Vaccination against coronavirus during Lent: is it possible and what to pay attention to?
On March 15, believers begin Lent, which will last this year until May 1, Easter. Perhaps for the first time in history, religious fasting coincides with the most important medical “marathon” - a mass vaccination campaign against coronavirus. At the same time, it is known that dietary habits affect the functioning of the immune system, including the process of producing protective antibodies after vaccination, doctors remind. What is important for believers to know, whether they should somehow adjust their behavior this year, Komsomolskaya Pravda learned from experts.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM NEEDS PROTEIN
— In order for the body to properly protect itself from infections, immune cells and certain antibodies must be synthesized. And for the full synthesis of antibodies, proper nutrition is important,” says Elena Volchkova, head of the department of infectious diseases at Sechenov University of the Russian Ministry of Health, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor. If a person does not receive a sufficient amount of protein food, then there will be no adequate production of antibodies, an infectious disease doctor warned, speaking at one of the round tables dedicated to the fight against coronavirus infection. Animal products contain the most easily digestible protein: meat, fish, eggs. “Vegetarians in this sense are in a more vulnerable position,” Elena Vasilievna noted then. Believers who keep a strict fast with the complete exclusion of animal products, from a medical point of view, can be equated to “temporary” vegetarians.
THERE IS A REPLACEMENT, BUT IT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK
In principle, animal protein, necessary for the synthesis of protective antibodies, can be replaced to a certain extent with vegetable protein, doctors say. The following products are rich in it:
- legumes: soybeans, beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas;
- nuts and seeds (sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds);
- cereals, primarily buckwheat and millet;
- mushrooms.
“However, protein from animal products is absorbed much better,” emphasizes Professor Elena Volchkova. So, let’s say, in order for the body to receive the same amount of protein after processing, plant food must be eaten 3-4 times more in volume than animal food. This is a serious burden on the digestive system. Therefore, people who have any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are recommended to consume dietary animal protein, primarily lean poultry and fish. NUANCES FOR THE OLDER GENERATION
— In older people, the ability to digest and absorb protein decreases. Therefore, their diet must contain animal protein,” Natalya Pugacheva, a nutritionist at the Health Management Clinic of the Institute of Personalized Medicine of Sechenov University, told KP. Experts note that the immune system also works weaker with age. Therefore, deficiencies in protein intake and absorption in the body may be particularly sensitive to vaccine effectiveness. That is, the less animal protein there is in an elderly person’s diet, the less effective the coronavirus vaccine may be.
As for vegetable protein, according to Dr. Pugacheva, legumes and nuts are richest in it. “Cereals also have a sufficient proportion of protein, but if they contain 5-7% per 100 g, then in legumes, almost like in meat, protein can reach 20 g per 100 g of legumes.” However, let us remind you that protein from the same beans or peas is absorbed 30-40% less than from meat, fish or eggs.
INSTEAD OF OUTPUT
Strict fasting with complete abstinence from animal food may, to one degree or another, affect the intensity of antibody production after vaccination against coronavirus, experts say. Today there is no evidence that the vaccine will not work at all or will provide noticeably worse protection in fasting people. However, this risk is potentially higher in older people and with gastrointestinal diseases. At the same time, it is for such patients that Covid poses the greatest danger, and vaccination is necessary first. Therefore, immunologists advise focusing on the spiritual component of fasting and taking advantage of relaxations in terms of diet. Namely, include animal protein in it - at least for 7-10 days after the vaccine injection.
BY THE WAY
Add vitamin D
It is known that the production of antibodies is also negatively affected by vitamin D deficiency, reminds infectious disease doctor Elena Volchkova. Nowadays there is a lack of sunny days, and most of us lack this vitamin. Among the foods that are rich in it, again, animal foods, which are usually excluded during fasting: cod liver, egg yolk, etc. Vitamin D preparations can be an effective replacement. As a preventive dose (if you have not been tested for the level of vitamin in the blood) for adults 1000 - 2000 international units, or 25-50 mcg of vitamin per day are recommended, the dosage is indicated on the drug packaging. Important: For people with kidney disease, taking vitamin D in the form of medications is contraindicated.
Link to publication: kp.ru
Male barrier contraceptives
This is a condom (condom) that is placed on the penis directly during sexual intercourse. Thin latex reliably protects against sperm entering the vagina, while maintaining the fullness of sexual sensations.
Advantages:
- ease of use - condoms can be carried with you to put on at the right time;
- availability and low cost (sold in a pharmacy or supermarket for little money);
- ideal for casual relationships, as it reliably protects against STDs;
- Thanks to the lubricants used, “pimples”, corrugation and aromatization, it makes sexual intercourse longer and more enjoyable.
Flaws:
- cannot be used if you are allergic to latex;
- sometimes the condom breaks and you have to take emergency contraceptive pills;
- Some men feel decreased sensitivity during sex.
Female barrier contraceptives
The female condom is a cylindrical device made of the finest polyurethane, reminiscent of a male condom. The length of the product is 17 cm, and the diameter is 7.8 cm. At the ends there are two rings - one is put on the vulva, and the other is put on the cervix. It is inserted like a tampon before sexual intercourse. This is a disposable contraceptive. Female condoms provide maximum coverage of the genitals, reliably protecting against STDs.
The vaginal diaphragm is an elastic convex cap made of latex with a rim lubricated with spermidid compounds. Flat, annular, and curved diaphragms with a diameter of 5-9.5 cm are produced. The size and shape of the product are selected individually by a gynecologist. The cap is placed on the cervix immediately before sexual intercourse, lubricated with spermicide and removed 8 hours after contact.
This reusable product is washed and dried after each use, which creates inconvenience. Keep dry vaginal diaphragms away from sunlight. This barrier method cannot be used for diseases of the cervix, allergies to latex and spermicides. The efficiency of diaphragms is only 60-90%.
Cervical (cervical) caps placed on the cervix are available in several types:
- Kafka
, made of thick rubber or rubber. Recommended for women with a long cylindrical cervix. The doctor puts on the device after the end of the next menstruation and removes it before the next one. The need to frequently visit a gynecologist creates certain inconveniences; - Prentifa, Vimulya and Dumas
, made from silicone rubber. Products are available in different lengths, sizes and shapes. There are caps for women who have given birth and women who have not given birth. To enhance the contraceptive effect, the rubber is lubricated with spermicidal compounds. - The cap
is put on by the woman herself before sexual intercourse. The device can be left inside the vagina for a day or two. The contraceptive is used many times, after use it is washed and dried. Store the product in a special container. - Vaginal caps
do not protect against contracting STDs and are therefore not recommended during casual sex. They should not be worn for three to four months after childbirth, in case of inflammation of the vagina and cervix. - Disposable contraceptive sponges
are made of polyurethane impregnated with spermicide. They come in one size and are inserted by the woman herself, like tampons. The contraceptive is administered before sexual intercourse and lasts for a day. 8 hours after contact, the sponge is removed.
Barrier methods of contraception are convenient, do not have harmful effects on the body, and therefore are widely used by men and women. But at the same time, they are not reliable, so they should not become a permanent way of protecting against unwanted pregnancy.
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The Orthodox Church on contraception: attitude, opinion and answers to frequently asked questions
Some hundred years ago, no one could even think of the question of how to regulate the number of children in a family.
This applied to both the poor and the rich. A pregnant woman was perceived as a normal occurrence in life. God gives as many children as He sees fit. The infertility of one of the spouses, as a rule, the woman was blamed for this, was considered a curse, shame or punishment from God. To the question: “Is it a sin for Orthodox Christians to protect themselves?” one can answer the question: “Is it a sin to produce homeless children and beggars?” The main thing is to understand what the Bible says about this, and what is the will of the Creator when creating a family.
How Orthodoxy views sex among married couples
Some particularly religious people argue that sex is permissible only for the birth of children. What about spouses who cannot have offspring? Sex was created by God himself, so that spouses become one, and there is nothing shameful about it.
It is hypocritical to say that sex is only for procreation. The answer is given by the Book of Wisdom - the Bible through the Proverbs of King Solomon (Prov. 5:19) says that the husband should constantly delight his wife.
Nothing is said here about the birth of a baby, only about the joy of mutual relationships. God created marriage so that two people could become one, helping each other. The birth of children, if any appear, is an important aspect of the feat of salvation.
Spouses are called to instruct each other in spiritual life; sex for husband and wife is:
- blessing from heaven;
- deep unity;
- Love;
- tenderness;
- care;
- sacrifice.
Important! In close relationships, as in everything else that brings pleasure, one must be able to set limits so as not to become a slave to uncontrollable desires when sex becomes a sin.
I would like to remind you that the Orthodox Church, by the concept of family, means married couples who have undergone the Sacrament of Wedding and received God's blessing. The church does not recognize any premarital trial or civil marriages; all this is a sin of adultery.
