I wouldn't say "relative failures" but there's always that feeling of "what-if" but wealth was always more important to my family. I mean, you can make all the money in the world but what's truly the point of the money if you have no children to spend the money on or to pass it on when you're dead.
What if what? They'd have sacrificed a big chunk of savings to produce more kids? What's more important, your faith or your bank balance? What is the point of money is a far wider question, that has very little to do with children and a legacy to pass on. It's clear your fascinated by money, that's fine. I hope it makes you happy.
I don't really believe in the whole sperm is sacred thing but of course, religion plays a role in understand why procreation is so beneficial for mankind.
You believe in God, you believe in creation. Do you think God thinks the ever growing global population is a good thing for his planet, or has he (she?) specifically stated it's not issue so long as their good, white Christians?
I don't like this whole "education" thing. The upper-class people generally have the most kids in society, not the poor working-class so it's asinine to tie birthrates with education. If you look at British aristocrats, they tend to average over 5 kids usually. Aristocrats/higher class people have a status to preserve.
The upper classes/aristocracy love having kids, it's true. The educated members of society who are not born into that life are
generally having fewer kids than 50 years ago.
The education thing is very relevant. The population explosion on the Indian subcontinent is mainly in rural areas with low literacy rate. It's still viewed as a blessing to have kids, not biology. (unless it's a daughter of course, that's a curse)