WARNING: To have a high rate of prediction for the BOM (eg 99%+) it
apparently needs to be taught by a teacher - this was found in
the
study in China.
(The following is my personal advice: )
I would also advice couples to reflect for a time on whether they would
in practice want a highly predictive knowledge or whether this could be
a burden in its innecessity. The method is there to reduce burden
for eg people with finanical limitations. The important thing is
I guess that the method is easily accessible for those times when it
could be needed, which it seems to be here via this website. I
have not heard anyone that knew the method in detail to complain that
it was a
burden to know of it however I do think that it could be a good idea to
properly consider the implications of knowing this much – I have been
told that knowledge is power by someone that knew the method well
however hopefully what I am writing here is yet more knowledge through
giving people the choice and therefore perhaps resulting in a better
timing – or maybe not. Perhaps it is enough to say as the Church
does that it is to be taught in the context of marriage and it is
therefore between the couple
to decide how soon they think they want to
know this method. My concern (/responsibility as I promote it
here) is that this method may give people a power which they may not
have chosen had they given it proper consideration, that is if it is
not required ie they may choose to be free of awareness of the
situation, at least in detail ie the situation day-by-day.
I guess that the reason the Church has said that the BOM be taught in
the context of marriage is because we would not want people to know of
this method yet be deprived of the message regarding the ‘benefits’ of
marriage eg emotional security but with more aspects for consideration
besides (I won't elaborate now, also because most readers will
I
think
know already - there is a CTS booklet that I think will do this job -
£1.95 available in many churches 'Gift of Life and Love: Love,
Marriage and Natural Fertility Regulation' by John
Billings. It also includes a description of the Billings
method.) Moreover, if the Billings method is taught in detail
only in marriage it will then mean that the decision can be the joint
one and that the married couple are free to decide that they do not
want this day-by-day knowledge at least in the first instance.
I’m sure this method needs to be widely known (really, worldwide) ie
that it exists and I think there is no harm to know the basic idea and
that this is beneficial to have an understanding of fertility and how
it works eg in cycles. This is also a reassurance I think for all
women/people. It would I think be disputed that there is
any harm
in knowing in more detail the method eg for a girl/woman to know their
particular cycle and the method etc is taught to teenagers with
seemingly good affect (ie it
was involved in postponing sexual involvement - over 90% of female and
male virgins
remained uninvolved while 30-65% of previously involved students
stopped during the year-long program.) This is a recognised
benefit.
However, maybe more work is required in order for there to be a better
and much needed promotion.
More teachers are/will be required
(the Creighton model is a variation
– based on the Billings yet different - Billings have a pamphlet
regarding the differences).