Time for social philosophy - polygamy
 

Polygamy is illegal in the U.S., and in most countries. Should it be?

Nope.

I see absolutely no reason why consenting adults shouldn't be able to marry as many other consenting adults as they wish. I think religiously defined marriage (generally, 1 man + 1 woman) should be separated from civilly sanctioned unions with all the legalities that go along with them. As long as it's adults involved, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to do what they want with their bodies and their hearts. As far as kids are concerned, polygamy couldn't possibly complicate child custody cases any more than today's "blended" families. Property/inheritance issues could be solved with a good will. I think it's deeply hypocritical for the government to recognize civil (but not religious) marriages (i.e., someone who was married by a justice of the peace, not a religious official) for (presumably) monogamous heterosexuals, but not offer civil unions to "nontraditional" couples/threesomes/foursomes/etc.

No. I believe that people inherently have a right to make choices that effect only themeselves, and do not infringe on others. I do believe that polygamy is a very tricky situation. Very few people have the tempermant to enter into this type of relationship succesfuly, wether through nurturment or nature, I don't know. But if three or more consenting adults want to enter into a relationship, I don't feel that anyone has a right to say no to them.

No as long as the people are adults.

In the case of Tom Green, one of his wives was a 14 year old girl.

As I think marriage is a big mistake - why compound it?
While I live in a non-traditional home I don't have any interest in campaigning for legal status or recognition for the way we3 live.

I feel this way about all the groups who are looking for legal status so they can become officially "married". I just don't see anything except the negative aspects of what marriage does to relationships.

Nope.

Everyone as an adult has to make choices and marriage is a institutional choice written by the instititions(churches..etc..) and recognized by law of the land as legally binding.

If you choose to get married one must live by the rules (you) chose or have chosen; by that institution. The church.

the church says marriage is, for now anyways, a union between one man and one woman.

There can always be a union ceremony between 3 or more people and legal contracts written up that mimic "a Marriage".

But the real question is for me at least is, when 3 or more people are exclusively, and intimately involved, isn't that a union. And a marriage. Marriage is a institutional mindset of commitment to those involved to one another, whatever the dynamics might be. trust, faith, communication, love till death do you part, can be institutional on not, chosen by those involved in the relationship.

I see no real reason against it in a social aspect.

However, there are many legal consequences to marriage,
this would be difficult to transcend.

But sooner or later, the law would catch up to the reality.

What's the point of marriage in the first place? All it does is serve as a gesture, a legalization of emotional attachment.

One question... what are the legal terms set to civil union?

Nope.

You should be able to join into as many civil unions as you wish, if both parties are past the age of concent. Religious unions, on the other hand, are totally the responsability of churches and they should be able to decide their own policy. The only issues I could see are maybe taxation problems, but that could easily be fixed.

I intend to get married, but only because it simplifies things legally. I personally don't think that a couple (or more) should have to ask someone else's permission to be together for the rest of their lives. Lets say I meet someone and really love that person and I live with her and have children with her and we stay together for the rest of our lives. Who has the right to say we aren't married? It should be a legal status at all. We don't have to register ourselves as single, why do we have to register marriage? Because it gave churches power and money, and now governments the same thing.

Edit: If people can actually stand to share their husband or wife, I say let them do it.

if the people actually wanted to, they should be allowed to

Why is polygamy always reserved for men to have more than one wife? It's not like he gets to do both of them at the same time....and who wants to buy two rings, two dozen rozes, and two boxes of maxi uber obsorbent pads with wings? For once i want to see women with multiple husbands, and not just for religion, for pure sexual gratification...finger cuffs and all! Well I guess then why not have whole group marriages? I think I have the start of something...a new reltion or cult...Swingology perhaps...

Isn't that the pont of polygamy, to have lots of sex partners? :D

sometimes three people just love each other...

Should definatly be legal. While marriage does have "religious" implications, these days it is more of a legal thing than a religious thing. "Being together" and being married are far from the same thing. Many institutions offer benefits to being marred that single people "together" just dont get (IE look at taxes, military pay, ect). Consenting adults should be able to do what ever they want to do with each other, and if 3 people truly love each other enough to get married, then they should be able to.