Why Is Polygamy So Controversial?

[Grummer]

orgies isnt a cult, no wait a minute it might be...

 

[deafbajagal]

I wonder if they're really successful , it could be if a girl or boy was only exposed to one culture and made to believed it was the only way to live that would be brainwashing and that would be controlling a young person mind which it very easy to.
Look at what happen at Jones Town. Mr. Jones was able to control people so good he had 100's of people drink poison kool aid . I feel the women are being controlled more than they realize it. Just like that group I when and the guy was able to get complete strangers to rub asses together! There a lot lonely people out there and people like Mr. Jones and Mr. Ass Rubber know how to find them. I meet a woman was in 'married into polygamy and she said had to give all her money to her 'husband' before marrying him and the woman had no control over her own life. She was able escape on during a field trip her husband took his 'wives' on.

We are being brainwashed to think that single marriages are okay...but the same society condone and even embrace open sexual pleasures found in clubs, pornography, and open causal sex...what gives?

 

[kristy2078]

A comprehensive survey of traditional societies in the world shows that 83.39% of them practice polygyny, 16.14% practice monogamy, and .47% practice polyandry.

So let's see:

83.39% involving one man having multiple wives versus 0.47% involving one woman having multiple husbands

83.39% versus 0.47%

Seems hardly balanced.

Up until recently, women didn't have much power in decision making processes and in what she could do. In modern times, we might get better results, though. There are areas in the world where there's no equality for women yet, so it's hard to say whether women who enter polygyny really did enter with a clear and informed conscience.

Just how prevalent is polygamy where the members also share each other rather than just one person or groups where there is more than one person of each sex? This is polyamory. Polyamory is so much simpler than polygamy, IMO. There's more flexibility and there's no one person as the center of a group. The groups don't set up specific rules regarding who's responsible for what and who can have sex with whom, and there's no traditional theme that asserts a person's role based on gender and stereotypes. Some people here have mentioned the nature of a polyamorous group, so that should be the topic over polygamy. Polyamory would also give women more power and equality.

 

[kristy2078]

We are being brainwashed to think that single marriages are okay...but the same society condone and even embrace open sexual pleasures found in clubs, pornography, and open causal sex...what gives?

Married couples have porn, too. The 'open casual sex' does happen, assuming the people involved were not cheating on their spouses (namely, were not married or dating someone else who is not aware of what's going on). And even if two people are married, they also can have open relationships. So, the legal perspective on marriage has nothing to do with the other things.

 

[jillio]

Western people aren't the only ethnocentricts.

The culture that is practicing polygamy is ethnocentric about their practices. The circular reasoning is that from their long-term cultural practices, they perceive what they do is a norm, only because it is a long-term normal practice for them. Not because there is anything intrinsically right about what they're doing.

Just about any practice could be called "working" if that's common in a particular culture, using that reasoning. The Chinese one-baby only policy is "working" for them (at least, according to Joe Biden), human sacrifice "worked" for cultures in the past, and plantation slavery "worked" for a time in American history, following that reasoning.

All so-called norms that depend on imperfect people deciding what "works" without following the guidelines from a perfect, immutable source, are going to be problematic.

That's the answer to the original question.

How are they ethnocentric? They aren't trying to abolish single partner marraiges just because they believe a polygamous marraige is right. Ethocentrism is only a problem when one uses it to force their belief system on another.

 

[faire_jour]

Wirelessly posted

the comment about joesph smith being a "sex addict" is incredibly offensive. Just because someone believes differently from you does not mean you should insult their religous leaders.

 

[jillio]

A comprehensive survey of traditional societies in the world shows that 83.39% of them practice polygyny, 16.14% practice monogamy, and .47% practice polyandry.

So let's see:

83.39% involving one man having multiple wives versus 0.47% involving one woman having multiple husbands

83.39% versus 0.47%

Seems hardly balanced.

Up until recently, women didn't have much power in decision making processes and in what she could do. In modern times, we might get better results, though. There are areas in the world where there's no equality for women yet, so it's hard to say whether women who enter polygyny really did enter with a clear and informed conscience.

Just how prevalent is polygamy where the members also share each other rather than just one person or groups where there is more than one person of each sex? This is polyamory. Polyamory is so much simpler than polygamy, IMO. There's more flexibility and there's no one person as the center of a group. The groups don't set up specific rules regarding who's responsible for what and who can have sex with whom, and there's no traditional theme that asserts a person's role based on gender and stereotypes. Some people here have mentioned the nature of a polyamorous group, so that should be the topic over polygamy. Polyamory would also give women more power and equality.

Polyamory isn't marraige. Your percentages already answered that question.

 

[jillio]

There are plenty of sources that have speculated on Joseph Smith's sexual issues. It has been discussed in comparative religion for years. It isn't something new.

 

[whatdidyousay!]

We are being brainwashed to think that single marriages are okay...but the same society condone and even embrace open sexual pleasures found in clubs, pornography, and open causal sex...what gives?

I do not know any woman that got married in a traditional wedding having to giving all her money to the guy before getting married. Society been telling women for years their place was in the kitchen , now little girls are being programmed into thinking to they have a baby, there is a freaking nursing baby and a fake nipple to wear for little girls to wears . You tell what give,
I am having very hard understand why 5 or more women want to be married to the same man at one time! What is in it for the women , I just do not get it!! So the only thing I can think of is the women have to be under the guy control!

 

[kristy2078]

Polyamory isn't marraige.

And that's just the only single difference between polyamory and polygamy. Why bother getting married at all when you can still have the relationships you want with a bunch of people?

 

[Buffalo]

Then please explain why it is that polygamous marriages work in so many societies across the world where it is considered the norm. Just because it "can't work" according to Westernized way of thought does not mean that it can't work at all, or that it is inherently damaging.

Somehow you don't strike me as you would enter in a polygyny marriage.

 

[posts from hell]

Wirelessly posted

the comment about joesph smith being a "sex addict" is incredibly offensive. Just because someone believes differently from you does not mean you should insult their religous leaders.

I wasnt offended at all... Mainly because the religion spoke about is a baby... Not even real. But again... That is my opinion.

 

[rebeccalj]

utah? really? it started in palmyra, ny. its still there, but under radar. utah just happened to be the next largest location with mormons. it doesnt matter if it latter day saints or old faith like RLS etc.

The only reason such a large population of mormon in Utah is that they were run out of New York because people against polygamy. When mormons settled in Utah they were still practising polygamy.

 

[Steinhauer]

I would be curious to know health related statistics involving monogamous relationships opposed to polygamy relationships.

 

[LDNanna]

Hi. You know the "weird ones" are from this area? The next town is where the LDS (Latter Day Saints) ranch is.

Apart from the horrible, deplorable practice of taking "child brides", the clan is incredibly well mannered. The grounds are immaculate, the food is organic, home grown and home processed. The kids are beautiful, healthy, well dressed, very well mannered and they do NOT accept welfare, food stamps, or any other government assistance. The married women say that they feel as sisters toward one another. They were raised this way. They are quite "sassy" too. When seen in town they will rarely speak to outsiders, hold their heads high with chins up and shoulders well back. They walk with a purposeful stride and keep with the family. The husband and kids follow her as ducks would.

As I said, the practice of taking child brides is a nasty thing to do. The fellow was tried and convicted here in town. He had as many as 80 "wives". How did they live? Quite well actually. Their homes are simple and very clean and nice. All maintained internally. They are all very succesful and self supportive.

Factually, when the ranch was raided and all of the children taken into custody temporarily, it took more than 4 surrounding counties and all available funds and charities to provide for the children. This is the only time that they ever have taken public funds that were not earned. Also, to some amusement by locals, the parents had provided for these youngsters quite well for their entire lives and the counties were over taxed (overwhelmed)! The education level was far beyond public school level, their health was incredible and their manners astounding - even in a very strange, most foreign environ. The children were very capable of tasking in both an educational and home setting.

Still, the "child bride" thing is sickening. The young boys of the group are not "kicked out" of this group but rather "farmed out" to work. They got huge paying government contracts and worked there. You see, the fellows are not allowed to marry Unless They Can Support A Family. Please do your own research. Goodness knows there are lots of pages on this recently. Most of it horrific.

Now - we also have a regular Mormon center here in town. Have to say - pretty close. Though they do not live in a compound or ranch, they wear "normal" clothing, eat "regular" food and wear white shirts and black pants and ride bikes. They store food for a one year time so that they are always one year prepared. They do wear some special things, but not that you would notice. The kids and homes are quite simple and clean. They also do not accept welfare, foodstamps nor any other such assistance. How do I know? Not only were they part of my ecumenical studies group, but a former employer let me into his family life. It was very interesting to see the values they not only believed, but did follow. I enjoyed getting to know them. Mind you again - the "normal" Mormons here do not practice polygamy, just a study in the difference between the ones in the news and the ones we are accustomed to seeing.

Merely an observance ya see?

I do believe that if the men were to only wed adults, this would be a very healthy society within their personal belief system. (imho - from first hand observation and first hand anecdotal stories).

 

[Grummer]

heavy...

 

[LDNanna]

heavy...

mannnnn....

(long, soft breath blowing out)

 

[Jazzberry]

Check out the wiki references at the end of the article on Mormon lost boys at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_boys_(Mormon_fundamentalism)


Because polygamy isn’t currently a “hot” topic in the mass media at the moment it was harder to find citations for polygamists financing their lifestyle through medicaid, foodstamps and welfare. However, this website has them:

Government money and public funds pay for polygamy

Looking at the home page this is obviously not a neutral source, but they ARE providing citations from neutral sources.

 

[LDNanna]

First, I discount wiki.

Second, I was only speaking of the local fellas. I cannot possibly know about all the various groups.

Lastly, thanks for the links. Interesting albeit a bit old.

BTW, do these pics remind you of being in an eternal episode of Little House on the Prairie or what??

YFZ Ranch: a year later : San Angelo Photo Galleries : Standard-Times: Local San Angelo, Texas News Delivered Throughout the Day.

Please note the similarities of high forehead, red gold hair and cheek structure. This is what happens when you have closed polygamistic sects. There are no conversions, you must be born into this sect.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

In happened historically in the world, and the Bible recorded that. God never approved of polygamy.

Yes, he did.