Have you seen the freedom of religion arguments on these threads?
That’s how they get away with it....call it a religion. Also brilliant is make it seem ‘sweet’, you know, harkening back to the good ole days when the women dressed modestly, the children were quiet and mannered, where everyone carried a bible etc. People see them as just one of those nice, quiet super religious types and well, they’re odd, but at least they believe in God!
Honestly, if the FLDS looked like a bunch of Satan Worshipers, with loud music, leather, chains, whips, the women in short shorts and the kids running around screaming, how long do you think any community would have let such ‘devils spawn’ go unchecked? You could count the time in days if not minutes. ;)
Seriously, same behaviors, different clothes, music and ‘religion’....
I’ve lived under the ‘shield’ of relgious abuse, and it is probably the best way for the worst abuse to occur for years, if not decades, because it uses those things that the average good person wouldn’t think to question.
As the director of immunization for the CDC, my father had a hard time convincing the Amish community to have their children immunized.
He was able to convince the community leaders, but in the process, found some outstanding new friends.
For years after that, my mother and father would vacation each year with the Amish community.