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Natural Family Planning
If you asked the average Catholic to list ten tips to build a better marriage, chances are Natural Family Planning (NFP) would not make the cut. Most Catholics, if they think of NFP at all, think only of those three troubling words, Not tonight, dear. But more than a means of regulating birth, NFP is first a means of building communication, affection, respect and a sense of joyful freedom in a couple s sexual relationship.
As the nineteen couples in this book make clear, NFP not only helped them plan their families, it improved their marriages. Many speak of a renewed grace in their lives when they made the switch from contraceptives to NFP. All agree that the benefits outweigh the occasional challenges, and none long for the days when they used artificial means of regulating birth.
If you re interested in strengthening your marriage, forget the magazine articles and self-help books. Discover NFP and see that when it comes to sex and marriage, the church has found a better way to keep the home fires burning.
As the nineteen couples in this book make clear, NFP not only helped them plan their families, it improved their marriages. Many speak of a renewed grace in their lives when they made the switch from contraceptives to NFP. All agree that the benefits outweigh the occasional challenges, and none long for the days when they used artificial means of regulating birth.
If you re interested in strengthening your marriage, forget the magazine articles and self-help books. Discover NFP and see that when it comes to sex and marriage, the church has found a better way to keep the home fires burning.
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2006
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 23, 2009
I was very skeptical but found these stories to be consistant with our experiences. The stories are short and easy to read and relate to.
August 26, 2014
A nice collection of stories. Nothing totally mind-blowing, unless maybe if you are new to the whole concept.
April 30, 2016
This book is a compilation of stories from 19 NFP-using couples, interspersed amongst information about the detrimental effects of conventional (especially hormonal) methods of birth control, both on women’s bodies and on society as a whole.
Although I am marking this book off as “A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with” for the #VTReadingChallenge, I did like this book and agree with much of its reasoning. The book highlights several positive aspects of Natural Family Planning, including, but not limited to, the following:
-It is good for marriages, because it requires trust, respect, and communication.
-It facilitates knowledge and appreciation of the intricacies of a woman’s body (and allows her to identify and correct health problems if necessary).
-It preserves and enhances fertility, unlike hormonal birth control, which can permanently alter a woman’s reproductive system, even long after she stops using it (not to mention the increased risk of cancer, stroke, blood clots, and other health problems caused by hormonal birth control methods).
In my opinion, the weakest part of the book is actually the vague and sparse Catholic theology behind Natural Family Planning that is presented. I’m not Catholic, so I don’t feel compelled to follow the teachings of the Catholic church, but still, I feel like the explanation in this book is lacking, and I wouldn’t have minded a little more depth.
Although I am marking this book off as “A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with” for the #VTReadingChallenge, I did like this book and agree with much of its reasoning. The book highlights several positive aspects of Natural Family Planning, including, but not limited to, the following:
-It is good for marriages, because it requires trust, respect, and communication.
-It facilitates knowledge and appreciation of the intricacies of a woman’s body (and allows her to identify and correct health problems if necessary).
-It preserves and enhances fertility, unlike hormonal birth control, which can permanently alter a woman’s reproductive system, even long after she stops using it (not to mention the increased risk of cancer, stroke, blood clots, and other health problems caused by hormonal birth control methods).
In my opinion, the weakest part of the book is actually the vague and sparse Catholic theology behind Natural Family Planning that is presented. I’m not Catholic, so I don’t feel compelled to follow the teachings of the Catholic church, but still, I feel like the explanation in this book is lacking, and I wouldn’t have minded a little more depth.
July 24, 2012
This book encompasses stories of people from various walks of life who have come to realize the importance, beauty, and sacredness of our bodies and the marital embrace. They reveal their struggles with their families, marriage, fertility, beliefs, contraception, and overall understanding of uniting as one flesh. Since there are many stories told in this book, it is easy to find one that connects with you or someone you know. I recommend that anyone who is married or contemplating marriage read this book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews