Judaism - Choosing to be childless

[Dana]

My concern lies with children who do not ask to be born.

I've never understood that argument. No one gets to ask to be born.  But as an interesting side note, I saw this on the news today.  Somehow I think the backers of it are very happy that they were born. 

https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/02/16/wh...ving-kids/

That is an interesting site and I would agree with some things that raise awareness such as... Stop Having Kids -  defines antinatalism as “a philosophical and ethical stance against human reproduction” and says antinatalists consider human reproduction to be “an irreversible, unnecessary, indefensible, and enduring form of harm, regardless of circumstances, situations, or consciousness in living.”  Especially the part in bold.  

The group says it wants to inspire and provoke critical thinking about reproductive choices and is against forcing individuals to do anything either way.



I learned there was a debate on this subject between the two famous rabbinic schools - House of Hillel and House of Shammai that lasted two and a half years. The Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Eruvin 13b. The issue was settled in favor of the House of Shammai that it would have been better had humans not been created. 

This link, fairly recent,  discusses that debate and concludes that it was best we humans are here, and created to do good.  What would Shammai have thought about antinatalism and could he have argued for it?  Mostly, did Hillel and Shammai agree to disagree or did their long debate end with Hillel agreeing that Shammai was right?  I feel it is amazing they could have this kind of discussion back then and no one was ex communicated for being a heretic of a sort. 

https://timemphis.org/what-comes-next-by...b-wohlner/