Your religion and population?

Question

I always wandered what drives people that live poor, in lack of health, food, infrastructure,..., to have many children. I know sometimes it is religion, but I would like to dig deeper here. I know it is also poverty, lack of knowledge, lack of education on contraception, so I am focusing on religion and its role. An example (due to the sensitivity of the issue, I will not state the country): religious people do not work here, do not pay taxes, and live really in modesty, many times in hunger. But their religion tells them to have many children, therefore many of religious families have more than 8 children - who live poor, in lack of food, lack of proper education,... I do not understand this. I myself love children, would love to have 4, but do not have job, I am 28, therefore I do not want to have my first child yet. Even if my religion is telling me 'children are a gift from God', I am sorry, but to me it is not responsible to have them yet or to have many. ?????

No, I do not refer to Mormonism, I live far away from USA. They could be an example, but I don't know whether they live poor, are they able to educate their kids, etc.

To 'skylolo'. No, I did not mean people in Africa. Who am I or anyone to tell people not to have children at all? All I am saying, have them as many as you can support them, educate them, 'give' them bright future. Or have one, two or three, which makes the difference of having them eight, for example. But you are right, not having job should not be the reason not to have them. But I feel insecure and I cannot make this decision. My thoughts were - why children should, have to suffer, when there is food only for three or four kids, and not for seven or more.

Answer 1

I agree with you, I often wonder, in Africa for example where christianity is rising, why the pope still claims contraception is wrong when encouraging it would help stabilize the countries HIV/Aids epidemic and could also help the countries economy in the long run - having less children means the children they have are better fed, they can afford some sort of education as they have a couple of children to send to school. These children once educated could get better jobs and the cycle carries on.
If I was living in poverty I wouldn't have so many children as it is selfish - having them just because you want so many and your religion tells you to do so. They can not provide for them and it is cruel to the children who suffer starvation and a slow painful death in the name of religion.

Answer 2

Don't know why people are being silly with their answers, seems like a reasonable question to me! Again, I have to be careful with my answer due to 'sensitivity', but in the multicultural society here, an increasing number of one culture who are particularly religious seem to be having children for fun. Inevitably, because this culture aren't the wealthiest bunch, money becomes scarce, the children end up in crime and the rest of society suffers. Most people from 'my culture' seem to be non-religious, and also seem to have the attitude that they won't have children until they can afford it. It's going to be difficult trying to justify this attitude to the Church, though!

Answer 3

You are a liberal.You obviously have a religion but are doubtful of it .According to your philosophy people in Africa should not have kids.If you wait till you get a job you may never have kids.I had better jobs after my kids were born.Try Faith.

Answer 4

please don't take the piss out of the jedi's
the jedi are good and love each over
tax's are for the non-jedi's

have children and be happy is the jedi way

Answer 5

let's get rid of all religions

Answer 6

u refer to MORMONISM