’n Teologies-etiese perspektief op bevolkingsontploffíng en gesinsbeplanning

Abstract

The issue addressed in this article is that of population explosion as seen in the light of Reformed theological ethics. God blessed Adam and Eve and commanded them to be fruitful, to increase in number and to fill the earth. Since then the world population has multiplied and increased to 5.5 billion in 1994. During the last 25 years only the population has increased by 2 billion. The result is that several countries have become over-populated a situation which caused several negative results like insufficient food supply and starvation. In South Africa over­ population can also create a situation which might be difficult and even impossible to handle. These problem areas lead to the conclusion that God's command in the beginning regarding the multiplication of human beings has now been fulfilled and that drastic steps have to be taken to prevent the earth from becoming over-populated. Such steps have to be reconcilable with Scripture, and should not have the nature of the preventative steps applied in China, for example.