1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910156257303321

Autore

McKeown John <1959->

Titolo

God's babies : natalism and Bible interpretation in modern America / / John McKeown

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Open Book Publishers

Cambridge, UK : , : Open Book Publishers, , 2014

ISBN

1-78374-055-8

2-8218-7623-8

1-78374-054-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (262 pages)

Disciplina

304.6320973

Soggetti

Fertility, Human - United States

Human reproduction - United States

United States

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Acknowledgements -- Foreword by David Clough -- 1. Natalism: A Popular Use of the Bible -- 2. Protestant Natalism in the U.S. -- 3. Martin Luther: Forerunner of Natalism? -- 4. The Old Testament Context -- 5. Augustine on Fruitfulness -- 6. An Ecological Critique of Natalism -- 7. Conclusion -- Appendix -- Abbreviations -- Works Cited -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

The human population's annual total consumption is not sustainable by one planet. This unprecedented situation calls for a reform of religious cultures that promote a large ideal family size. Many observers assume that Christianity is inevitably part of this problem because it promotes ‘family values' and that statistically, in America and elsewhere, Christians have a higher birth rate than non-religious people. This book explores diverse ideas about human reproduction in the church, past and present. It investigates an extreme fringe of U.S. Protestantism, including the Quiverfull movement, that uses Old Testament ‘fruitful' verses to support natalist ideas that promote higher fecundity. This book argues that natalism is inappropriate as a Christian application of Scripture, especially since rich populations'



total footprints are detrimental to biodiversity and to human welfare.