We all think we understand contraception, but it raises a lot of questions. How each kind of contraception works raises many questions - about how it affects the role of sex in our relationships, how it affects family life, and the ethical questions it can raise. In this episode, Drs Grace Petkovic and Felicia Wong look at the science, the ethics, and the biblical issues.

Articles & Blog Posts

• CMF: Contraception – Christian Medical Fellowship article on contraception.
• AAPLOG Committee Opinion 7 – American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the embryocidal potential of modern contraceptives.
• How Do Contraceptives Work – Grace Petkovic – Blog post explaining contraceptive mechanisms.
• When Does Pregnancy Begin? – Grace Petkovic – Blog post discussing the start of pregnancy.

Books

• The Meaning of Marriage – Timothy Keller – A Christian perspective on marriage.
• Love Thy Body – Nancy Pearcey – Examining cultural issues surrounding the human body and identity.
• Sex and the Marriage Covenant – John F. Kippley – A moral and theological discussion on sex within marriage.

Podcasts

• 1st Incision: Nancy Pearcey Episode – A discussion with Nancy Pearcey.

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We all think we understand contraception, but it raises a lot of questions. Howe each kind of contraception works raises many questions - about how it affects the role of sex in our relationships, how it affects family life, and the ethical questions it can raise. In this episode, Drs Grace Petkovic and Felicia Wong look at the science, the ethics, and the biblical issues.

Resources:

• CMF file 66 - contraception
• CMF book on contraception
• AAPLOG file on contraception
• https://choicescommunity.com/blog/how-do-contraceptives-work 
• The meaning of marriage by Tim and Kathy Keller (book)
• Dr John Bergsma with Dr Scott Hahn ‘Why we need covenant for Christmas’
• Scott Hahn on the difference between a covenant and a contract
• Sex and the marriage covenant by John Kippley (book)
• Information on FABMs

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This week, Sally and Ben discuss the recently released film, ‘ Wicked’, and in particular, the film’s counter-cultural emphasis on friendship. They also survey the latest news on the Assisted Dying Bill and how they're thinking about it now that it has passed its second reading.

 References:

In the show, Ben and Sally mention that the Bill passed with a majority of 55 MPs – that means that just 28 MPs would need to shift from a 'yes' to a 'no' vote (or abstain) to see this defeated at the third reading. The article below shows that some MPs who voted 'yes' (more than 28) did so while stating public concerns. They could switch their vote if their concerns cannot be addressed by the committee stage:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/assisted-dying-mps-vote-bill-b2656510.html

Transforming Friendship: Investing in the Next Generation- Lessons from John Stott and others, book by John Wyatt

https://ivpbooks.com/transforming-friendship 

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In this episode, Drs Felicia Wong and Grace Petkovic explore the significance of menstruation from a theological perspective. They delve into the hormonal cycle,  discuss societal taboos, and the negative narratives often associated with menstruation. 

Fur further reading:

• In the Flow by Alisa Vitti 

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This week, Ben and Sally discuss the recent resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury, lament the associated abuse scandals previously buried by the Church of England and discuss how we can respond as faithful Christians.  

There is also a special guest well-known to our resident doctor members!

References:

The Makin Report:
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/independent-learning-lessons-review-john-smyth-qc-november-2024.pdf 

‘Bleeding for Jesus’ by Andrew Graystone:
https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/the-church/bleeding-for-jesus/ 

Interview with Lori Anne Thompson:
https://youtu.be/oHUU-nVKT-0?si=hTvXLAFLbVKw6ez3

The new podcast channel for Finger on the Pulse: 
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418716

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The first of a new mini-series from CMF, hosted by Dr Grace Petkovic and Dr Felicia Wong discuss embodiment, womanhood, and what our bodies reveal about God 

Have you ever wondered why God made women in the form that he did? What does it mean to be a woman and to be made in God’s image?  

What about when things hurt (such as periods or labour), or go wrong (such as miscarriage or infertility) or change altogether (such as in menopause)? What do our bodies show us about God? 

This podcast is for the inquisitive woman – real conversations about the female body that we don’t talk about at church. 

Future episodes will explore:
Episode 2 – periods – is there meaning in menstruation? 

Episode 3 – contraception – for better or for worse? 

Episode 4 – motherhood in pregnancy 

Episode 5 – reproductive lack and loss 

Episode 6 – meaning in menopause 

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This week, Ben and Sally dissect the astonishing results of the US presidential election. We ask how Trump defied the polls to win a huge victory, what role the abortion debate played in the election, and Trump’s complicated relationships with evangelical Christianity. 

References:

Election exit poll statistics from the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/interactive/2024/exit-polls-2024-election/

Lifeway Research statistics on church leaders and voting intentions:

https://research.lifeway.com/2024/09/17/half-of-pastors-support-trump-but-many-are-hesitant-to-share-preference/

Pew Research Centre statistics on Christian voting intentions 

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/09/white-protestants-and-catholics-support-trump-but-voters-in-other-us-religious-groups-prefer-harris/

‘Christ and the Culture Wars- Speaking for Jesus in a World of Identity Politics’, book by Ben Chang

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christ-Culture-Wars-Speaking-Identity/dp/1527109763

The Rest is Entertainment podcast on ‘Virtually Parkinson’:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2m8KTODSsD0XQ0Hi5qZjug?si=617597ea79894e91

You can also subscribe to this show on its own feed at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418716

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Our hope is that we might highlight the diversity of voices represented across our growing Christian nursing and midwifery fellowship in the British Isles, which we have begun by recording some soundbites from our black nurse and midwifery members. But we want to add more stories to this collection in the future, including those from other ethnic minority members.

We’re aware that listening to these soundbites is likely to evoke a range of emotions in both our black and other ethnic minority members, as well as in our white members. However, as a fellowship, we don’t shy away from difficult topics and believe that these are important conversations worth having. As Paul writes to the Corinthians, we are one body with many parts and ‘parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it’. (1 Corinthians 12:25b-26) We give thanks to God and celebrate with our brothers and sisters who are seeing positive changes in their workplaces and lament with those who are still witnessing and being victims of racism and prejudices.

THANK YOU:
Thank you to all our brave contributors for your openness and vulnerability with us. We hear you. We are listening. If you have a story to share as well, please get in contact with us. As well as these five-minute soundbites, we welcome longer written pieces, blogs or articles. This is only the start of what we hope will be a much longer and fruitful conversation.

RESPONSE:
Here are some ways in which you might respond to the stories you’ve heard today:
https://www.cmf.org.uk/we-are-a-multitude-of-voices/

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Ben and Sally return to the podcast to discuss the recent Assisted Dying Bill introduced to the House of Commons by Kim Leadbeater MP. What are the main moral arguments at play? And how can we, as Christian healthcare professionals, respond well?

Please note: The second reading of the Leabdeater Bill is 29 November 2024, not 15 November, as said in this podcast.

The Finger on the Pulse podcast will also be available on its own subscription at https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2418716/website/background/edit

Resources:
Public perspectives published by the Complex Life & Death Decisions Group (Oct 2024): https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/assisted-dying-two-thirds-of-public-back-legalisation-within-this-parliament-study-finds

BMA Resources on the Assisted Dying Debate: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/ethics/end-of-life/physician-assisted-dying

Advice from the Chief Medical Officers (Oct 2024): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assisted-dying-bill-debate-advice-to-doctors/assisted-dying-bill-debate-advice-to-doctors-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers-and-nhs-england-national-medical-director

Report of the Health and Social Care Committee (Feb 2024): https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6906/assisted-dyingassisted-suicide/

Wes Streeting public statement (Health Secretary): https://news.sky.com/story/amp/wes-streeting-to-vote-against-assisted-dying-over-end-of-life-care-concerns-13239483

Shabana Mahmood public statement (Justice Secretary): https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/23/muslims-bradford-assisted-dying-bill

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury public statement: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9dn42xqg4o

Kim Leadbeater and the slippery slope: https://youtu.be/35lU-SnGTpk?si=khl-i-2W8VdDwbpU

Care Not Killing: https://www.carenotkilling.org.uk

CMF: https://www.cmf.org.uk/dying-with-dignity-the-problems-with-the-latest-move-to-legalise-assisted-suicide/

Ben’s thoughts on Taylor Swift: https://licc.org.uk/resources/the-eras-tour-returns/

Support the show

Our hope is that we might highlight the diversity of voices represented across our growing Christian nursing and midwifery fellowship in the British Isles, which we have begun by recording some soundbites from our black nurse and midwifery members. But we want to add more stories to this collection in the future, including those from other ethnic minority members.

We’re aware that listening to these soundbites is likely to evoke a range of emotions in both our black and other ethnic minority members, as well as in our white members. However, as a fellowship, we don’t shy away from difficult topics and believe that these are important conversations worth having. As Paul writes to the Corinthians, we are one body with many parts and ‘parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it’. (1 Corinthians 12:25b-26) We give thanks to God and celebrate with our brothers and sisters who are seeing positive changes in their workplaces and lament with those who are still witnessing and being victims of racism and prejudices.

THANK YOU:
Thank you to all our brave contributors for your openness and vulnerability with us. We hear you. We are listening. If you have a story to share as well, please get in contact with us. As well as these five-minute soundbites, we welcome longer written pieces, blogs or articles. This is only the start of what we hope will be a much longer and fruitful conversation.

RESPONSE:
Here are some ways in which you might respond to the stories you’ve heard today:
https://www.cmf.org.uk/we-are-a-multitude-of-voices/

Support the show