Around 80% of Americans have been exposed to the plant pesticide chlormequat, which causes fertility and growth issues in animals, according to a new study published Thursday…

  • I thought it was the Shakers who were fully celibate, not the Quakers. I’m reading through the Quakers’ wiki page now and not seeing anything about views on sex/procreation. Any suggestions where to find more about that?

    I’m not trying to challenge you, I’d just like to learn more if I’ve missed something here.

    • Shakers went full celibacy, Quakers have loosened views over time, but traditional marriages were noted to often include long periods of abstinence, and marriages were (supposed) to be more about companionship and friendship than romance and sexuality.

      A professor of mine once noted the long periods of abstinence might simply have been a result of women with their notably greater autonomy having more choice in the matter compared to the standards of their times than any particularly repressive view on sexuality (within the bounds of marriage) but whatever the case, Quakers just didn’t have as many kids as other sects.