Prevention, which usually denotes to birth control, is in Finland no longer a topic of serious controversies. An abort does not really belong to means of prevention, for it merely shows the lack of control.

In Roman Catholic countries, both affairs are much bigger issues.

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Where can we find the original ideas of the wickedness of birth control? Mostly on the Old Testimony.

In Genesis, God commands people to be fruitful, and multiply. It is understandable that thousands of years ago this might be necessary for keeping the community alive. Jeremiah gives a more detailed command: “That ye may be increased there, not diminished.” Jeremiah’s advice would be suitable in Finland as well as in many other western countries.

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The only episode in the whole Bible, which we could interpret prohibiting birth control is found in Genesis 38:8. There Juda says to Onan:

Go in unto thy brother's wife, marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

It does not regard much thinking to see clearly, how far this episode stands from present affairs between men and women. This ancient Jewish idea was meant to protect the future of the widow in the community – nowadays the same is made through legislation.

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Jewish leaders had a habit to defend the identity of the tribe by using God as a deterrent. This might be even necessary to control a wild tribe of nomads – especially such as the tribe of Binu-Jam (Benjamin).

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The New Testimony does not tell anything about the birth control. Apostle Paul writes of sexual intercourse in the first Cor. in a rather positive way, but he allows the stopping that sort of intercourse, at least for a while, on mutual agreement. In the same chapter, Paul seems to recommend singleness (at least for spiritual ones), but allows marriage for those, who cannot contain, “let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”

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Many Catholic priests may think that living in celibate helps them in being spiritually born again. Unfortunately, Celibacy is often practiced by human will force, which may cause the natural instinct to fade from conscious control and twist (towards for example kids) – unless the inner being is built on a solid ground.

It is obvious that a person must fully control his own mind before he may become a mediator for the enormous forces of the Holy Spirit.

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The New Testimony does not give sufficient and exclusive guidelines for the question of birth control. The Gospels concentrate on assisting the growth of spiritual life. Issues of daily activities are mostly skipped, for people should find solutions for worldly affairs by themselves.

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More than a hundred years ago, families in Finland often had very many children. Children were essential to ensure the continuity of life and the security for old people. Of course, there were not very efficient and reliable means for prevention.

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In principle, increasing the population should in Finland be encouraged to prevent it from becoming too old. The problem could be solved by immigration, but that might also cause some friction if not managed properly.

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We have a good reason to respect those families that bring about here as many children as they can. The affair becomes doubtful if it happens on basis of too outdated and suspicious ideas or under the pressure of a religious community or another person.