"My mother, who was quite religious, often said that our main reason for being on earth was perpetuation of the species. I personally don't argue with that. "
I think our reason for being on earth is to do God's will. And his main goal on earth is to bring people to himself. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all people.
If having children is so important to God, how come Jesus never said anything about it? He did tell us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I think that's what is important to him.
I think there is something about going forth, being fruitful and multiplying. But clearly doing those things is unhelpful and harmful if not done virtuously and honorably. Not to mention that there wouldn't be anyone to do God's will without some of them doing some multiplying.
But I am not faulting those who don't have children or even disagreeing with you, merely wanted to say what it meant to me personally.
Yes, different folks take different journeys, one can be as worthwhile as another.
It's important not to get a big rock and hit yourself over the head with it until your skull is fractured. Jesus neglected that instruction.
Just conjecture here, but, it's part of the freedom that He gives us. We are free to turn our back on what is natural - marry the other sex, not have children and not hit our heads with rocks until our skull is fractured.
Then we can reap what we sow, with a fractured society and our brains running out our ears.