On 29 Jan 2008, at 01:57, Doug Pensinger wrote: > Dave wrote: > >> >> Yes, it's amazing how a practice of your Church of roughly 100 >> years ago >> which, by some accounts, was not all that widely practiced, and >> by no means _the_ defining characteristic of the Church) is all that >> most people seem to know about. To some extent, you can thank HBO's >> "Big >> Love", which, like most interest in Mormon Polygamy, seems to be >> based >> on the titillation factor, more than anything else. >> > > You don't think that polygamy was a major selling point when > attempting to > attract adherents? It's also notable that statehood was withheld > from Utah > long after it was eligible primarily _because_ of polygamy. Brigham > Young, > one of the most prominent figures in the LDS history, had 52 wives!!!
It's interesting that the USA with its supposed religious freedom suppressed LDS polygamy and also doesn't recognise Islamic polygamy although men having (up to) four wives is a part of the religion of 1.61 billion Muslims. Britain, which has established Christian church(es), does tacitly recognise polygamous Muslim marriages that took place in countries where such are permitted. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=POHBDAX2TRRLVQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2008/02/03/nbenefit103.xml "Husbands with multiple wives have been given the go-ahead to claim extra welfare benefits following a year-long Government review, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal. Even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognised formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal. The outcome will chiefly benefit Muslim men with more than one wife, as is permitted under Islamic law. Ministers estimate that up to a thousand polygamous partnerships exist in Britain, although they admit there is no exact record. The decision has been condemned by the Tories, who accused the Government of offering preferential treatment to a particular group, and of setting a precedent that would lead to demands for further changes in British law. New guidelines on income support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state: "Where there is a valid polygamous marriage the claimant and one spouse will be paid the couple rate ... The amount payable for each additional spouse is presently £33.65."" -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." ~Voltaire. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
