EFILism

EFILism is an extremist, negative utilitarian pro-mortalist, anti-natalist ideology proposed by internet philosopher Gary Mosher, known online as Inmendham, which endorses ending all suffering of all sentient life on Earth through non-procreation and extinction.

EFILists and promortalists have been criticized for inciting and causing violence, under the guise of philosophical debate. Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 was allegedly influenced by EFILism. Guy Edward Bartkus, the perpetrator of the 2025 Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing, was an EFIList and a promortalist. Amanda Sukenick, a prominent EFIList activist, has said she has had to "talk people down from just going out and killing random people or hunting animals in some disgusting violent manner". Mosher and Sukenick have been criticized for making inconsistent statements and denying responsibility for violence committed by EFILists. Major factions of the antinatalist community have outspokenly criticized and condemned EFILists and promortalists for inciting and advocating violence.

Philosophy

Gary "Inmendham" Mosher, the creator of EFILism

Efilism is atheist, moral realist, altruistic, and pro-evolution, as opposed to creationism. In On the Edge (2017), Canadian philosopher and biologist T. K. Van Allen wrote that efilism is the logical conclusion of egalitarianism. Van Allen has praised efilism for its willingness to challenge assumptions that most people would never question, namely for asking whether life is worth living, its realism about the nature of life, and its moral consistency in applying altruism to all sentient beings. Van Allen has said "Efilism raises profound philosophical questions about the meaning, purpose and value of life." Journalist Katherine Dee has written that efilism raises philosophical and ethical questions about suffering, consciousness, and moral responsibility that are worth answering.

Difference between EFILism and anti-natalism

EFILism overlaps considerably with mainstream anti-natalism, particularly in its opposition to reproduction. However, anti-natalism generally argues that bringing new people into existence is morally problematic because existence necessarily exposes them to suffering and other harms. EFILism extends this reasoning to sentient life more broadly, including non-human animals, and advocates for the extinction of all sentient life.

Violence

Adam Lanza, perpetrator of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, engaged with EFILism but differentiated himself. He said he was “adamantly opposed to the structure of life” yet criticized EFILists for relying on cultural abstractions such as rights and morality. He proposed his own framing as “eulavism” (English-language word "value" spelled backwards, which is inspired by EFILism being "life" spelled backwards). Lanza stated he only opposed life because life is the source of value and it’s value that he really hated.

The 2025 Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing by Guy Edward Bartkus was inspired by EFILism, according to his online manifesto, audio recording, and linked materials in which he framed existence itself as a non-consensual “disease” of suffering driven by DNA and sentience. He explicitly targeted an IVF clinic as the “epitome of pro-life ideology” because it actively creates new life.