Interesting article. I read in The Economist, of all places, that polygamists, though authorities turn a blind eye in the dedicated Mormon areas, will find it hard to overturn the legislation ruling against it. They made the point that there’s, currently, only 10,000 or so practising polygamists in the U.S. Thus, without the millions’ of peoples’ support that homosexuals (ie: the most obvious other taboo-breaking legislative sexual activity) could rally towards, they’re gonna have a darned hard time if they want to marry a few people at once.
Personally, I find polygamy absolutely repulsive. I mean, actually, seriously, vomit-inducing. Let alone the time and effort involved in maintaining a genuinely loving relationship with anyone, to couple that with pride and jealousy issues… eeesch.
To be honest Dennis, I was speaking more from the basic ideas of what love is – I believe it’s something that, if special and done right, is exclusive. Probably why I believe in a monotheistic religion (or… a ‘tripartite monotheistic’ one, depending on who you talk to, and what their views on the Trinity are)
To miss that exclusive sense of love is to miss the acres of trust that someone can have built up over decades of well-earned decision-making as a team. The idea that we can take the best bits from what we like, whenever we like (or that a polygamist can flit between households when it suits) does not appeal. Nor does promiscuity for that matter. But before we play the ‘my pet hate sexual sin is better than your pet hate sexual sin because of this verse from Paul which says…’ game further, it would be pertinent to add that church-hopping is as silly as polygamy – in my mind. And that cutthroat business deals where firms ditch ties with longstanding clients to chase an easier buck is equally wrong. Just as, probably I am silly for having lived in three rental properties in as many months now. Just as I am ridiculous for having three, equally beloved, seperate groups of friends.
So I dunno. Maybe it’s just the idea that polygamy represents, at a very obvious, base, primal and in-your-face level, the things I fear about myself that might go the most out of control if let loose. Perhaps others see homosexuality as a force to be reckoned with, because it represents an enormous “what if?” to the established norm, in a more obvious and visual way than the person who thinks that they might choose a different type of milk than their parents used to buy.
thanks Dan………we have just been reading about Abraham and his tendecy to have concubines which was never endorsed as such in scripture however neither was it detested as an abomination etc I was just musing. I think the covenental promise was passed via ‘main’ wife rather than the concubine. I agree re your thoughts on polygamy particuarlly demeaning to woman I would have thought!
Agreed, but demeaning to the man’s sincerity in love I think too. I love women so much that one is enough for a lifetime for me I think. If you need more than that, then there’s nothing wrong with the women – it’s surely the man’s fault in his idealogy.
Interesting article. I read in The Economist, of all places, that polygamists, though authorities turn a blind eye in the dedicated Mormon areas, will find it hard to overturn the legislation ruling against it. They made the point that there’s, currently, only 10,000 or so practising polygamists in the U.S. Thus, without the millions’ of peoples’ support that homosexuals (ie: the most obvious other taboo-breaking legislative sexual activity) could rally towards, they’re gonna have a darned hard time if they want to marry a few people at once.
Personally, I find polygamy absolutely repulsive. I mean, actually, seriously, vomit-inducing. Let alone the time and effort involved in maintaining a genuinely loving relationship with anyone, to couple that with pride and jealousy issues… eeesch.
Dan does your second paragraph also apply to the homosexual persuasion?
Why do you ask, Dad?
To be honest Dennis, I was speaking more from the basic ideas of what love is – I believe it’s something that, if special and done right, is exclusive. Probably why I believe in a monotheistic religion (or… a ‘tripartite monotheistic’ one, depending on who you talk to, and what their views on the Trinity are)
To miss that exclusive sense of love is to miss the acres of trust that someone can have built up over decades of well-earned decision-making as a team. The idea that we can take the best bits from what we like, whenever we like (or that a polygamist can flit between households when it suits) does not appeal. Nor does promiscuity for that matter. But before we play the ‘my pet hate sexual sin is better than your pet hate sexual sin because of this verse from Paul which says…’ game further, it would be pertinent to add that church-hopping is as silly as polygamy – in my mind. And that cutthroat business deals where firms ditch ties with longstanding clients to chase an easier buck is equally wrong. Just as, probably I am silly for having lived in three rental properties in as many months now. Just as I am ridiculous for having three, equally beloved, seperate groups of friends.
So I dunno. Maybe it’s just the idea that polygamy represents, at a very obvious, base, primal and in-your-face level, the things I fear about myself that might go the most out of control if let loose. Perhaps others see homosexuality as a force to be reckoned with, because it represents an enormous “what if?” to the established norm, in a more obvious and visual way than the person who thinks that they might choose a different type of milk than their parents used to buy.
thanks Dan………we have just been reading about Abraham and his tendecy to have concubines which was never endorsed as such in scripture however neither was it detested as an abomination etc I was just musing. I think the covenental promise was passed via ‘main’ wife rather than the concubine. I agree re your thoughts on polygamy particuarlly demeaning to woman I would have thought!
Agreed, but demeaning to the man’s sincerity in love I think too. I love women so much that one is enough for a lifetime for me I think. If you need more than that, then there’s nothing wrong with the women – it’s surely the man’s fault in his idealogy.