What is the “#Quiverfull Movement”? Why should you care?
cfctoo.com/blog/the-quiverfull-families-next-door-part-1
#Quiverfull ideology encourages Christian families to birth as many children (some translations specify sons) as possible, raise them up to be model Christians, and send them out to “further extend the effective rule of Christ
docs.google.com/document/d/1gi_Sff_gEqea5CjHDs-LvOPlcX4xvvQN/edit.
Many Quiverfull families seek to enact systemic change in our country by increasing the sheer volume of like-minded extremist Christian voices. The resulting “arrows” are meant to grow up and infiltrate all levels of government from local politics to international relations.
@EmilyMcgowin: “I use the term Quiverfull to refer to a subculture of American evangelicalism identifiable by the three practices mentioned above: pronatalism, homeschooling, and gender hierarchy."
rightingamerica.net/quivering-families-an-interview-with-emily-mcgowin-part-i/
Many #Quiverfull families also view the world through a dominionist lens, placing great emphasis on “filling the earth and subduing it.” One way they seek to do this is by taking a more active role in shaping society.
#Quiverfull communities take Genesis 1:28 as their marching orders. Churches within the QF movement train young women in their congregations to be submissive wives and mothers and young men to dominate through leadership inside and outside the family unit and church community.
In an invitation to be part of the Band of Brothers program at CFC, Pastor Eric Trelease exhorts the men: “It is time for you to dominate as a man of God and take responsibility for yourself and others.”
The “Dominate for Jesus” slogan points to the ultimate goal of the Quiverfull movement: dominion. Recent studies (@ProfSamPerry) have shown a clear correlation between Quiverfull ideology and Christian Nationalism.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/socf.12854
Both groups place an emphasis on large families for the purpose of “strengthening” their nation/religion. They convince large families by citing declining birth rates in the US and claiming that prominent groups in American society (white men & white families) are under threat.
@AboveRubiesUSA: "By refusing children we accept the destruction of our nation. Parenting children is NATION BUILDING. Our western nations have become increasingly sterile, selfish, spoiled, and boring."
aboverubies.org/index.php/2013-11-12-17-55-51/english-language/family-life/2288-family-life-children-the-way-we-build-the-nation
White Christian Nationalism seeks to instill fear and contempt for those unlike them. This is contrary to Jesus’ teachings to love one’s neighbors.
Both #Quiverfull and American Christian Nationalist philosophies teach that select white Christians are in competition with other cultures, races, and religions. In order to dominate them, the right kind of Christians must outnumber their foes.
This strategy doesn’t end with simply “filling the earth;” both movements also push their followers to “subdue” it.
Rick Sinclair praises his sons and sons-in-law for “killing Philistines” but for some Christian Nationalists, the slaughter of foes is less metaphorical.
youtu.be/jq_qaZ_0FB4
In his 2022 book “The Case for Christian Nationalism” published by Doug Wilson’s Canon Press, Stephen Wolfe argues that Christians who do not hold his views deserve death, banishment, or imprisonment.
"This is not to say that capital punishment is the necessary, sole, or desired punishment. Banishment and long-term imprisonment may suffice as well."
Wolfe goes on: “Those who do not profess Christianity & yet actively proselytize their non-Christian religion or belief system or actively seek to refute the Christian religion are subject to the same principles outlined above” (pp 391-392).
While many QF families would not agree with Wolfe’s extreme views, this inflammatory rhetoric has moved from fringe to mainstream in 2022. Throughout our nation’s history, White Christian nationalism has ebbed and flowed from a fringe belief to boldfaced racism and xenophobia.
This current push may feel new, but is a longstanding American tradition for white men to claim that they are being victimized by other groups (women, people of color, immigrants, etc.) in order to garner sympathy, stoke fear, and further their own causes.
Therefore, it is not unreasonable to scrutinize #Quiverfull men who run for public office and to ask pointed questions that plainly expose their goals to subdue and shape the world to their liking.
Multiple CFC members have sought public office over the years. One CFC elder ran several unsuccessful campaigns to be Madrid Town Justice in 2012 and 2014.
northcountrynow.com/letters/madrid-man-says-years-experience-make-him-right-choice-madrid-town-justice-0128494
Another CFC deacon ran for Potsdam Town Council only last year: northcountrynow.com/news/meyers-run-republican-potsdam-town-race-0308373
A long-time CFC member is currently serving on the St. Lawrence Republican County Committee as treasurer stlawrencegop.com/chairwoman--officers.html.
And most recently, Rick Sinclair’s son-in-law is running for the District 8 County Legislator Position and has been outspoken about his opposition to the #nyCAREact.
northcountrynow.com/letters/madrid-candidate-county-legislators-says-clergy-shouldnt-be-mandated-reporters-0325768
Men within the #Quiverfull movement make their way into places of power in order to influence their communities. This is often phrased as “serving the community,” which needs to be understood within the larger context of Quiverfull male leadership. docs.google.com/document/d/1YR6aaLr73oDegs96Z9qovZgh8OAcQ2XU/edit
Many of their political aspirations are cast as religious freedom and constitutional liberty issues: Abortion bans and anti-birth control policies, anti-LGBTQ policies (to the point of complete eradication of trans and gay people)...
...and homeschooling and “parental rights” In practice, this can look like defunding local DSS so they cannot adequately handle abuse cases, refusing trans minors gender affirming care, or asserting that religious freedom should protect clergy from being mandated reporters.