Faith and Family: A Countercultural Choice

Around the world, countries are facing a big problem: not enough babies are being born. This isn't just a random trend; it's a serious issue that affects economies and societies. Fewer children mean fewer workers, which can lead to economic slowdowns and political tensions. Some countries, like Hungary and South Korea, have tried different ways to encourage people to have more kids, but with limited success. One expert, Catherine Pakaluk, suggests that the solution might lie in something unexpected: religion. She argues that having children, especially more than one, goes against the current cultural norms in many places, including the United States. Pakaluk, who has 14 children herself, studied women who choose to have large families. She found that these women often have strong religious beliefs and see children as blessings and a vital part of their marriages. Pakaluk believes that governments should support religious institutions because they play a unique role in encouraging people to have more children. She points out that in the past, large families were necessary for economic reasons, but today, children are often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. This shift in perspective has led to a decline in birth rates. She argues that religious faith can change this perspective by making people see children as valuable for their own sake, not just for economic or personal reasons. Pakaluk's research shows that women with strong religious beliefs are more likely to have larger families because they view each child as a unique blessing. Pakaluk's advice to governments is to involve religious leaders in policy discussions and to support religious institutions in their efforts to promote family values. She believes that this approach can help address the declining birth rates and the social issues that come with it.