Its what we "do" before and during the asking of those questions that bothers me. The same hard hitting questions could be asked of a lot of the countrys mainstream religous leaders. Why do you molest children? Where is the money? Ask that anywhere. Ask the Catholics. Ask the Baptists. But if we are going to use the same measuring stick - and we must if we call ourselves fair- do we raid and plunder the Vatican and THEN ask the questions?
People have and do ask those questions of others. Now, it's FLDS's turn.
Ah, but it is what they were reading that led to all of the "assuming". Governor Rick Perry's office was instructed to keep the media focused on the pregnant teens and the broken bones.
Where are they? We all know the state found zero. They gave all the kids back for a reason. The reason is they didnt have anything. Its interesting though that peoples mindset is (for some) still back at the starting gate instead of keeping pace with the Texas CPS web page where they "announced" that they have "successfully reunited the families." If they feel that their basis for the raid was valid why on earth would they call returning the children with nothing resolved, a "success?"
Well, finding those pictures of Warren Jeffs, the prohpet, with those 12 year-old girls, kissing him, looking at him with the greatest admiration-even worship, was a biggie for me, has definitely filled in some lines and colored my impressions, supporting much of what I had read and heard previously.
Apparently, the TX investigations are ongoing. Perhaps if the FLDS had been honest about who they were and why they were buying land in TX in the first place, local suspicions might not have been aroused. Perhapsm when CPS had come in, if women hadn't looked toward their husbands to answer how old they were, if birth certificates had been readily available, obtainable or verifyible, or if girls hadn't threatened to 'plead the 5th,' the CPS might not have been so alarmed. Who knows. From what I understand, the investigation is ongoing. I personally hope they don't find abuse. Perhaps, without openly admitting it, the FLDS has done some self-examination and soul-searching and has made some changes in the wake of recent history. Perhaps underage girls aren't being married and impregnated systemactically. That would certainly improve my opinion of this group. Those women, though, who went on TV.... Their image is going to be hard for me to shake. They seemed brainwashed, controlled, oppressed. They spoke in halting phrases with the same dull, flat, robotic voices. They seemed to be reading from a script. I still have nightmares about those women. But, oh well, most of them probably do want to be who they are where they are, at least at this point in their lives. Still, remembering those TV interviews continues to invokes a sadness in my heart that's hard to shake. It's bringin' tears to my eyes right now.
I certainly wouldnt want to live in that arrangement. But if you look at the Bible and call it adultery what do you do about the polygamy that God allowed?
As a Christian, I accept that the new testament superscedes the old see nothing commanding polygamy or even encouraging it--in fact quite the opposite.
So reason with me here....if polygamy was allowed by God....then does that mean that God put an arrangement in place that would harm women and children?
Yes, I think that polygamy in our society does harm women, children and society. How could one man with 60 wives possibly form close marital relationships, as God with Church, with all of them? Does God really approve of a man getting 'wives' as birthday presents when he's already got 20 more. I certainly hope he doesn't. What on earth does one man need with 100 wives? What can he truly give them? What kind of father can a man be when he has so many children he can't even remember all their names, or forgets who their mother is? Seems a lot like gluttony to me. And reason with me, if God makes as many boy babies as girl babies, does he really intend that 2/3rds-and-up of those boy babies will grow up without access to marriage and family? Regarding societies, in the ideal, isn't really better for the social system if men and women, given by God in approximately equal numbers, pair with one person into stable, serious, committed relationships for their own well being and for the raising of families so that there aren't legions of unattached young men prowling the communities, unconnected? I believe it is.
If polygamous ADULTS who are American citizens want to be in unions that are illegal under current law, then do you think that extends to gay people too?
I think marriage should be between one man and one woman, however I think gay marriage will very soon be allowed in our society by law.
