Notes from the North

By Estanislao C. Albano, Jr.

Today, we examine the favorite Bible verse of the anti-RH Bill advocates. I refer to Genesis 1:28  which reads as follows:  “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”  I caught at least two Roman Catholic  (RC) bishops citing the verse to bolster their anti-RH Bill position and perhaps to  make it look like God is on their side on the controversy. In quoting the verse in the context of the RH Bill, these clergymen are merely exposing their inability to properly understand that particular verse. Either that or they are knowingly twisting  the Word of God to suit their purposes which is even worse.

The RC priests who  use the verse against the RH Bill want to make it appear that the command is still in effect which, if true, would make the  proposed legislation contrary to the Scriptures.  They conveniently forget that God gave the command to man when the latter was still the garden of Eden. The earth then was perfect. Whatever man needed was provided. There was no want of anything. That I suppose was the reason God gave the command. Now, if  the condition in this country is Edenic, I am sure nobody would have thought of proposing a measure intended to rein in  its  runaway population growth. However, the sad truth which I have no doubt even the most rabid anti-RH Bill people will allow, is that there is stark contrast between the situation when the command was given and the situation we in this country find ourselves.    

If only the RC clergy would care to read their Bibles a bit farther, they would come upon the story of the Fall and how Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden as a consequence. There was a drastic alteration in their situation. In Genesis 3:16-19, God told Adam and Eve that because of their disobedience, Eve will experience pain in childbirth, the earth is cursed  and that Adam will have to sweat and toil in order to eat. After condemning the human race to such a condition, does God still encourage man to go and multiply? There is no verse in the Scriptures reiterating the command after the Fall and neither is there one which says God has reconsidered it. It’s up to us to use our God-given intelligence to decide whether or not the command is still in effect even after the earth has been cursed  by God.  

As far as this country is concerned, the answer to the question whether or not that particular divine command still holds can be found in the later part of Genesis 1:28  which, remarkably, the RC clergy leave out when they cite the verse:  “fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” This has already been accomplished in this country. The earth and the wildlife  in this country have already been subdued for quite some time.  Consider the denuded mountains, the dry or dead rivers, the  numerous species of flora and fauna which have already become extinct  and are becoming extinct due to the improvident activities  and sheer number of Filipinos. Our resources could hardly sustain the present population so how much more when all the babies the RC clergy and their blind followers want to be born join us?  

The land in this country has already been saturated by human beings. Go to the most remote barangays and you will see that all habitable areas are already owned and occupied.  The RC clergy and their fellow anti-RH Bill advocates would point out that the Philippines is not really overpopulated because some rich countries like Singapore have population densities  that are way above ours. But the argument is fallacious.  It’s  only  when Singapore turns  agricultural or   we have become industrialized that this comparison of population densities has meaning. The argument does not put into consideration the simple fact that  in industrialized countries, people do not need a lot of space to make a living while Filipinos require a wide plot of land in order to produce barely enough food for their families. If we follow their logic, we will find ourselves believing that the Sahara Desert is underpopulated because of the very few people who live in its  vast expanse.  

Now, if there are no more wildlife to have dominion over and no more living space remains to be filled, are Filipinos still to go and multiply as though they are in the garden of Eden? 

And in the face of current rash of conflicts, natural calamities and widespread hunger in many parts of the world,  in determining whether or not God’s command to go and multiply is still in effect, it would be wise to consider the words of Christ while He was describing the situation preceding  His second coming in Matthew 24. He said that among other signs, there will be wars, famine, plagues and earthquakes such that the magnitude of  human suffering  during those days will be unprecedented. In verse 19, Christ stated: “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies during those days!” Does that sound like an encouragement to go  and  multiply?

The RC clergy will be quick to  respond that the advice implied in the statement of Christ does not still apply as nobody can tell the exact time when the great  tribulation which Christ foretold will start.  Precisely, since nobody can predict when it will, the prudent thing to do is act as though it will happen anytime because it can happen anytime.