Antinatalism
by Mike James
Last month in Palm Springs, California, a fertility clinic was bombed. The bomber perished in the bombing, and luckily, no one else did. As information began to filter out about the incident, we learned that the bomber was a 25-year-old who supported antinatalism.
The reason he was bombing a fertility clinic is because fertility clinics help people who have a hard time having a child. These clinics employ different methods to fertilize eggs and implant the egg back into a woman for the possibility of a future birth. The bomber was trying to destroy these future embryos. Fortunately, he was not successful in his plan.
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: The damaged front of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic stands following a bomb blast on May 17, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. A suspected bomber is believed to have post a manifesto to social media before the explosion. One person was confirmed dead at the scene, according to police. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Antinatalism is a philosophical view that considers procreation to be unethical or unjustifiable. In other words, antinatalism teaches us humans should not make any more children. The reason for this philosophy is that everyone's life will experience some harm, pain, and suffering. Therefore, it is not justifiable for us to live because of this harm, pain, and suffering we will experience.
Some of the proponents of this far-out thinking also argue that prior to our birth we had no say in the matter of coming into existence. Since we have no choice in deciding whether to come into existence, that is not fair either because if someone knew the type of suffering they could endure in life they may not want to live.
Another major point they make is all life leads to death which is suffering. Yes, it is true, as we grow older, we experience more pain and disease and physical problems, which exacerbate our suffering, with our inevitable fate, which is ceasing to exist.
Obviously, this is not a large movement. Although one online forum for antinatalism has thousands of members. But like many other obscure and fringe ideas, since the creation of the internet these ideas are gaining greater and greater exposure to the general public.
Therefore, this blog gives any anti-natalist who may find my blog a thing or two to think about. But before I do that let me put my cards on the table. I am writing this as a Bible-believing Christian. I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say proponents of antinatalism have no idea who God is.
Let me start with the problem antinatalists have with our suffering. With no knowledge of God, I can understand why people get bent out of shape about suffering. But if you were to read the Bible (God's Word), you would learn that suffering is one way God allows us to learn, grow, and become better than we are now.
There are several scriptures that address the positive things we can learn from suffering. One of them is Romans 5:3-5: "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Now why might character development be important? The antinatalist could argue that there is no need to build character if we are going to die. I get it, but the Bible teaches us we have an opportunity for eternal life if we repent of sin and choose to follow Jesus Christ and the path He has set for us to follow in the Bible.
So, the argument that death is suffering is a valid point. But if you follow Jesus Christ, you can receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). Death will be defeated when you are resurrected to new life when Jesus returns to this earth (1 Corinthians 15:52-55).
A third major point to address is that God has created man for a special purpose. Man is not like the animals on the earth; we are different. God made man in His own image and likeness and has given us dominion over this earth (Genesis 1:26-27). Any extreme antinatalist who decides they are going to destroy human life is making themselves into a god. This goes against the law of the true God who tells us we should only worship Him and not our own thoughts and ideas.
More importantly, God has not only created us to just have dominion over the earth. He also created us to be part of His family (Romans 8:16-23), and if we are part of His family and gain His nature, we will be co-heirs of not only the earth but all of His creation! Hebrews 2:5-10 provides further confirmation of this fact.
There is much more we can say on this subject, but if this intrigues you, please read our booklet that expands on the true purpose of our destiny. Here is a link to our booklet Man's Awesome Destiny: