Are there too many of us?

[cfiott]

I looked for a thread on this subject but I couldn't find any started yet. I'll start with some questions. Feel free to add to them as you see fit. (And then let's try to answer them!)
Is population growth outstripping resources?
Is population growth threatening our species?
Is population growth causing or exacerbating global warming?
Assuming we do have a serious overpopulation issue, what's the role of religion in it? Did it cause it? Can it solve it?
Is China's attempt to limit population growth a good example to follow?
What can governments do? What can the UN do? What can we do?
Would we be a healthier, happier planet if there were fewer of us?
Should poor and unhealthy people refrain from having children?

[MikeH]

Is population growth outstripping resources?

No

Is population growth threatening our species?

No, it's only threatening our convenience.

Is population growth causing or exacerbating global warming?

Huh? With what, all of the body heat?

Assuming we do have a serious overpopulation issue, what's the role of religion in it?

Religious institutions would be on the forefront of charitable organizations helping those in need.

Did it cause it?

How would religion have caused overpopulation?

Can it solve it?

Like what, another crusade?

Is China's attempt to limit population growth a good example to follow?

Yes, because China has given us so many good examples to follow, like the youth revolution that led to communist dictatorship.

What can governments do? What can the UN do? What can we do?

Stuff their cultures so full of indulgent, gluttonous living that as many people die early deaths as possible.

Would we be a healthier, happier planet if there were fewer of us?

Yes, let's "trim the fat." You decide where to cut first.

Should poor and unhealthy people refrain from having children?

Yes, but nobody can force that decision on them.

[McCulloch]

Is population growth outstripping resources?

No

Not yet, anyway.

Is population growth threatening our species?

No, it's only threatening our convenience.

Population growth by itself cannot threaten our species. If it gets excessive, then there will be a correction and the species will continue.

Is population growth causing or exacerbating global warming?

Huh? With what, all of the body heat?

I suspect that he means certain human activities which have a greater effect due to population growth.

Assuming we do have a serious overpopulation issue, what's the role of religion in it?

Religious institutions would be on the forefront of charitable organizations helping those in need.

Treating the symptom and not the problem. A good start, but not really enough.

Did it cause it?

How would religion have caused overpopulation?

Oh, let's see. Opposition to family planning. Encouragement to be fruitful and multiply.

Can it solve it?

Like what, another crusade?

I hope that I am wrong, but I do not believe that most traditional religions have what it takes to seriously address these problems.

Is China's attempt to limit population growth a good example to follow?

Yes, because China has given us so many good examples to follow, like the youth revolution that led to communist dictatorship.

And seriously dangerous consumer products.

What can governments do?

Educate, research, support and encourage.

What can the UN do?

Much the same.

What can we do?

Learn, think, teach, support, encourage, limit growth.

Would we be a healthier, happier planet if there were fewer of us?

We are not a planet. We are a species. For the most part, the other species on this planet would be healthier and happier if we were not here at all.

Should poor and unhealthy people refrain from having children?

Yes, but nobody can force that decision on them.

Yes, but nobody can force that decision on them. Ending or significantly reducing poverty often reduces the tendency to have too many children.

[Confused]

I looked for a thread on this subject but I couldn't find any started yet. I'll start with some questions. Feel free to add to them as you see fit. (And then let's try to answer them!)
Is population growth outstripping resources?

I think population growth is actually leading us to learn how to conserve some of our resources. One might make the argument that if population didn't increase, we wouldn't need to learn how to be efficient. But in this argument, they would likely have a difficult time rejecting the fact that at some point, resources would become scarce and efficiency would have to come into play.

Is population growth threatening our species?

No. I think our species is threatening our species. Even before the explosion in populations, when society was tribal, our species still tries to wipe each other out.

Is population growth causing or exacerbating global warming?

I think this is a highly debated topic, but while I might agree that we may be exacerbating global warming, I don't think we are directly "causing" it. Look at the geological history of the earth. Tropical periods followed by ice ages etc...... Nature tends to have its own built in ways of dealing with disruptions. While I don't disagree that humanity has contributed to some natural processes, I can't support anything that would state we have actually been the direct cause of any?

Assuming we do have a serious overpopulation issue, what's the role of religion in it? Did it cause it? Can it solve it?

Religion is moot here.

Is China's attempt to limit population growth a good example to follow?

Hmm, infanticide? No, I think not.

What can governments do? What can the UN do? What can we do?
Would we be a healthier, happier planet if there were fewer of us?
Should poor and unhealthy people refrain from having children?

Good question. We each have a personal responsibility to life. I would love to say, "If you can't afford them, don't breed them". But I can't in good conscience say this. Would I rather have a single mother with 4 healthy, well behaved children who were raised in the projects but with love and with a sense of desire to better themselves, or that 2 parent family with 4 kids where mom is physician and dad is a lawyer, the children are raised by nannies, rarely see their parents, are not raised with any sense of responsibility, grow up to not contribute to society or to hinder society living off their trust funds until they are exhausted, essentially making them parasites, but elite parasites as opposed to projects parasites?

[MikeH]

Assuming we do have a serious overpopulation issue, what's the role of religion in it?

Religious institutions would be on the forefront of charitable organizations helping those in need.

Treating the symptom and not the problem. A good start, but not really enough.

But that's really all religion can do, without instituting a church-state.

Did it cause it?

How would religion have caused overpopulation?

Oh, let's see. Opposition to family planning. Encouragement to be fruitful and multiply.[/quote]

I think this is pure conjecture. I have yet to see any stats causation, or even correlation between religion (which religion, which denomination?) and overpopulation.

Is China's attempt to limit population growth a good example to follow?

Yes, because China has given us so many good examples to follow, like the youth revolution that led to communist dictatorship.

And seriously dangerous consumer products. [/quote][/quote]

Hmmm, yes, maybe their use of lead paint in children's toys is simply their attempt to nip overpopulation in the bud.

[p00p0ng0d]

everyone who isn't contributing to the progression of the human race should be terminated immediately.

[SOUPerman!]

everyone who isn't contributing to the progression of the human race should be terminated immediately.

I agree, the overwhelming amount of ignorance plaguing society must be dealt with. People in which are not contributing to society must be terminated or sent to a designated area in which they can begin to work for the greater good.

[p00p0ng0d]

everyone who isn't contributing to the progression of the human race should be terminated immediately.

I agree, the overwhelming amount of ignorance plaguing society must be dealt with. People in which are not contributing to society must be terminated or sent to a designated area in which they can begin to work for the greater good.

Thank you, that is a very astute observation. Lately, whenever I am in the city, I have noticed how pitiful people have become. I have witnessed dozens upon dozens of people regurgitating the fabricated illusions presented by the sinful media who just exalt our Socialist leader who is taking advantage of our ignorance and getting exactly what he wants.

[p00p0ng0d]

everyone who isn't contributing to the progression of the human race should be terminated immediately.

I agree, the overwhelming amount of ignorance plaguing society must be dealt with. People in which are not contributing to society must be terminated or sent to a designated area in which they can begin to work for the greater good.

Thank you, that is a very astute observation. Lately, whenever I am in the city, I have noticed how pitiful people have become. I have witnessed dozens upon dozens of people regurgitating the fabricated illusions presented by the sinful media who just exalt our Socialist leader who is taking advantage of our ignorance and getting exactly what he wants.

[SOUPerman!]

everyone who isn't contributing to the progression of the human race should be terminated immediately.

I agree, the overwhelming amount of ignorance plaguing society must be dealt with. People in which are not contributing to society must be terminated or sent to a designated area in which they can begin to work for the greater good.

Thank you, that is a very astute observation. Lately, whenever I am in the city, I have noticed how pitiful people have become. I have witnessed dozens upon dozens of people regurgitating the fabricated illusions presented by the sinful media who just exalt our Socialist leader who is taking advantage of our ignorance and getting exactly what he wants.

Exactly, the media is just a tool of the government. The implications of strong governmental undertones in the media, and the acceptance of which throughout much of our depricating society saddens me. The elimination of such perpetrators would indefinitely result in a much more open minded and accepting community that breeds creativity and intellectual progression. The evolution of ethics and logic are being hindered by such narrow-minded and ignorant citizens.