The 'Quiverfull' Way
First, read the original article: Making Babies the 'Quiverfull' Way - Newsweek Society - MSNBC.com The read Mollie Ziegler's critique of the reporting: GetReligion: November 15, 2006
Journalists seem to spend so much time covering how people control their family size but very little time covering whether people control the same. It’s refreshing to see a story on what is certainly a small but significant movement. Finan’s story gives a comprehensive overview of the Quiverfull movement before showing how opposition to birth control is growing among some evangelicals:The author's suggestion is that birth control is the norm among evangelical Christians. This would seem to disarm the argument that southern or black (or both) Evangelical Christians are having children out of obedience to command or to lack of sex ed. At least with the Southern Baptists, Dr. Mohler is the exception according to the author. See my previous post to see the relevance: Red Diaper BabiesAlbert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has become one of its most prominent advocates. “If a couple sees children as an imposition, as something to be vaccinated against, like an illness, that betrays a deeply erroneous understanding of marriage and children,†says Mohler. “Children should be seen as good by default.†His stance isn’t as extreme as that of quiverfull followers; for instance, he condones the use of condoms for married couples in extreme circumstances, like illness. Still, Mohler’s views are considered “an oddity†in mainstream Baptist circles, according to Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Land admits, however, that Mohler has certainly expanded his following. “He is seen as the popularizer of a position that is still very marginal, but 15 years ago, it wouldn’t have even been discussed,†says Land, adding that he knows of at least two former students who had reverse vasectomies after hearing Mohler’s arguments.Movements usually are not limited to one bureaucratic group, which is why I’m surprised when reporters write a trend story around single groups. I appreciate how Finan broadens it to show how underlying principles or values are not neatly contained in organizational boundaries — even in a piece ostensibly about a single group. I also appreciate how she shows debate within the Christian community. She also speaks to opponents of the movement.
