The legal age of marriage is puberty. Webster’s Dictionary states childhood is the “state or time of being a child; state or time from birth or infancy to puberty or maturity.”
Webster’s definition of puberty is “the age when one becomes capable to bear children, which is marked by maturing of the reproductive organs, with the onset of menstruation in the female; the period at which sexual maturity is reached.”
The Bible says this as well. God’s Word, the Bible, never condemns a man for having more than one wife!
When we talked about the case of Warren Jeffs, I became convinced that he and his men were hiding behind their so-called religious beliefs in order to justify lustful abuse of women and young girls. To me, Tony Alamo seems to be even worse.
What's your opinion? Do you believe that in 21st century America, a man can be sincere in claiming that the proper age for marrying in young girls is the onset of menstruation? Do you think this is something the government should stay out of?
What about polygamy in general? Is there a place for that in society? Does it always have to involve underage girls? Can it sometimes be among consenting adults?
What do you think? Please leave a comment.
It's interesting that nobody talks about this issue, yet the 'gun' posts are clogged with shouting idiots on both sides of the argument...
ReplyDeleteMike, your question was
"Do you believe that in 21st century America, a man can be sincere in claiming that the proper age for marrying in young girls is the onset of menstruation?"
Yes, they can certainly be sincere, just as an anti-semite can be sincere in its belief that Jews are evil. Just because somebody believes in something we now hold to be wrong by near-universal consensus doesn't mean they are disingenuous or have evil ulterior motives.
I'm all for throwing the book at these guys, although I would have preferred it if the kids they abused had killed them in self-defense. Just don't claim that they are evil liars simply because they don't agree with you, me, reality, and the state. You make that mistake in some of your posts and comments on other issues.
"Just don't claim that they are evil liars simply because they don't agree with you, me, reality, and the state. You make that mistake in some of your posts and comments on other issues."
ReplyDeleteI don't know if that's true, but I'll keep an eye on it.
In the case of the polygamists marrying a 12-year-olds and calling it god's work, I think it's unlikely that men like that are unaware of the wrongdoing. It seems to me in these cases it's lust and power that's corrupted these people.
What about polygamy in general? Is there a place for that in society? Does it always have to involve underage girls? Can it sometimes be among consenting adults?
ReplyDeleteOf course there's a place for it. I may not agree with it, but others are free to live life as they see fit (within the confines of our legal system of course)
I'm sure if often does involve consenting adults. I think that the instances we hear of are the ones where underage girls are involved, due to the moral, (and more importantly legal issues) involved in such cases.
I think it's unlikely that men like that are unaware of the wrongdoing.
Not from a legal standpoint. They know damn well it's illegal and they choose to hide behind religion and do it anyway.