At 07:48 PM 8/3/01 -0700 Kristin A. Ruhle wrote:
>Good. Talk the MExicans into using it. I know *first* world countries that
>are predoinantly Catholic
I would have thought that a liberal like you would consider all countries
to be equal, and not divide them into 1sts, 2nds, and 3rds..... ;-)
> Yeah, I've heard of NFP but I think the
>article I read caled it "getting the rhythm method to work ;-)) And you'd
>need some practice before you got the efficacy up to 90 percent.
Actually, in most studies, women were found to be able to practice the
method effectively after one hour's training, and practice over one
menstrual cycle. Its really not that hard, you just have to know what you
are looking for.
The comparison with the rhythm method, however, is invalid. The rhythm
method presumes a regular cycle. NFP, however, does not require a
regular cycle, as it is simply based on the principle of identifying
ovulation when it occurs.
>Well, "family planning" (versus just having as many s you can) is a pretty
>recent development isn't it? The world didn't used to be so
>over-populated. Hey, Rome fell and it was the dark ages and people needed
>lots of babies once....SO how could there be such a theological basis for
>something so relatively new?
Cloning wasn't possible either, but there is a theological basis for it.
The whole idea of theology is that it allows us to identify eternal truths,
which we can then apply to new circumstances as they arise.
Additionally, Catholics belive in continuing revelation of truths from God,
through the Holy Spirit and his universal Church.
>i take it you mean the theology of *sex*? Or of procreation. I know they
>teach that you shouldn't separate "conjugal love" from the possibility of
>procreation. And yeah, I once spoke to a priest (social situation not
>religious) who said sexual climax (within marriage) is God giving you a
>taste of heaven for a bit...something like that. Isn't that what they
>teach?
Yes, that is a first-order understanding of the teaching.
>Did you engage in a lot of religious studies John?
Depends on your definition "a lot." I would say "no." Dan Minette would
probably say that I don't either. Some of my less religious friends would
say that I do, and that I am the most religiously studied person that they
know.
>(Might be useful to know
>if i ever *married* a Catholic, but I'm not even remotely in love with
>one.)
Well, to marry a Catholic, you have to agree to raise your children as
Catholics - so I wouldn't recommend this for you.
>Okay, Ok, I'll go pick on the MOrmons instead. Any Mormons here? My mother
>isn't a Mormon, but she's a childbirth educator and she says Mormons
>believe there are souls up in heaven waiting to be born which is why you
>should have many children.
That is a first-order understanding of the Mormon teaching. I don't even
know the second-order udnerstanding myself, though - so you can't ask me
for more details.
> But between the birth rate and quasi-military stints in the
>misisonary corps for their young adults (proselytizing) do you think there
>is a high mathematical probability that the Mormons will outbreed
>everybody and take over the world?
Given that around 33% of the world's population lives in China and India, I
really don't think so.
>(David Brin once told me and some others "If thinking it is the same as
>doing it there are no men in Heaven." If you want to argue that, argue it
>with him not me....i think you and DB are still on speaking terms
>JDG.....arent you?)
I've never had a personal falling out with Dr. Brin, if that is what you mean.
I would simply point out that the Catholic Church also teaches that we are
all sinners - so the fact that a great majority of men (and women) are
predisposed to a certain kind of sin is unremarkable in terms of Catholic
theology.
JDG
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
We are products of the same history, reaching from Jerusalem and
Athens to Warsaw and Washington. We share more than an alliance.
We share a civilization. - George W. Bush, Warsaw, 06/15/01
