Although pro-family academics and religious leaders have long expressed concern about widespread depopulation and childlessness within Western culture, this crisis is finally being noted by U.S. government officials.
Over the past decade, the number of those who never married and had no children exceeded the share of Americans who are married with children. Nearly one-third of young voters did not have nor do they want to have children.
Recognizing such adverse trends is causing the Trump administration to debate alternative plans to increase marriages and births, including, for example, awarding mothers $5,000 after birthing a child. However, other countries that attacked flagging birthrates by implementing such measures have yet to return birthrates to the 2.1 replacement level needed to maintain population stability.
Declining birth rates will ultimately hurt America’s economy. The American Enterprise Institute’s monthly journal reported an interview from CSPAN’s Washington Journal that highlighted the need to address this demographic challenge. The institute underscored the potential adverse long-term economic influence of continuing declines in fertility rates as reaching “quadrillions of dollars.”
Aided by the 1968 publication of “The Population Bomb,” a popular book with numerous fallacious theses, we witnessed a worldwide fear of overpopulation, a newfound climate ideology, and an overemphasis on expressive individualism. Indeed, for 14 years prior to the book’s publication, the world’s population grew at accelerating rates; but after publication, the world’s population coincidentally began a continuing downward trend from its 1968 peak of 2.07% to 0.87% in 2024.
These beliefs and behaviors reinforced emerging values of secularism, overcoming previously dominant traditional biblical and cultural mores, trends enhanced by public schools’ secular curriculums, Hollywood role models, and leftist agitators.
Consistent with this misdirection, the anti-natalist suspect in the May bombing of a Palm Springs, California, fertility clinic left a rambling message about eliminating newborns and reducing population. The maniacal manifesto left behind says, “We can finally begin the process of sterilizing this planet of the disease of life.” A group founded in 1992 developed this ideology into a religious belief system, calling itself the “Church of Euthanasia.” As opposed to traditional religions, according to its website, this “church” explicitly opposes procreation.
A contrary direction exists among faith-based voters. Cultures that value children have more of them while cultures that don’t value children have less. Studies by the Institute of Family Studies report a “conservative fertility advantage”: Conservatives have more babies than liberals. More men and women feel confident about starting and raising families in red states than blue ones.
Another study tracked mobility trends between red and blue states. In 2021-2022, roughly 180,000 more families left blue states for red states, evidencing an increasing migratory appeal to red states from blue states for ordinary families with children. An important cultural factor cited explains that red states are more likely to prioritize marriage and family life than blue states. Nevertheless, the fertility rates in red states still remain below the replacement rate of 2.1 babies per woman.
Judeo-Christian beliefs are clear that each newborn infant is a precious gift from G-d enabling humans to participate in the process of creation (Proverbs 127:3). In fact, the Old Testament unequivocally states that we are to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Gen 1:28). After the Flood, G-d repeated this very commandment to Noah and his sons (Gen. 9:1). The Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, explains that one who does not fulfill these commandments depletes life on earth (S.A. Even Ha’ezer 1:1) and suggests that such actions are analogous to that of a murderer. The prophet Isaiah (45:18) makes clear, “He [G-d] did not create [the earth] for emptiness. He formed it to be lived in.” By having children, the Divine Presence is increased in this world.
By contrast, radicalized leftist agitators seek to destroy our established institutions. In the “Communist Manifesto,” Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels specifically called for the abolition of marriage and family, institutions they viewed as oppressive. As a result, society now places an exaggerated importance on self-realization and individual fulfillment, thereby creating a culture of narcissism. This deification of self effectively creates conflict within families and will ultimately breed its dissolution. These narcissistic and radicalized leftist agitators create societal chaos by resisting authority, appear determined to tear down the fabric of America’s institutions (including families), and foment a revolution espoused by Marxist ideology.
Regrettably, certain mayors, governors, and national or state legislators in so-called blue or progressive cities and states, as well as the majority of the mainstream media, tacitly support these destructive non-peaceful actions. These progressives are either unaware of the radical Marxist elements embedded within these movements or they simply do not care. The opposing view, however, is premised in large part by a commitment to traditional religious values.
Today we are in a fight for the heart and soul of our nation. More than thirty years ago, the 102nd Congress passed a joint resolution recognizing “the historical tradition of ethical values and principles which are the basis of civilized society and upon which our great Nation was founded.” Further, these ethical values and principles “have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization when they were known as the Seven Noahide Laws” and “without these ethical values and principles, the edifice of civilization stands in serious peril of returning to chaos.”
These Seven Noahide Laws are predicated upon a belief that humanity was fashioned in the Divine image. Leviticus 19:1 explains that because the human being is “created in the image of G-d,” we should strive to “imitate G-d” through our daily actions. By following these laws, a culture of life can hopefully be recreated, one which will reverse the continuing decline in fertility rates.
The warnings are evident: The population decline is drifting humanity into uncharted waters. Unfortunately, many of today’s progressives, indoctrinated by secular Marxist-Leninist values, choose to ignore our religious commandments pertaining to family values and in lieu thereof deify themselves. Hopefully, answers will be found to reestablish a robust family environment with sustainable increases in human population, answers that are based upon biblical teachings.
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