Publisher's Synopsis
The development of doctrine and dogma within the Church has always been the fruit of struggle. The Seven Ecumenical Councils were the response of the Church to various heresies which endangered the path of union with God. The fruit of these Councils were the two great dogmas of the Church: the Trinity and the Incarnation. From the context of the dogmas of the Church we are given the framework within which we can discern whether some questionable practice or belief falls within the realm of what is Orthodox or whether it is a destructive influence upon the Christian way of life. This book approaches the issue of contraception from within this dogmatic framework, as well as from the hesychastic and mystagogical (sacramental) perspectives. This is the proper context if one wishes to reach a lucid understanding of the real dangers involved in opening the door to contraception, which is itself a practice which was universally condemned by all the Church fathers. But it is not enough for us today to know that contraception was both known and condemned throughout the history of the Church. What this book seeks to accomplish is to delve deeper into the repercussions of contraception for the whole of man: nous, rational soul and body. This is the goal of this book and the approach taken is to place contraception within the proper framework of Christian marriage, the dogma of the Church, the Mysteries and the hesychastic way; all of which are means towards the healing of man and his growth in theosis.
