Speed Breeding

A few mornings ago, on my way to work, I listened to this NPR story about the Quiverfull movement, a conservative Christian sect that encourages couples to really overdo it (get it?) on the baby-makin'.

The Swanson family, of Shelby, Michigan, has seven children and eagerly await more in the future, despite the fact that the Swansons originally didn't want to have children at all. The average family at their church has 8.5 kids, which I guess means they ain't quite fittin' in. They say they often receive comments from strangers, including inquiries as to whether or not they know what causes pregnancy, to which they reply, "Of course we know what causes it--we practice all the time."

Quiverfull followers see the womb as a weapon, and hyper-reproduction as their way of building up an army for God. Author Kathryn Joyce says that followers hope this will one day enable them to "take over both halls of Congress... reclaim sinful cities like San Francisco for the faithful, and ... wage very effective massive boycotts against companies that are going against God's will."

Whatever makes you happy, I guess.