The American religious debate over birth control, 1907-1937 / by Kathleen A. Tobin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tobin, Kathleen A., 1957-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Birth control--United States--History.

Birth control.

Birth control--Religious aspects--History.

Church and social problems--United States--History.

Church and social problems.

History.

Birth control--Religious aspects.

United States.

Physical Description:

vi, 226 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2001]

Summary:

The ongoing debates on the morality of artificial birth control sparked a heated public debate in the early twentieth century in an already religiously fragmented United States. Many denominations took part in the deliberations both publicly and privately. In examining the ideas about contraception and birth control at that time, this book considers the cultural environment, religion and its connection to the roots of birth control, the questioning of religious doctrine, the Protestants view of birth control, the Lambeth conferences of 1930, the influence of conservatives, and the influence of Catholics. Also discussed is the historical context of fundamentalists versus modernists, neo-Malthusianism, eugenics, immigration, the movement for legalization organized by Margaret Sanger, and how the Catholic Church came to lead religious resistance to artificial birth control.

Contents:

Chapter 1 1907-1921: The Cultural Environment 1

Chapter 2 Religion and the Roots of Birth Control 39

Chapter 3 1921-1926: Doctrine in Question, Battle Lines Drawn 77

Chapter 4 1927-1929: Protestants Silent, Shift at Hand 123

Chapter 5 1930-1931: Lambeth and Its Aftermath 148

Chapter 6 1932-1937: Conservatives Hold Strong, Catholics Hold Stronger 186.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-221) and index.

ISBN:

0786410817

OCLC:

47081331