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I am married and have 3 children. I would rather not have anymore if it was up to me. I feel like I have my hands full. I have used birth control before and other protective measures with my husband,  but that was before I considered it a possible issue. I know Catholics don't believe in contraceptive methods, but their main example is with Onan spilling his seed....but that could be interpreted differently (it was his responsiblity as a brother to give his sister-in-law a child at that time and he knowingly did not fulfill his duty). I have a friend who keeps referring to a scripture that says something about knowing when your plate is full, but she can't seem to find it. So what do you think? Please provide scriptures to back it up. Thanks.

To Krisi-

No need to reply.  But on a practical level my question is do you want more kids and he doesn't, or he wants more and you don't, or he doesn't want to use birth control and you do, or he wants you.

Don't answer.  This is a grey enough area I woudn't want to beat you or your husband or anyone with a scripture.

Your concience is important here.  Your husbands is too if he was raised Catholic or you.

We are in grace but pay attention if your concience is screaming at you.

I could tell you not to feel guilty but then you might feel guilty about feeling guilty, see what I am saying?

Romans 14

The title of this thread is "Is sex for procreation only?" From a Jewish point of view the answer is a clear "No". A couple who unfortunately can't have children, or where the wife is past childbearing age, may, indeed ought to, continue to have sexual relations.

The Jewish Law on sex has always been very much against what for thousands of years has been the general view, in that in Jewish Law a husband is obliged to satisfy his wife in such matters, not the other way around.

As to contraception, it has always been permitted where pregnancy will cause a danger to the wife, and is often permitted where the wife feels she cannot cope with another child. Not all methods are permitted, however. Condoms are not permitted. Of the other methods, the Pill is the least objectionable as it does nothing to interfere with the act of normal intercourse itself.

Well, here's the deal with oral contraceptives, most have "abortificants" in them. So, if they fail to prevent the release of an egg, there is a "back up" additive that prevents the fertilzed egg from implanting.

IUDs are obvious abortion devices.

Other forms aren't reliable. So, you must be ready to have another child if they fail.

The only real way to prevent pregnancy is for one of you to be sterilized.

*I* don't see this as anti-biblical any more than any medical procedure. Some do though, that is for you and our husband to seek the LORD about.

And to answer the topic title: no, sex is not for procreation only. It is for bonding/pleasure of the couple. And should last throughout our lifetimes. Exceeding childbearing years, in other words.

The spilling of the seed is only one scriptural example.  Here are some other quick points:
- we are called to "be fruitful and multiply"
- God is the author of life, we are not.  If God wants to bring new life into the world, we should not put up barriers to interfere.
- Being fully open to the will of God is a sign of our trust in him.  Birth control is a sign that we want to be in control rather than God.  Often times (perhaps most of the time) people use birth control for selfish reasons. "We can't afford another child" (but they can afford trips to the spa, their big house, SUV, ...)
- The conjugal act of marriage is part of two becomming one flesh, and in doing so, new life may be formed.  This is a trinitarian symbol.  Birth control puts up a barrier to this new life.
- Birth control subtly changes ones view on the conjugal act.  Rather than being an act of love open to new life, it often becomes an act of personal gratification.  This can lead to the objectification of women (flip through the channels on your T.V. and in less than 5 minutes you'll see proof).
- Birth control can lead to a lack of respect for human life.  The couple relying on birth control who still get pregnant will seek other means to deal with the "mistake".

Just an f.y.i., I've heard it said that prior to some meeting of the Anglican church in 1930, all Christian denominations were opposed to birth control, believing it to be immoral and against scripture.  Since this time, we see it accepted by nearly all, and now we see even abortion being accepted in some denominations.

I've also heard an interesting statistic (don't know the exact number).  Catholic families practicing "Natural Family Planning", have a divorce rate somewhere near 10% compared to the ~50% for Christians not practicing (which is identical to the non-believing populace).  This is a sign of God's grace and the intamacy that develops between husband and wife who fully put their trust in him.

I don't mind answering. No, neither of us are Catholic. Neither of us want anymore children.

Is sex for procreation only?

he he he....
I can only guess that you have never read "Song of Soloman"...

Ok, I see all points of view. But here's where I stand...I KNOW that if I used something to prevent pregnancy that if G-d wanted me to get pregnant he could do that....so how is that actually preventing G-d's will? If I got pregnant I WOULD NOT have an abortion...I am 100% against that...if that happened I would def. see that as G-d's will. I think that conception is determined by you mostly...example: if you don't have sex, you won't get pregnant (unless you were Mary)...is that going against G-d's will?? G-d has the ability to open and close wombs, but he doesn't open/close open/close, once open you can continue having babies...example...once Hannah's womb was open she had more than one baby (G-d didn't close the womb and open it back up) but she had to have sex to get pregnant. To me, I think G-d wants us to take responsibility for ourselves and our families (if you want to have more children then it is a blessing; however, if you don't want anymore, then it can become a burden...and this actually can lead to devestating things...many parents going "crazy" and killing their babies). G-d decides to create a baby AFTER we have sex...so his decision comes after we make our decision right? When we manage our decisions in our life that doesn't mean we stop trusting in G-d...example, we don't drive our car with our eyes closed or don't work because we know G-d will care for us. No, we have to make ourselves reliable first right? Even though G-d doesn't approve on sex before marriage, he allows people to get pregnant all the time because of this. So would this be considered G-d's will?

Is that ~50% Catholics too, or multi-denominational?
I would be more convinced if it was Catholics on both accounts, because doctrinal teachings would be consistent.

Divorce rates also increase dramatically, for instance, for those who do not regularly attend services (across the board).

If sex was only for procreation, why on earth does Genesis 2:24 and the Song of Solomon exist?