Well written. I wasn’t around for the movement but was for the pro abortion beginnings in college. Between birth control and abortions it was an eye opening experience to what the world was outside my personal upbringing. While I pass on a rather sheltered upbringing for my own children now, I do worry how where the world will head by the time they are adults
I especially liked how you balanced critique with empathy for those who hold these views—they’re often acting sincerely, even if misled. Your reminder that children, raised well, are part of healing the world really stuck with me; it reframes parenthood as personal and highyl authentic!!
Great essay. I remember the zero population growth movement of the 1970s. I didn't buy into it but I know lots of people who did. Be fruitful and multiply in God's image.
The existence of a child should never be a matter of policy. It should be a matter of love. Like all life, children should exist… naturally.
Raising a child is a grave moral responsibility. For some women, having one is also a mortal risk (even with modern medicine, there are still babies whose very first breath effectively coincides with their mother’s last). Having children and raising them to support an economic or political system is neither ethical or moral. Not having a child because one is unfit to be a parent (whether due to inability to provide, inability to love, or inability to raise properly) is unfortunate but understandable. It takes a particular kind of vicious cruelty to force a child into this world to live unloved and unwanted.
Now, that all being said, are there things that all of us as family and friends and members of society can do to make parenthood easier? Yes there are. We all know what those things are that children need to thrive and grow: A stable caring community with good schools, shelter food and medicine, safety, opportunity to grow and most of all: Love.
Be the example you wish to be. (One bit of warning though to those who haven’t taken the leap: Kids means you can’t lie about your age anymore. You stand next to ‘em, and yeah. And grandkids -whew- my they’re a shocker to the old ticker! But you will never love more deeply nor fear more terribly than after you are a mother or a father. Being a parent, or to be fair, a good uncle or aunt, is a wondrous big deal!)
I agree that for most people, marrying and having kids is probably the best case scenario to support the sustainability of human civilization and respond to our call to “be fruitful and multiply.” However, my broader question is: are there other potential lifestyles that would be equally (if not more) honorable from a Christian perspective?
1: being single and not having kids. Jesus, Paul, and countless church fathers have gone this route, loving God and making disciples through people that are not their own offspring. Paul offers that singleness is a valid pathway for Christians in 1 Corinthians 7. Plus - finding the right husband/wife can be quite challenging.
2: marrying but not having kids. There are many couples that may be able to give of their time and money more freely without the burden of raising children, either by choice or because they’re unable to conceive, contributing to kingdom work in a different way. These couples may also may have a greater capacity for emulating God’s character through adoption.
Again, I’m not offering these as “better” alternatives or to argue that they should become normative (building families should be the default), just as potential routes to a faithful Christian life. Would love to hear your thoughts
Well written. I wasn’t around for the movement but was for the pro abortion beginnings in college. Between birth control and abortions it was an eye opening experience to what the world was outside my personal upbringing. While I pass on a rather sheltered upbringing for my own children now, I do worry how where the world will head by the time they are adults
I especially liked how you balanced critique with empathy for those who hold these views—they’re often acting sincerely, even if misled. Your reminder that children, raised well, are part of healing the world really stuck with me; it reframes parenthood as personal and highyl authentic!!
Great essay. I remember the zero population growth movement of the 1970s. I didn't buy into it but I know lots of people who did. Be fruitful and multiply in God's image.
Great article.
The existence of a child should never be a matter of policy. It should be a matter of love. Like all life, children should exist… naturally.
Raising a child is a grave moral responsibility. For some women, having one is also a mortal risk (even with modern medicine, there are still babies whose very first breath effectively coincides with their mother’s last). Having children and raising them to support an economic or political system is neither ethical or moral. Not having a child because one is unfit to be a parent (whether due to inability to provide, inability to love, or inability to raise properly) is unfortunate but understandable. It takes a particular kind of vicious cruelty to force a child into this world to live unloved and unwanted.
Now, that all being said, are there things that all of us as family and friends and members of society can do to make parenthood easier? Yes there are. We all know what those things are that children need to thrive and grow: A stable caring community with good schools, shelter food and medicine, safety, opportunity to grow and most of all: Love.
Be the example you wish to be. (One bit of warning though to those who haven’t taken the leap: Kids means you can’t lie about your age anymore. You stand next to ‘em, and yeah. And grandkids -whew- my they’re a shocker to the old ticker! But you will never love more deeply nor fear more terribly than after you are a mother or a father. Being a parent, or to be fair, a good uncle or aunt, is a wondrous big deal!)
I agree that for most people, marrying and having kids is probably the best case scenario to support the sustainability of human civilization and respond to our call to “be fruitful and multiply.” However, my broader question is: are there other potential lifestyles that would be equally (if not more) honorable from a Christian perspective?
1: being single and not having kids. Jesus, Paul, and countless church fathers have gone this route, loving God and making disciples through people that are not their own offspring. Paul offers that singleness is a valid pathway for Christians in 1 Corinthians 7. Plus - finding the right husband/wife can be quite challenging.
2: marrying but not having kids. There are many couples that may be able to give of their time and money more freely without the burden of raising children, either by choice or because they’re unable to conceive, contributing to kingdom work in a different way. These couples may also may have a greater capacity for emulating God’s character through adoption.
Again, I’m not offering these as “better” alternatives or to argue that they should become normative (building families should be the default), just as potential routes to a faithful Christian life. Would love to hear your thoughts