Posted on 01/25/2005 9:49:36 AM PST by missyme
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A Republican state lawmaker countered a Senate colleague's dispersal of an anti-polygamy book by passing out folders defending the practice as natural and not necessarily harmful.
Sen. Carlene Walker, of Cottonwood Heights, said she was offended by the title of the book "God's Brothel" that Senate Minority Whip Ron Allen distributed, and she wanted to balance its views.
"Polygamy is a frequent, and arguably, from a historical perspective, a most normal, human sexual relationship throughout most of human history in a majority of societies around the world," reads one of the passages in the folder.
It came from the Centennial Park Action Committee, a group of women near the Utah-Arizona state line who say it's unfair to characterize polygamists as "oppressed," "abused" or "brainwashed."
Walker said she has known polygamists who are "fine, honest, educated, wonderful people."
"To characterize the whole polygamy community as abusive to children and the welfare system is inaccurate," Walker said.
Allen says people are misunderstanding his point of demonstrating abuses in polygamous relationships, and he passed out 104 copies of the book to legislators because he wanted them to understand polygamy isn't harmless.
"It's not fair to say we should ignore it," he said.
Allen helped enact a child bigamy law in 2003 that made forced marriages of minors a second-degree felony punishable by one to 15 years in prison.
Before, the offense carried only 30 days in jail, and was rarely enforced, Allen said. He said the marrying of teenage girls was a common practice among some of Utah's isolated polygamist communities until the state served notice it was cracking down.
The book, written by Salt Lake City author Andrea Moore-Emmett, tells the stories of 18 women who claim they suffered rape, incest and violence in polygamous communities.
Copies of the book were donated by publisher Pince-Nez Press, of San Francisco.
Polygamy is among the teachings of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith. But the practice was abandoned by the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints more than a century ago as the Utah territory sought statehood.
The Utah Constitution bans polygamy and the mainstream Mormon church now excommunicates those who advocate it. But it's believed that tens of thousands in Utah and more than 30,000 across the West continue to practice
Okie dokie...:)
"It came from the Centennial Park Action Committee, a group of women near the Utah-Arizona state line who say it's unfair to characterize polygamists as "oppressed," "abused" or "brainwashed."
These women are brainwashed from the time they're little girls, and married off before they can get old enough to understand the double standard. It is outrageous that there are still parents out there that teach their daughters to think so lowly of themselves that they're willing to accept this. I wonder what would happen if one of those wives decided to marry a few more husbands. Oops...now THAT would be immoral.
The NT assumes one man and one woman. It didn't specifically condemn it because there was probably no reason. Anyway, if they condemned it, what would happen to gentile pagans who had multiple wives?
So the language condemned it by specifiying the proper structure.
Plural marriage is like gluttony or averice. It is different from homosexuality but it is not G-d's desire.
I know the Biblical Deity, and I know His desire.
Genesis 3:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:4 And he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
All quotes KJV.
Twain in Matthew 19:4 represents only 2 people.
G-d intends only 2 to marry.
There is no quandry.
Shalom.
"Polygamy is quite common or rather widespread here in Malaysia with Muslim men."
That's true in most Muslim countries, and was true throughout the Middle East back in Biblical times. I'm not certain when it became unpopular and even illegal in the West.
It is 14 in BC...I used to live there and was a 14 year old there at one time...didn't get any offers until I was 16 though...
Polygamy is frequently about older men obtaining extremely young, vulnerable while hiding behind religion.
By the time of the second Temple, there is virtually no mention of polygamy among Jews. The Talmud says that it is not strictly forbidden by the Torah, but should be discouraged. The rabbis formally banned polygamy for Jews during the middle ages (IIRC, in the year 1000).
"You have a young daughter?"
Actually, I have 3, and if they made the choice to marry into a plural situation, that would be their call. Would I presuade them to enter this type of marriage? No, but would I disown them if they did? No...la
It's 14 in Iowa and Missouri in the US, too.
"By the time of the second Temple, there is virtually no mention of polygamy among Jews. The Talmud says that it is not strictly forbidden by the Torah, but should be discouraged. The rabbis formally banned polygamy for Jews during the middle ages (IIRC, in the year 1000).
"
Thanks.
If they choose to sure.
It is normal here. I work with a guy who has 3 wives - I know all three of them. They all have no problem at all.
It is not an orgy or anything, they don't all stay in the same house.
Not every man can afford two wives and under the law here a man has to treat his wives all equally.
Absolutely true.
But in America powerful men cannot have more than one wife, so they sneak mistresses on the side.
It would be healthier and more honest--especially for the children of a man with more than one mate, if we legalized polygamy.
And if you don't like polygamy, don't do it. Simple.
This situation does not work. Human beings are flawed and they have emotions (Especially Women) that has to do with a variety of feelings..
I can just see 3 women and one man, he would constantly be bombarded with questions from 3 wives like:
1. Do you think she's prettier than me?
2. Do you think she's fat?
3. Does she cook better than me?
4. Do you love her more than me?
5. Is she better in bed than me?
6. DO I make you laugh more than her?
THE LIST WOULD BE ENDLESS...
This situation is a hazzard waiting to happen.
Are his three wives each allowed to have 3 husbands? Ask a polygamist that, and he will be appalled at even the mention of one of his wives daring to look at another man. To him, this is "natural," which shows his perception of women. Whenever one group of people (whether race or gender) is taught that it does not have the right to expect equal treatment, it's the worst form of slavery.
"But in America powerful men cannot have more than one wife, so they sneak mistresses on the side"
Oh, it's not just the powerful. But most men have no interest in having more than one wife. It's a lot easier to have a mistress here and there.
Women do the same thing, although with a little less frequency.
Isn't it interesting that there's much discussion about polygyny, but almost none about polyandry. When people use the term polygamy, they're almost always discussing polygyny.
Of course not, because when women get pregnant women can always be sure the baby is theirs.
My post 58.
Enter genetic testing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.