| Polygamy is not something new to the world and | | | | eternal salvation. Democracy came in to the |
| it is not something that is restricted to just the | | | | Mormon church when the United States |
| Mormons being purportedly in involved in this. It is | | | | government separated Church and State which |
| believed that Jews, Muslims and Christians many | | | | took place after the death of Brigham Young. |
| centuries ago all practiced polygamy. In Greece it | | | | One of these elements had to give up which was |
| was classed as being a form of concubines. For | | | | polygamy. Then at this time is when there was a |
| men in Macedonia this was an acceptable practice | | | | separation into two groups of the Latter-Day |
| to ensure there would be a male heir. This was | | | | Saints Church and what became known as the |
| most common to be found in royalty. In Greece | | | | Mormon fundamentalists |
| homosexuality was acceptable as well as | | | | The three stands up the Mormon fundamentalists |
| polygamy. So the point of being is that this is not | | | | on polygamy, patriarchy, and organized religion is |
| new to one religious sect or new to the world | | | | ironic to realize that any of these in regards to a |
| and it is something that has been widespread for | | | | democracy system can exist on its own. If the |
| centuries. | | | | three are combined together then it becomes |
| It was actually the Roman empire that introduced | | | | against democracy. Ironically this can be quite |
| the concept of having only one wife in a | | | | widespread in the United States because of the |
| relationship which was adopted readily by | | | | freedom of the individual. This is even more |
| Christianity itself. It then became a religious issue | | | | evident when one takes a look at slavery |
| once these trends started to change from the | | | | because when one is free it gives the ability to |
| practice of polygamy and adultery became a | | | | the individual to enslave someone else |
| factor. Unfortunately this new concept of | | | | It can become quite a controversy when the |
| monogamy led to some really barbaric acts such | | | | Constitution of the United States allows the |
| as that of Anne Boylen. | | | | freedom of religion and to be able to express it. It |
| Most likely in today's modern age polygamy would | | | | can become quite a complex law where there is |
| be considered as a form of open or free love in | | | | case law where people have been indicted. For |
| fact one could say that polygamy in its true | | | | example the Reynolds case which challenged the |
| sense is in its tribal form | | | | bigamy act. This came down to a controversy |
| Of course this is looked upon different when it | | | | between what did the first amendment protect |
| comes to the Mormon fundamentalist. To get a | | | | which in this case was supposedly the rights and |
| bigger understanding of this one would have to go | | | | beliefs of opinion pitted against the rights of |
| back to 1852 where the Mormons themselves | | | | conduct. It came down to the controversy raising |
| practice polygamy but at that time it was out of | | | | the fact that the comparison could be made that |
| the United States in the territory of Utah. | | | | even though polygamy was at one time part of a |
| At this time not only was the Brigham Young the | | | | religion so was human sacrifice so it opens the |
| governor of the territory but was also president | | | | door again to basically where is the line drawn. |
| of the Mormon church. It was the stance of the | | | | There is no doubt that the Mormon |
| church at that time that polygamy was a very | | | | fundamentalist is not going to readily give up what |
| important establishment of the religion itself so | | | | they are standing for in order to demand |
| that it was something that was necessary for | | | | democracy. |