September 2003

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Birth Control for Christians: Making Wise Choices
Jenell Williams Paris
Baker, 219 pp., $14.99

It's an issue that every Christian couple must face, and yet there are few reliable books that can help them think through family planning from a Christian perspective. This book is one of those few.

This up-to-date guide to birth control offers a balanced, ethical framework for Christians of almost any background to make informed decisions. Jenell Williams Paris, a fertility awareness instructor, supplies detailed descriptions of birth control methods and devices, costs, possible side effects, and the moral dilemmas each present—information invaluable for its specificity.

Most chapters end with thoughtful discussion questions, allowing spouses to share responsibility and deepen communication. There is also a section on notoriously ineffective methods, including douching, herbal remedies, and post-coital prayer (the Lord, she notes, seems unwilling to be used as a contraceptive).

She tackles sticky issues such as the Pill as an abortifacient, and, while clearly prolife, manages to present her information in a way that engages any Christian. She also offers plenty of reassurance ("It is not uncommon … to try three or four or even more birth control methods").

This book deserves a place on every pastor's and counselor's bookshelf. It is appropriate for engaged couples preparing for married life, and married couples will find it a useful reference guide.

Birth Control for Christians: Making Wise Choices is available at Christianbook.com and other retailers.

In July, the book's author Jenell Williams Paris wrote an online piece for CT called "Has Natural Birth Control Been Proved Impossible?"

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