A Full Quiver A Growing Movement for Growing Families for God

ABC News ^ | January 3, 2007 | By TED GERSTEIN and JOHN BERMAN

[bd476]

A Full Quiver

A Growing Movement for Growing Families for God

By TED GERSTEIN and JOHN BERMAN

January 3, 2007 - In the Carpenter family's nicely decorated living room outside Nashville, Tenn., the "Nightline" team stared at a couch that couldn't possibly fit another human being.

The eight kids squished together began shouting out their names, "PEYTON! COLE! OWEN!"



The eight Carpenter children at home.
Their parents are followers of the
"Quiverfull Movement," which
opposes birth control and family
planning. (ABCNews)



Ken and Devon Carpenter are the parents of eight kids, aged 1 to 15. It might sound like a sitcom or a remake of "Eight is Enough." But this isn't a sitcom. This a movement.

The Carpenter family is part of the "Quiverfull Movement." The name comes from the Bible -- Psalm 127/128:

"Children are a heritage from the Lord / children a reward from him/ like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man /whose quiver is full of them."

What does that mean? Quiverfull followers believe that all forms of contraception, all forms of birth control and any form of family planning goes against God's plan.

"As I understand, and to the extent that we are involved in it, it is just a matter of, it's a mind-set that says we will take as many children -- happily -- as God blesses us with," Ken Carpenter said.

It isn't simply about having as many kids as possible, though.

"It's not a contest," he said. "For us, it's about having as many as the Lord gives us, and being happy with that. If the Lord gives us more, great. If we are done at eight, that's fine. Whatever He gives us. "

The Birth of the Movement

Quiverfull is largely an American phenomenon, beginning with the release of the book "A Full Quiver" in 1989.

There is no official organization, but in 1995, the Web site quiverfull.com went online with just 12 subscribers -- now there are more than 2,600. There are probably several thousand Quiverfull enthusiasts all over the United States right now -- and the movement is believed to be growing.

There are certainly a lot of question about the practice. Is it dangerous for a woman's body to keep having children, one after the other?

"I don't struggle in that area, I have pretty easy pregnancies and deliveries and recovery," Devon Carpenter said. "God designed us to have children, and thankfully, we do have good doctors out there for things that come up."

If there is a grandmother to this movement, it's Nancy Campbell. Her magazine has been advocating this lifestyle for decades. Campbell explained why followers even have a problem with natural family planning or the "rhythm method."

"When we really stop and think about it, it's not natural," she said. "We have to go against the way that God designed our bodies. He designed them to be fruitful, so if a couple [doesn't] want to have children - they've got to do something to their body so it doesn't work the way God planned it."

What about simply not having sex?

"What married couple is not going to do that?" Campbell asked.

Supporting a "Full Quiver"

There are other questions. How can anyone afford this? Ken Carpenter has a good business producing videos for some of Nashville's biggest names. That puts a roof over their head. And what about planning for his children's college education? He isn't sure about college, but it isn't about the money.

"There is a mindset and worldview that's taught on a college campus that is in conflict with the scripture we read this morning," he said.

The Carpenter children are home-schooled. Ken Carpenter hopes his sons find professions and that his daughters learn to be mothers. He believes that it is a woman's primary function to become a mother. And a father's primary function?

"I think a dad ought to be the primary instiller of wisdom and ought to be teaching his sons leadership," he said.

'The Biblical Model'

The role of the father as the head of the household is at the center of the Quiverfull movement.

"I know that notion is going to rile a number of people," Ken Carpenter said. "[But] I do consider myself the loving head of this family, responsible to lead them. That's the biblical model of fatherhood."

Devon Carpenter concurred, saying that her role is to be "nurturing and loving and submissive to my husband and shepherding to the children."

Both husband and wife say this is the life they want to lead, and want their kids to lead -- which means thousands more diapers, and many more chaotic mealtimes.

If there is one thing that this life guarantees, it is nonstop motion.

How about the future? Are more kids on the way?

"Yes," Ken Carpenter said. "Should the Lord bless us with more, I would be thrilled."

[bd476]

This might stir up some controversy, even here, but I say good for the family featured on Night Line.

One of my Great-Grandmothers had fourteen children. Unfortunately most of her children remained overseas and didn't migrate to America. I have cousins whom I've never met. Someday perhaps we will meet. Another Great-Grandmother only had one child which was a little bit unusual for those days.

Children are God's Blessing to those fortunate enough to be able to have them.

If a family is blessed with one child or with many, and if they can support them, who can protest.

[goldstategop]

The pro-abort crowd will say having kids is a gross violation of true family values. Count on it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[bd476]

goldstategop wrote: "The pro-abort crowd will say having kids is a gross violation of true family values. Count on it."

The Quiverfull concept goes way beyond their protests. The family which was interviewed on ABC's Nightline do not practice any form of birth control.

Nancy Campbell, the author of the book A Full Quiver, said that birth control was unnatural and worked against the way God made us.

[XR7]

The family which was interviewed on ABC's Nightline do not practice any form of birth control.

Horrors.
Horrors!

[Tamar1973]

There's nothing natural about "breeding like rabbits". I loved the comment when asked about periodic abstinence, "What married couple is not going to do that?" Campbell asked. "

I lost respect for the "head" of the household at that point. I think he missed out on verses like Titus 2:2, "Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance." G-d didn't create marriage simply to be an outlet for 24/7 sex.

I think they need to get this quick.

[bd476]

ROFLOL! And I'm interested in hearing your opinion.

[SuziQ]

And what about planning for his children's college education?

This is always the first question asked by folks who would look negatively on large families. Why is it assumed that the parents should pay for their kids' college educations? We didn't pay for ours; they got scholarships or loans. We told them, when the oldest was in the8th grade that if they wanted college, they'd better be prepared to work hard to pay for it. It's neither a right for the kids, nor a responsibility of the parents.

We have several friends with large families, one just had #7, another has 6, and two more have 5. We have four, and might have had more, but I just got too fat and old. ;o)

[pandoraou812]

This sounds pretty much like the Amish families.

[Global2010]

I have been an avid listner of Catholic Radio for over a year now and it is happenng!

Family planning according to church doctine, natural family planning.

Kids are a bloomin everywhere.

: )

[bd476]

Tamar1973 wrote: "There's nothing natural about 'breeding like rabbits.' "

How does a large family equate with rabbit reproduction?

The family is a religious Christian family practicing their religious convictions.

When did having a larger than normal (by today's standards) number of offspring in a family achieve the classification of animalistic behavior?

Tamar1973 wrote: "I loved the comment when asked about periodic abstinence, 'What married couple is not going to do that?" Campbell asked. '"

Thanks for writing that, Tamar1973. That is a quote from the article, yet when I heard the woman speak on "Nightline" it sounded as if she said "What married couple is * going to do that?"

Either way, it's interesting that modern day birth control, at first rejected by many, came to be expected, then demanded, then a right, then a way of life for many.

[NoExpectations]

I support this group 100%. We want to see decent, intact families reproducing to save our future nation.

I read last week that 52% of live births are to single mothers. Thnk about whose paying for those children for the rest of their lives??

[bd476]

Isn't it interesting? :-) My friend with eight kids is a devout Protestant Christian and I never asked her why she wanted more. It was fun watching each child develop their own unique personality. In my opinion she was an encyclopedic expert on "all children are blessings and gifted with their own unique traits."

[Think free or die]

Good for them, good for America. I hope our two sons won't be afraid to have nice sized families when their time comes.

[Raycpa]

The role of the father as the head of the household is at the center of the Quiverfull movement.

Most people have no idea what this Christian concept really means. If they did they would not want to be the head of the household. This world sees the head of anything as the one being in control.

In God's economy the proper position of the so called "head" is to be fully in submission to God and God's will. Besides being called to an impossible to achieve role, being in full submission to God's will is not what the average feminist would care to strive for.

[cherry]

"I know that notion is going to rile a number of people," Ken Carpenter said. "[But] I do consider myself the loving head of this family, responsible to lead them. That's the biblical model of fatherhood."

this idea thrills me......

I wish more men would realize that they are supposed to be the leaders of their families.....that they have a God-given responsibility to do so....just as women have responsibilities..

in a perfect world, men and women would treat their sexuality as more of a gift from God then just some animalistic ritual that carries no burden.....

[Dumb_Ox]

Didn't MSNBC/Newsweek already do a story on this a month or two back? Lazy journalists.

[USArmySpouse]

As a married mother of four, I say: BREED BREED BREED!!!!

Big, religious, intact families are one of the few - and most effective - defenses against complete secularization and/or islamification of this country.

To me, it's a national security issue.

JMO.

[A Strict Constructionist]

"Is it dangerous for a woman's body to keep having children, one after the other?"

Boy I wish they would tell this to the welfare queens that deliver at our hospital. But thats OK they have the govt. programs protecting them,WIC etc.

[ishmac]

This is a small, but budding movement. God bless them!

Other Christians have also given up artificial contraception based on their readings of the Bible and their feeling that the pill et al. are unnatural. See the book, Open Embrace, for example.

[ishmac]

Ooops! I did not realize that the authors of Open Embrace have changed their tune in the last couple years. Mea Culpa! Nonetheless, I agree with the arguments they made in their first book.