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God Bless the Pill: The Surprising History of Contraception and Sexuality in American Religion
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March 1, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and University of North Carolina Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
What a book! Mehta has provided a detailed, balanced look at how religious narratives in the US have shaped society opinions and policy on contraception...since its conception! She is clearly beyond knowledgeable in this field and I particularly enjoyed reading her acknowledgments at the beginning where she talked about all the different residencies and archives she visited over the years.
Each pieces of news we see on women's rights in the US is a horror, we're almost desensitised to it at this point, but Mehta's work goes deep into the attitudes that gave us the laws that are now being rolled back. I was fascinated by some of her conclusions that we only got as far as we did because it lined up with conservative ideas on population control and the 'suburban family'. I would pick up in an instant the book that did this same concept about the UK!
Much to think about for this one, on a global rights scale and also on a personal faith-based scale - a phenomenal book
What a book! Mehta has provided a detailed, balanced look at how religious narratives in the US have shaped society opinions and policy on contraception...since its conception! She is clearly beyond knowledgeable in this field and I particularly enjoyed reading her acknowledgments at the beginning where she talked about all the different residencies and archives she visited over the years.
Each pieces of news we see on women's rights in the US is a horror, we're almost desensitised to it at this point, but Mehta's work goes deep into the attitudes that gave us the laws that are now being rolled back. I was fascinated by some of her conclusions that we only got as far as we did because it lined up with conservative ideas on population control and the 'suburban family'. I would pick up in an instant the book that did this same concept about the UK!
Much to think about for this one, on a global rights scale and also on a personal faith-based scale - a phenomenal book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
God Bless the Pill offers an important reframing of the acceptance and push for contraception, particularly the pill, in the United States during and since the 1960s and explores how the decades since have led to the current political climate and culture wars surrounding women's bodily autonomy.
Admittedly, before reading this book, I assumed that it was a feminist push that was the basis for wider acceptance of the pill. But in fact, and as the book argues, it was predominantly religious leaders pushing the pill as a moral good. The arrival of the pill occurred at a time before modern culture wars that have since created these left and right side arguments over birth control. And back then, the pill offered an easy method of producing happier, healthier, more upwardly mobile, God-loving families in post-war America. Nonetheless, just another tool to regulate the family and women's bodies and not a way to provide freedom of employment and opportunities that we today associate with birth control.
I think that is really important about God Bless the Pill, and what I will be taking away, is how these religious discussions have led, since the 1980s, to the rise of the religious right and the current backlash against women's bodily autonomy. This book is key in providing the framework to understand the current state of attacks on women's health and choices.
While dense and slow in parts, I think God Bless the Pill remains an approachable book for the layperson interested in the topic, alongside considerable amounts of research for academics. I know I certainly learnt a lot from this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Admittedly, before reading this book, I assumed that it was a feminist push that was the basis for wider acceptance of the pill. But in fact, and as the book argues, it was predominantly religious leaders pushing the pill as a moral good. The arrival of the pill occurred at a time before modern culture wars that have since created these left and right side arguments over birth control. And back then, the pill offered an easy method of producing happier, healthier, more upwardly mobile, God-loving families in post-war America. Nonetheless, just another tool to regulate the family and women's bodies and not a way to provide freedom of employment and opportunities that we today associate with birth control.
I think that is really important about God Bless the Pill, and what I will be taking away, is how these religious discussions have led, since the 1980s, to the rise of the religious right and the current backlash against women's bodily autonomy. This book is key in providing the framework to understand the current state of attacks on women's health and choices.
While dense and slow in parts, I think God Bless the Pill remains an approachable book for the layperson interested in the topic, alongside considerable amounts of research for academics. I know I certainly learnt a lot from this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 rounded to 4 ⭐️
Birth control has always been a weird complicated societal argument, most often being had by men instead of the women who 1) most likely will be the ones in the relationship dynamic to use it and 2) have the most to gain from it. (Shocker, men of every era don't like that.)
As it's important to know LGBTQ+ history and Stonewall, so too should we all know the origins and continuous shitshow that is birth control. (What do these have in common? Glad you asked— it's that cis men will *generally* ignore these topics bc they don't directly affect them.) What should have been a straight-forward medical option for women (and all uterus-havers) to exert control over their own bodies instead faced scrutiny from all sides—eugenics and (justifiable fear) responses to systemic racism, the church, and Men in political power. Truly intersectional.
This is a bit academically leaning in density, organization, and tone. Not a bad thing, but something to consider if that's not your thing. It felt repetitive at times, especially earlier in the history, but that could be due to how our societal leanings on birth control have been very cyclical and ever-changing. The epilogue is gut-wrenching. (I don't love how in it the author refers to the bulk of the book by name, as if we're not still in the book. Felt weird, like someone referring to themselves in the third person.)
**I received my copy from Netgalley.
Birth control has always been a weird complicated societal argument, most often being had by men instead of the women who 1) most likely will be the ones in the relationship dynamic to use it and 2) have the most to gain from it. (Shocker, men of every era don't like that.)
As it's important to know LGBTQ+ history and Stonewall, so too should we all know the origins and continuous shitshow that is birth control. (What do these have in common? Glad you asked— it's that cis men will *generally* ignore these topics bc they don't directly affect them.) What should have been a straight-forward medical option for women (and all uterus-havers) to exert control over their own bodies instead faced scrutiny from all sides—eugenics and (justifiable fear) responses to systemic racism, the church, and Men in political power. Truly intersectional.
This is a bit academically leaning in density, organization, and tone. Not a bad thing, but something to consider if that's not your thing. It felt repetitive at times, especially earlier in the history, but that could be due to how our societal leanings on birth control have been very cyclical and ever-changing. The epilogue is gut-wrenching. (I don't love how in it the author refers to the bulk of the book by name, as if we're not still in the book. Felt weird, like someone referring to themselves in the third person.)
**I received my copy from Netgalley.
November 19, 2025
God Bless the Pill by Samira K. Mehta
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
God Bless the Pill is a dive into how a tiny tablet reshaped culture, family life, and personal freedom. Mehta traces the social and religious battles surrounding birth control, showing how the pill became not just medicine, but a symbol as something people could project their fears, hopes, and politics onto.
What stayed with me, though, is how frustratingly familiar these fights feel. From access to reliable contraception decades ago, to the uphill battles around IVF and reproductive autonomy today. Women have been defending the same basic rights over and over again. The book highlights progress, yes, but also the exhausting reality that the struggle hasn’t disappeared…it has simply changed forms.
At times the writing leans dense and academic, but I believe the whole of the book is worthwhile. I think this was a thoughtful, eye-opening read that leaves you informed and a little heartbroken that we’re still fighting the very same fight.
I would recommend this book to anyone who gives a shit.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
God Bless the Pill is a dive into how a tiny tablet reshaped culture, family life, and personal freedom. Mehta traces the social and religious battles surrounding birth control, showing how the pill became not just medicine, but a symbol as something people could project their fears, hopes, and politics onto.
What stayed with me, though, is how frustratingly familiar these fights feel. From access to reliable contraception decades ago, to the uphill battles around IVF and reproductive autonomy today. Women have been defending the same basic rights over and over again. The book highlights progress, yes, but also the exhausting reality that the struggle hasn’t disappeared…it has simply changed forms.
At times the writing leans dense and academic, but I believe the whole of the book is worthwhile. I think this was a thoughtful, eye-opening read that leaves you informed and a little heartbroken that we’re still fighting the very same fight.
I would recommend this book to anyone who gives a shit.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*this book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley
It's a wonder what birth control did for women's freedom. And how it's still not quite what it should be. Mehta takes a different approach to examining the history of birth control, linking it to religion and the impact that different spiritual approaches to the promotion or banning of birth control.
Starting with almost the advent of the invention and following through the decades, history is offered through the scientific innovations and the different religions that had an impact on its promotion (Catholicism, Evangelicism, etc.). Everything was well researched and in-depth. However, I did find the book slightly repetitive. I felt like the same thing was being said over and over throughout the chapters even if they had a different focus. It did make it more difficult to read at a stretch, especially with such dense material.
Important material though, and if you're looking to peruse historical women's studies topics, this one shouldn't be missed.
Review by M. Reynard 2026
It's a wonder what birth control did for women's freedom. And how it's still not quite what it should be. Mehta takes a different approach to examining the history of birth control, linking it to religion and the impact that different spiritual approaches to the promotion or banning of birth control.
Starting with almost the advent of the invention and following through the decades, history is offered through the scientific innovations and the different religions that had an impact on its promotion (Catholicism, Evangelicism, etc.). Everything was well researched and in-depth. However, I did find the book slightly repetitive. I felt like the same thing was being said over and over throughout the chapters even if they had a different focus. It did make it more difficult to read at a stretch, especially with such dense material.
Important material though, and if you're looking to peruse historical women's studies topics, this one shouldn't be missed.
Review by M. Reynard 2026
May 18, 2026
Good explanation of the early religious support for contraception and the erosion of that as it became part of feminism working to end patriarchy. I was hoping the author would cover more of the recent backsliding and how christian nationalism is part of that.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
God Bless the Pill is an interesting deep dive into how different religions debated and accepted the birth control pill. Most people assume the acceptance of the pill came from feminist advocacy, but Mehta argues that it was mostly due to religious leaders promoting it as a moral good. This book definitely leans more academic but is easy to follow with the chapter conclusions.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews