Atheists and theists: Should polygamous marriage become legal?
Well, let’s define 2 similar terms with very different meanings. Polygamy typically implies a harem of some variety, usually religiously motivated, and in which the women usually have no freedom. No, I don’t think that should be legal. Polyamory, on the other hand, is a term applied to relationships which include more than 2 people. In most of these relationships, partners can be any mix of male and female and all are treated with honesty and equality (ideally). And yes, I do believe that should be legal. I don’t think the government has any right to control love in any form it may take assuming no one is being harmed or denied their rights, nor should they tell some people they can express their love in a certain way, and others that they can’t. However, polygamy is a dangerous model that hinges on inequality and sexual slavery. So I would not support it. I would support polyamory instead.
I think its difficult to say. I believe that if all members of the relationship are mutually consenting, then yes. However, I don’t believe it should be “one man and his many wives”, but rather- more like polyamorous relationships, where each person in the relationship loves everyone else equally (yes, believe it or not, humans are not limited to just one romantic relationship). The thing for me here is this: In any marriage, all members must of the age of majority (over 18 where I live) and with the ability to consent (so, all those anti-homosexuals who liken gay-marriage to beastiality- no…animals can’t consent, so no).
