- Oct 4, 2016
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We seemed to have some fun last week when I asked and compared Coptic prayer of the hours to the EO, so I figured I would try something similar on a social issue.
Years ago, I got some conflicting information about the Eastern Orthodox take on birth control (in marriage).
1) Before I was married in the Coptic Church, my fiancee and I went through an Eastern Orthodox marriage counseling book that my fiance picked up when we visited the Concilliar press book store (that was in the area where my parents lived). I'm having trouble identifying that book, It had a couple wearing wedding crowns on the cover (maybe a title like "Lord make them One"). Anyway on the subject, I recall the viewpoint expressed matched the Coptic one listed below in the article concerning point 7.
Family Planning
2) I however talked to an online friend who was an Antiochian deacon (later attended saint Vladimir's seminary and became a priest for the Antiochians and served a few years with an OCA parish in Alaska). He said that the Eastern Orthodox position was not that clear. Things varied greatly, from bishop to bishop. He said "some bishops are more strict than Catholics" (Something I didn't think was possible).
Addendum
I've had some other conversations on the topic that I'm going to include that I think they are interesting. The biggest point, is when talking about the topic online the Coptic position on the topic has received a lot of criticism especially from Catholics, where Copts and EO (who have the same viewpoint) are accused of being modernized or maybe Protestantized on the subject. Typically Church Fathers are vehemently quoted etc. I brought the subject up on Coptic Church.net years ago and we had a really good discussion. One poster made a great comment that stuck with me. "In the same way, we do not interpret the Scriptures Alone, we likewise do not interpret the Church Fathers Alone." (We discussed some of the things going on in the times of the Fathers). And of course we talked how the Coptic Church did approach the issue in a Early Church Concilliar way etc.
Years ago, I got some conflicting information about the Eastern Orthodox take on birth control (in marriage).
1) Before I was married in the Coptic Church, my fiancee and I went through an Eastern Orthodox marriage counseling book that my fiance picked up when we visited the Concilliar press book store (that was in the area where my parents lived). I'm having trouble identifying that book, It had a couple wearing wedding crowns on the cover (maybe a title like "Lord make them One"). Anyway on the subject, I recall the viewpoint expressed matched the Coptic one listed below in the article concerning point 7.
Family Planning
2) I however talked to an online friend who was an Antiochian deacon (later attended saint Vladimir's seminary and became a priest for the Antiochians and served a few years with an OCA parish in Alaska). He said that the Eastern Orthodox position was not that clear. Things varied greatly, from bishop to bishop. He said "some bishops are more strict than Catholics" (Something I didn't think was possible).
Addendum
I've had some other conversations on the topic that I'm going to include that I think they are interesting. The biggest point, is when talking about the topic online the Coptic position on the topic has received a lot of criticism especially from Catholics, where Copts and EO (who have the same viewpoint) are accused of being modernized or maybe Protestantized on the subject. Typically Church Fathers are vehemently quoted etc. I brought the subject up on Coptic Church.net years ago and we had a really good discussion. One poster made a great comment that stuck with me. "In the same way, we do not interpret the Scriptures Alone, we likewise do not interpret the Church Fathers Alone." (We discussed some of the things going on in the times of the Fathers). And of course we talked how the Coptic Church did approach the issue in a Early Church Concilliar way etc.
