http://www.care2.com/greenliving/too-many-children-oh-god-here-we-go-again.html
Too Many Children? Oh God, Here We Go Again
“Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22; 9:7)
I am not a religious man, but I don’t have much of an interest in passing judgment on those who are. I figure, with the world being what it is (equal parts wondrous and horrendous–eh, maybe not always so equal) that one needs to find inspiration and guidance where it is available. But to me, in my limited secular view, religion seems like a very personal choice that should be ever-evolving and subject to speculation and maturation overtime, not something that you are born into as minion or disciple.
As a continuation of an earlier post (“Too Many Children”), I am delving into the idea of what constitutes too many children and what motivates parents to indiscriminately multiply like rabbits.
As a parent myself, I could honestly say that God (or G-d if you are Jewish) didn’t really make an impact on my choice to procreate or say–just act like I am trying to procreate. But for many of the pious and devout, religion is the sole determinant to having children.
Take for instance the Quiverfull movement. This is a evangelical religious movement existing largely in the United States (with populations in Canada, Australia, and the UK as well) that follows a sort of biblical mandate, and thoroughly believes that God, and only God, should and will determine what the right number of children should be for any given family, because ultimately it is God’s design. Therefore, for those of the Quiverfull faith, the idea of birth control, sterilization, or even abstinence among married couples is an anathema. The result is (as anyone could guess) abundant Quiverfull families packing into Sunday church meetings and staunchly following the psalm that inspires their name:
“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”
Normally this sort of thing wouldn’t bother me, let alone get my attention, but there is an element here that is a bit less wholesome and slightly more disconcerting with the modus operandi of the Quiverfull faith. Beyond setting out to be fruitful and multiply, the Quiverfull objective is to multiply the faithful and rework the balance of Christians against the non-believers and non-Christian faiths of the world. With increasing numbers, it is the belief of the Quiverfull faithful that they will be able to repopulate the world of the “morally-lapsed” and take over cities like San Francisco and trouble spots like the U.S. government. This breeding of a Christian army is seen as a direct effort to protect the likes of evangelical Christians against the rise of moral relativism, Islam, secularism, and the like.
Now, I don’t doubt that Quiverfull parents love all of their children (even if they can’t keep all their names straight) but I do wonder why? Why, in an effort to propagate ideas, however important they may seem to you, do you have to assign them to a unique individual (or individuals) to carry them out? Isn’t this something we could and should do on our own, without burdening our children or our population index? And is one group or individual’s fear of religious or cultural obsolescence enough of a reason to add a few names to the census roster? Does this even work?
Feel free to enlighten me.
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191 comments
add your comment »"As for how many children Christians have, that is up to God, for if you live for Christ and give your life to him then he is in control of everything."
Rebecca, I've studied Christian and Jewish scripture, but not in a deperate grab for salvation. No accusations intended, anti-Christians can be mean spirited, and the religious can simply refuse to discuss on any but their own terms. Your view is, unfortuanately, typically millenarian, meaning that there is almost always a reference, often veiled, to the "end times." Yes? No? This is often apperent in the way that Christians life their lives - as though the world is disposable.
I've actually heard Christians cheer God (I'm apostate, by the way) for turning the outcome of a soccer game in their favor. Too bad he happened to overlook all of the Chinese machetes being shipped to Africa.
If this doesn't happen to be your bent, I apologize, and will move to those who assert that their children represent "hope for the world." Are you really so cynical about yourselves and the people who are already here? Personally, I think that you're playing in a crap shoot, indulging yourselves for the time being, and ultimately "pulling up the ladders" on those who are coming behind you.
Millions or billinos of cubic yards of dirty disposable diapers and parents who fail to monitor thier children aside, how often do we question if wanting a thing is enough reason to have it, particularly given the cost?
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I encourage anyone who is concerned about population issues to join the Care2 group "Population Growth" at http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/populationcontrol .
This group is for people concerned about the threat of overpopulation and how it affects our environment and each other.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
thankyou...
Kabin
Konteyner
mega kabin
send green star
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The same question could probably be asked of the Muslims who don't believe in birth control and can have as many as four wives at one time. Look at Osama Bin Laden. He has something like 40 brothers and sisters (many of them half-siblings). Maybe Quiverful is trying to outpace those of other religions. The whole thing seems pretty stupid since we are already overpopulated and are stretching our natural resources to the breaking point. Guess it's all going to come down to one hellacious religious war. I hope I'll not live to see that miserable day. Another reason I loath organized religion...one group making life hell for another and all in the name of their god.
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Don't laugh to hard Beth, try studying the Holy Bible instead of laughter. The "Jews" teachings that we apply to our lives are the teachings of Jesus Christ, remember Beth, it was the Jews that nailed him to a cross. The Bible tells us that "he came unto his own and his own rejected him". The orthodox Jews still believe the way those Jews believed that nailed him to the cross, they still reject Jesus just as they did then. As for how many children Christians have, that is up to God, for if you live for Christ and give your life to him then he is in control of everything.
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Always makes me laugh when Christians take a Jewish teachings as their own while insulting Jews by saying they need to convert.
Was given a brain for a reason. And lets face it if you want more children that bad then please adopt and older child.
We had one child, and joke that we did it right the first time and didn't need to do it again.
]~Beth~
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I have peace beyond your understanding but I have offered truth and some want to distort and twist things around and God's word is not debatable and I refuse to argue about his word because there will be a day when all will know and everyone's eyes will be open. I just pray that there is at least one person that reads a post that I put on care2 that will hear the words of God and listen.
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Our dear Rebecca is afraid, very afraid. Learn a lesson from her, this is what results when you are taught not to think for yourself.
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Grammar aside...
Regardless of one's religious background, the facts speak for themselves.
Our planet is being deforested and desertified. Oceans are being overfished. Extinctions are occurring at a terrifying pace.
So it seems somewhat obvious to me that:
1.) There are too many people vying for dwindling resources and
2.) The people already on this planet are using too many resources.
Why should we cause further strain by increasing the population?
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Finally, Rebecca, please, I do not consider your wishing me peace anything positive or helpful. Your idea of peace is not mine and from the desperation with which you defend your ideas, I would say that it is not yours.
I have religious and spiritual beliefs but I would never share them on a forum such as this, among people I do not know. There is nothing more unseemly than proselytizing. It is not quite disgusting. It is, however, pathetic. Spiritual/religious beliefs should be personal.
However, I will say that my spiritual beliefs are part of my life style and the reason why I am an environmentalist. What I do for the environment is more important than spending an hour in church every Sunday.
You fail to understand the basic mechanisms of society, the foundations of philosophy. Witness that you say that none of your neighbor's kids go hungry because of your kids. I used an analogy to explain something and you took it literally.
Over-population is the scourge of humanity. It is the root behind the unrest in the Middle East, the pirates sailing from Somalia and Al Queda. Man lacks sufficient goods, resources and ingenuity to provide for all of his numbers and, frankly, I haven't heard that Jesus is running a soup kitchen.
The ultimate irony is that were I suddenly to become as you are and to accept Jesus as my personal savior, my own sons would stop speaking to me!
Perhaps, you should show some respect for others and not publish so many Bible ve
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