The Childfree Christ Antinatalism In Early Christianity

Not a year goes by without the Pope or another Christian dignitary singing the praises of fecundity and the virtues of family, preferably numerous. However, the reading of the Gospels makes us discover a Christ fiercely hostile to the biological family and even more to reproduction. Among the few thinkers who have considered the issue, Kierkegaard will reach the conclusion that Christianity aimed at "blocking our species". In the wake of Christ, who remained childfree while urging us to become eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, the early Church fathers will also glorify perpetual virginity and disparage carnal fertility. Saint Augustine even wished that everyone would refrain from procreating so that the end of the world would be hastened! Would the natalism of contemporary Christian churches be the greatest deception of all time? In any case, it is an absolute betrayal, which, in this century of global overpopulation, is even more disastrous than that of Judas. The purpose of this essay will be to rediscover a truth carefully concealed: the original Christianity was indeed an antinatalism.About the author: Théophile de Giraud is a French-speaking Belgian writer born in 1968. He is one of the main contemporary advocates of antinatalism in the French language. In favour of the childfree cause, he organized three editions of a Non-Parents Day, which took place in Brussels and Paris between 2009 and 2011. Among other works, he has written an essay entitled: L'art de guillotiner les procréateurs: manifeste antinataliste (The Art of Guillotining Procreators: An Antinatalist Manifesto). This book was published in French in 2006 and is currently being translated into English.

This book is for Christians, if you don't wear that label, trust me, this isn't for you. However if you do, then I very much hope you will read it. In this book I make the argument for Christians NOT to have children. That might seem absurd given the vast number of Christian publications extolling the virtues of child bearing, and the general veneration of family in Christian culture. However I think the case is strong, and I believe the majority view on this issue misunderstands the bible in a very fundamental way. Even if you go on to have children, or if you have children already, I believe you would do well to hear me out. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1, looks at the motivations that lie behind the decision to have children, the consequences of that decision, and why not having children may be considered a more ethical choice. The arguments presented apply to believer and non-believer alike. In part 2, we look at things from an exclusively Christian perspective. Comparing the ideas expressed in Christian culture and literature to what the Bible actually says, asking questions about the centrality of family and what the consequences of having children are, in the Christian world view.

This collective monography deals with the history of antinatalism. It aims to supplement Ken Coates՚ monography Anti-Natalism: Rejectionist Philosophy from Buddhism to Benatar. Therefore, after rejecting David Benatars՚ analytical approach, it starts with the intellectual history of antinatalism in antiquity and the Middle Ages in general, with a focus on neglected tenets of the asymmetry and quality arguments in Aristotle's Eudemus and in early Christianity. Then it carries on with modern age up to the present, with a focus on the rarely identified precursors of the asymmetry argument, followed by analyses of some antinatalistic elements in Vladimir Solovyov, and of the almost unknown antinatalistic author bearing the pen name Kurnig. Finally, it returns to the contemporary antinatalism, this time focused on its implications in sexual ethics and in the ethics of suicide.

The last few decades seem to have begun what has been called 'the childless revolution'. In developed countries, increasingly people are choosing not to have children. The causes of this 'revolution' are many including the belief that to create a new life is to subject someone unnecessarily, and without their consent, to life's many sufferings including death. This belief and its underlying philosophy is known as anti-natalism. There has been a recent resurgence of this philosophy, with David Benatar's book Better Never To Have Been (2006) as a major catalyst. Anti-natalism can be seen as part of a broader philosophy, described here as Rejectionism, which finds existence -directly or indirectly, i.e. as procreation - as deeply problematic and unacceptable. The book traces the development of this philosophy from its ancient religious roots in Hinduism (Moksha) and Buddhism (Nirvana) to its most modern articulation by the South African philosopher David Benatar. It examines the contribution to rejectionist thought by Schopenhauer and von Hartmann in the 19th century and Zapffe, a little known Norwegian thinker, in the 20th century, and most recently by Benatar. Benatar and Zapffe represent this approach most clearly as anti-natalism. The book also devotes a chapter to the literary expression of rejectionist philosophy in the works of Samuel Beckett and J.P.Sartre. In sum, far from being an esoteric doctrine rejectionism has been a major presence in human history straddling all three major cultural forms - religious, philosophical and literary. The book argues that anti-natal philosophy and its practice owe a great deal to three major developments: secularization, liberalization of social attitudes, and technological advances (contraception). Anti-natal attitudes and practice should therefore be seen as a part of 'progress' in that these developments are widening our choice of lifestyles and attitudes to existence. In sum, The book argues that anti-natalism needs to be taken seriously and considered as a legitimate view of a modern, secular civilization. Secondly, the book seeks to situate current anti-natalist thought in its historical and philosophical perspective. Finally, it argues that in order to develop anti-natalism further it needs to be institutionalized as a form rational 'philosophy of life', and more attention needs to be paid to the problems and prospect of putting this philosophy into practice.

Verena Brunschweiger is no stranger to controversy. In her latest book, Do Childfree People Have Better Sex?, our provocateur tackles this increasingly popular topic and its many ramifications, head-on. After conveying her own personal story, Brunschweiger expounds with data in hand on the implications of having children: the ecological and environmental consequences, feminism, politics, and philosophical disputation. She explores current issues including over-population and the environment, animal welfare, abortion and reproductive rights, politics, and anti-natalism. Brunschweiger posits women have the right to be happy and, if they choose to, feel comfortable rejecting the societal conventional pressure of having children. Our author suggests that women and their partners will have more freedom and enjoyment if they are childfree. Brunschweiger doesn’t want humanity to go extinct as some may suggest; rather, she wants the earth and its inhabitants to have an enjoyable and sustainable future.

"Effective altruism has become a worldwide phenomenon. The movement combines empathy and reason in the attempt to improve the world. Adherents don't let moral gut instincts dictate their altruistic efforts, but use evidence and reflection to do the most good they can. Effective altruism originated, and primarily grew, in strongly secular environments--such as philosophy departments or Silicon Valley. So far, a religious perspective on this movement has been lacking. What can people of faith learn from effective altruism? What may they criticise? What can effective altruism in turn take from religion? This volume offers a first examination of these questions, covering various Christian as well as Jewish and Buddhist perspectives"-- Back cover.

The Antinatalism Magazine is the world's first magazine dedicated to philosophy of antinatalism. Antinatalism magazine aims to develop and promote the philosophy of antinatalism, and to facilitate discussion on the philosophy of antinatalism. Publication interests of The Antinatalism Magazine includes, but not limited to, philanthropic antinatalism, misanthropic antinatalism, antintalism advocacy, activism, movement, organization and strategy, religious antinatalism, criticism of antinatalism, hedonistic antinatalism, non-human animal (zoophilic) antinatalism, wild animal suffering, wildlife antinatalism and suffering focused ethics.Submission policyInquiries and submissions should be sent to the editor, Jiwoon Hwang ([email protected]).By sending your article, you confirm that you have the rights to the article, and grants the magazine the right to reproduce your article on the website or on the (paper or electronic) magazine. We reserve the right to edit your submission for publication. We can not guarantee that your article will be accepted for publication. Submissions in languages other than English are welcome. Submission can be also about criticism of antinatalism.

The Antinatalism Magazine is a magazine focused on the ethics of procreation. This is the third issue, and includes articles from Théophile de Giraud, K. Kalvall and Katerina Lochmanová. The magazine includes a travel guide in Norway to Peter Wessel Zapffe related places written by Tim Oseckas, a antinatalism novel called «The Gag Gift» from author Gregory Jahn, several interviews and a memory section for the founder of the magazine Jiwoon Hwang.