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Author McKeown, John (Technical officer)

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

Imprint Cambridge : Open Book Publishers, ©2014.

Copies

Location Call No. OPAC Message Status
 Axe JSTOR Open Ebooks  Electronic Book    ---  Available
Description 1 online resource (x, 248 pages)
text txt rdacontent
computer c rdamedia
online resource cr rdacarrier
Note Available through Open Book Publishers.
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-246) and index.
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
Contents 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.
Subject Fertility, Human -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States.
Human reproduction -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States.
Human reproduction -- Biblical teaching.
Fécondité humaine -- Aspect moral -- États-Unis.
Reproduction humaine -- Aspect moral -- États-Unis.
Reproduction humaine -- Enseignement biblique.
Christianity.
Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning.
Environmentalist thought and ideology.
Humanities.
Religion and beliefs.
Religion: general.
Religious issues and debates.
The environment.
NATURE -- Environmental Conservation & Protection.
Fertility, Human -- Moral and ethical aspects
Human reproduction -- Biblical teaching
Human reproduction -- Moral and ethical aspects
United States https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJtxgQXMWqmjMjjwXRHgrq
Added Author Open Book Publishers.
Other Form: Print version: 9781783740536
Print version: 9781783740529
ISBN 9781783740543 (electronic bk.)
178374054X (electronic bk.)
9781783740536 (hbk.)
9781783740529 (pbk.)
9781783740550
1783740558
9781783740567
1783740566
Standard No. 10.11647/OBP.0048 doi
AU@ 000058200943
NZ1 15967938
UKMGB 017016274

 
    
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