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While I agree with much of the rest of your post, that statement is ridiculous. - We need to stay within, say, 2,000 years when using examples...

I actually agree with you. Thinking on it; it was ridiculous for me to use that example but my point was (or should have been), that this doesn’t stop a lot of other people from quoting and interpreting the OT (or NT), usually taken greatly out of context, to defend or refute a lot of things that shouldn’t be defended or refuted.

I was in no way condoning polygamy in general and in absolutely no way condoning the actions of the FLDS.

But IMO there is a big difference between consenting adults willingly entering into a polygamous arrangement and the forced “marriage” of minor girls to their close relatives; the incestuous rape of children.

I’ve known a few Mormons over the years (none of them practicing polygamy BTW) who would be equally mortified by such deviant behavior. And just because some people of their faith once practiced polygamy, just like some folks in the good old “Biblical” days did, that doesn’t mean that they (the modern LDS, or Jews or Christians for that matter) today condone the practice now.

As to whether or not OT “scripture” or the Ten Commandments or GOD ever condoned a man having multiple wives, the OT does often mention that Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and many others who had multiple wives and since all these men according to the Bible, found great favor and grace with GOD and were not punished for it, one could reasonably conclude that at one time the practice was not against their religious faith.

I just get a little peeved when some folks attack Mormons for their religious beliefs; some of the most politically conservative and patriotic and moral folks I’ve known.

I also find it interesting and a bit disturbing when “conservative” Protestants go after “conservative” Catholics and visa versa over the finer points of dogma without seeing how much they have in common with each other.

But as an Atheist, I don’t really have a horse in this race. So if you all want to try to destroy each other, go ahead, be my guest.

But I also want to let all of you know that I’m perhaps an anomaly among many of my fellow Atheists, as I don’t think there is anything wrong with prayer in schools, with the mention of God in the Pledge of Allegiance, with the Ten Commandments displayed in courtrooms, with public Nativity displays, etc.

I often find myself defending religious freedoms rather than trying to stamp out all religion like some Atheists. I believe in freewill and the conscience of one’s convictions to believe or not believe as they choose.

But a “belief”, whether it is Muslim or the FLDS or The Westboro “Church” doesn’t mean that violation of the law is OK. The FDLS – not the main stream Mormon Church, is breaking the law by enslaving minor children against everything religiously and secularly moral right and legally acceptable.