Polygamy As The Form Of Marriage example essay topic

Polygamy Polygamy is a common, well-buried secret that is often hard to leave and still exists throughout the country today. The Encyclopedia Americana defines polygamy as the form of marriage that permits a person to have more than one husband or wife (Encyclopedia Americana). It has been known to exist at various times in certain societies. Polygamy is more common that most people realize. In the Paper "Polygamy and Same Sex Marriage", David Chambers states "that in the history of the country, by far the most significant and widespread practice of polygamy occurred among the Mormons during the later half of the 19th century". the Mormons believe that plural marriage is biblical and approved of by God.

In the New Testament, it was never deemed to be immoral or even inferior in any way to monogamous onions. More Americans are practicing polygamy than one might think. Even more interesting, more than half of non industrialized societies still permits it. For both married men and women, sexual relationships outside of the marriage are regarded as deeply sinful. Polygamy is a way around this. It is not a sin to sleep with your wife.

It is understood that any Christian should not have more than one marriage registered with the state. Such actions would surely violate tax codes and many other legal situations. Many do believe, however, that all United States laws, which make registered plural marriage illegal, are unconstitutional and should be repealed. Carmen Thompson, former polygamist and author of "Memories of a Plural wife", wrote "that because plural marriage is against the law, those that still embrace it have, for decades, kept their practice well hidden".

According to Andrew Murr in his article", Secrets in the desert,"Utah banned polygamy as a precondition of statehood in 1890, but the practice of taking multiple wives has never disappeared (1)". Thompson wrote that there is an estimated 30,000 polygamists living in the states of Utah, and an equal number scattered around the rest of the United states (118). With so many involved in this lucid crime it is only a matter of time before those who are trying to stay hidden are exposed. Those popple who believe that offenders should be prosecuted are right, but that is still a challenge. Murr explained that "officials in Utah still believe polygamy belongs ina class with adultery: Regrettable, immoral, but difficult to prosecute (2)". Polygamy is difficult to prosecute because the men generally obtain marriage licenses for only their first wife.

Subsequent marriages are performed secretly, and the additional wives often present themselves to society as single women with children. When polygamy is being practiced in this manner it is done without breaking the law..