Is it responsible to have 17 children?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070803/ap_on_fe_st/17_kids

Why are so many of these people that have such extravagantly large families fundamentalist Christians?

Why would someone, calling themselves Christians, produce so many children to add to this world...when there are so many unwanted children already in the world in the foster care system?

Wouldn't the Christian thing to do, be to adopt some of these unwanted ones?

What is the link between large families and fundamental Christianity?

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Not at all
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArW9iNOrgyhkDaxvA08I9h7sy6IX?qid=20070803082157AAoJDVc

the irony is one of the articles about them from a previous year mentions they brag about living debt-free .... yet they had to have a friend/neighbor come over to help with laundry .... doesn't sound very independent .... and certainly doesn't leave time to go practice "good works" as missionaries when you need ASSISTANCE from others just to take care of your own supposedly self-reliant operation

Answer 2

There is NO link between large families and Christianity. Yes it would be good for more people to adopt children ( I am adopted and thankful I am) But maybe the people with the 17 kids are financially able to take care of them and just want to have 17 kids. Adoption is not for everyone. Let me ask this of you...would you feel the same way if the 17 kids were all or at least 1/2 of them adopted? Would you question their responsibility or would they be the heros with big loving hearts that have decided to dedicate their lives to parenting all these children? I think as long as it is not hurting anyone, let them have kids and their own family.....for me personally I would not want 17 kids.

Answer 3

I think if the parents can provide well enough for them both emotionally and financially, then it's all right. There's nothing wrong or kooky with wanting and building a big family if you are capable of the responsibility of one.

Some Christians may be focusing on the scripture stating to be fruitful and multiply? Not to mention that the process of adoption in this country is no easy or cheap thing. I don't know if Christians really have a corner on the market of the large family thing though.

I'm not defending nor condemning. Just throwing out some ideas.

Answer 4

I think it would be more responsible to adopt some unwanted children, but then, I can't presume to tell this family what to do.

I will say this, I find it interesting that anti-gay fundamentalists are the first to revile gay couples who adopt (or become foster parents to) unwanted children. Yet, most of them are just creating more children and not taking in the unwanted ones. What does this say about their priorities? Shouldn't anti-gay Fundamentalists take care of the unwanted first, or at a minimum stop reviling and putting stumbling blocks in front of those who want to?

Answer 5

I think they are doing just what they need to be doing, they are taking care of their own which is alot more than I can say about other people that just throw their kids away,, who cares how they do it, so they make each of them have a buddy whats wrong with that they are learning to be responsible, dependable, trustworthy people. So how many of you out there that are screaming about adoption, has done anything to help those poor unwanted children ??? You act as if its their job to go and adopt 17 kids,, one person even said they were worried about what kind of effect this family will have on their grand kids.. get real if you are so worried about it make sure that they will be cared for by what you do today and not by what someone else can do for them tomorrow..I don't blame them for homeschooling their kids,, I would have done the same thing.. At least they know where they are at, at all times and don't have to worry about something bad happening to them at school,, Thank God my kids are out of school.. And for all you people out there that like to tell others not to judge people,, I hope you have looked in the mirror today....

Answer 6

While I agree philosophically that the children in foster care ought to be taken in by loving families, I believe that ANY family of ANY religious persuasion who can afford to feed, shelter, clothe and educate another child with love ought not be denied the ability to allow the natural love-making of the parents to result in the conception of another child.

I do think it's kind of funny when atheists say that fundamentalist (and Catholic) Christians are wrong for having big families when there are kids in foster care who need them, because I think that if all those foster kids were adopted by Christian families and raised to believe in Christ, it probably wouldn't sit so well with those exact same atheists.

A question in return: how many of those unwanted children have you yourself rescued from the foster care system?

Answer 7

you're possibly nonetheless in charge on your son's maintenance till he's eighteen or maybe if the help decree states, yet no longer for HIS young little ones. he's legally in charge for any young little ones that he fathered (and there is not any cop-out for being a minor--I examine the place a decide ordered a 13 year previous to get a paper direction and initiate making money for the child he fathered).

Answer 8

Well, I know there is a Christian church that encourages having a lot of kids. One of my teachers went there. I wonder if any of the kids will be able to go to college without having the whole family sink into a lotta debt...

Answer 9

Because their children are NOT unwanted children, if they find happiness in having children then that's good. At least they don't make tons of babies and then chuck them aside. At least they have a sense of responsibility.

Answer 10

I wonder if the eldest, who's 19, is going to be forced to stay home and help with the children instead of going to college.

That would be so sad if he was.