God's babies: natalism and Bible interpretation in modern America
"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 &q...
| Main Author: | |
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| Corporate Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Book |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Cambridge
Open Book Publishers
©2014
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| In: | Year: 2014 |
| Further subjects: | B
Humanities
B Religion and beliefs B Human reproduction Biblical teaching B The environment B United States B Human reproduction ; Moral and ethical aspects B Fertility, Human Moral and ethical aspects (United States) B Christianity B Environmentalist thought and ideology B Fertility, Human ; Moral and ethical aspects B Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning B Human reproduction Moral and ethical aspects (United States) B NATURE ; Environmental Conservation & Protection B Religious issues and debates B Religion: general B Human reproduction ; Biblical teaching |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | "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 statistically, in America and elsewhere, has a higher birthrate than nonreligious 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 use Old Testament "fruitful" verses to support natalist ideas explicitly promoting higher fecundity. It also challenges the claim by some natalists that Martin Luther in the 16th century advocated similar ideas. 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. It explores the ancient cultural context of the Bible verses quoted by natalists. Challenging the assumption that religion normally promotes fecundity, the book finds surprising exceptions among early Christians (with a special focus on Saint Augustine) since they advocated spiritual fecundity in preference to biological fecundity. Finally the book uses a hermeneutic lens derived from Genesis 1, and prioritising the modern problem of biodiversity, to provide ecological interpretations of the Bible's "fruitful" verses."--Publisher's website 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. |
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| Item Description: | Available through Open Book Publishers Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-246) and index |
| ISBN: | 178374054X |