(WWJD Disclaimer: Before any of y'all go getting your knickers in a twist here, let's all keep in mind that I'm NOT denigrating Christianity. In point of fact, I respect and honor Christianity. It's CHRISTIANS that I have a problem with...those who call themselves "Christians" but in actuality know as much about the teachings of Jesus Christ as they do about running the West Coast offense. Christianity is not about power, control, and reaction...though you'd never know it from listening to most- not all- Christians.)
Among some conservative Christians, a movement is giving new meaning to the biblical mandate to "be fruitful and multiply.".... The movement, called Quiverfull, is based on Psalm 127, which says, "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.".... Those in the Quiverfull movement shun birth control, believing that God will give them the right number of children. It turns out, that's a lot of kids.... The average family at their evangelical church has 8.5 kids. They are children who the Swansons hope will spread the message of Christ. That's also the hope of Nancy Campbell, a leader of the Quiverfull movement and author of Be Fruitful and Multiply.... "The womb is such a powerful weapon; it's a weapon against the enemy," Campbell says.
To my way of thinking, perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of modern "Christianity" is the pervasive adversarial, militaristic tone the worship of Jesus Christ seems to have assumed. The idea that Christians somehow have to gird themselves against some sort of "enemy" is as arrogant as it is senseless. Christians are no more persecuted in this country than you or I, and yet many Christians set themselves apart from the rest of society in the mistaken belief that they have to actively "protect" themselves from the evil designs of the secular world. And what better way to do that than doing your part to breed the next generation of Christian soldiers, who will first outnumber and then go forth and do battle against the evildoers, nonbelievers, and infidels?
I'm a bit more sensitive about this sort of thing than most because my youngest brother and his wife could be included in this group. Their attitude toward their religion is something I truly cannot fathom. I don't begrudge them their beliefs, because they're certainly free to hold whatever beliefs add meaning to their life. Still, my brother is the same person who once told me that HIV/AIDS is God's revenge against homosexuals...and he wasn't joking.
The Quiverfull movement is merely one of the latest manifestations of modern Christianity separating itself from society. Some fear secular morality, some fear the influence of the modern world...and some simply see themselves as better, holier, more worthy beings who simply see no reason to consort with infidels and unbelievers.
There are those in the Quiverfull movement (and similar iterations) who are perfectly reasonable sorts simply wanting to live their lives as they see fit. Nothing wrong with that. My concern is with those who view their religion and their relation to non-Christians in adversarial, militaristic terms. Non-Christians are not "enemies" to be "conquered". We're not "threats", nor are we plotting to "persecute" or "repress" Christians for their beliefs. Too many "Christians" speak and carry themselves as if they're absolutely ready to take over the world and remake it in a manner that reflects their beliefs and prejudices. THIS is what the religion of Jesus Christ is supposed to be about?
Yeah, I know; these folks understand as much about the teachings of Jesus Christ as I do about nuclear fusion. In reality, it has little to do with Christianity. It has everything to do with power and control. People who fear being persecuted for their beliefs are far too often willing to entertain doing the very same thing to those who happen not to be enlightened enough to share their beliefs. Yeah, repression, persecution, and intolerance is OK...as long as you're the one doing it, right?
