ext_6933 ([identity profile] sophia-sadek.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] talkpolitics2009-08-27 02:12 pm
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Rendering unto Caesar: The Origin of the Birth Control Ban

There is no evidence that Early Christians heeded the Roman ban on birth control. In fact, there are hints pointing to the practice of birth control in the early Christian literature. Apparently, the Church didn't subscribe to Roman law on the matter until it took control of imperial affairs in the fourth century.

The ban on birth control made sense for an urban population at the time. If each family did not give birth to an average of five children, the population would decline from disease and warfare. This threat to the city's power was also a threat to the Church's power. One of the crimes that heretical sects were accused of was the crime of trafficking in prophylactic herbs.

To this day, the subjects of the Vicar of Caesar are prohibited from practicing birth control, except in limited contexts such as through monasticism. It is easy to determine whether a person is slave or free by establishing whether they follow the ban or not. Do you obey the laws of Caesar, or do you conform to a higher jurisprudence?

[identity profile] the-rukh.livejournal.com 2009-08-27 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I heard a rumor somewhere that Caesar died, know anything about it?

Re: He's dead...

[identity profile] underlankers.livejournal.com 2009-08-28 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, the Pope is no Caesar. The Gens Julii died out a long time ago. And when have we done the testudo or bothered with suits of armor, Gladii, and spears that bent so that they would be a bother for shield-users in modern times?

Re: He's dead...

[identity profile] a-new-machine.livejournal.com 2009-08-28 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, but like armies still have ranks and stuff. TOTALLY THE SAME YOU GUYS

Re: He's dead...

[identity profile] underlankers.livejournal.com 2009-08-28 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Not in zee peepul's Reepooblik, zay dun't!

[identity profile] devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com 2009-08-27 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I think the ides are in favor of that.

[identity profile] geezer-also.livejournal.com 2009-08-28 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'm pretty sure Sid Caesar is still alive. His biography is sitting on my pile of "in process of reading" books.