If America is a secular government, why are Islamic and Mormon polygamous marriages outlawed?

Question

According to Islam, Allah permits a man more than one wife. Yet American law interferes in this religious belief and makes such marriages against the law.

The original Mormon religious beliefs (still practiced today) permitted a man to have more than one wife, but American law interferes in this religious belief as well.

Why does the American government interfere in the religious beliefs of these two religions, if the American government is not supposed to interfere in religion?

How is this not an example of a traditional christian majority writing traditional christian laws to oppress and persecute two religions?

Answer 1

That is how I have always seen it.

Our you could just look on it as Mercy toward any guy stupid enough to think that this sounded like a good idea.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

Our founding father's set forth laws through our constitution to follow based on Christianity. America accepts all races, religions, freedom of all, however, morally, by the basic principles laid down, the law does not permit a man to have more than one wife, even if it is practiced today, it is against the law, and does not permit anyone, man or woman to be oppressed through their god given right as a citizen of the United States. Our laws have been around for more than 200 years and have done well by us in spite of people trying to change the way people think and live. If you want more than one wife, go to a country that allows such practice. If you don't like the laws here, given they have been around for a very long time, there is plenty of space in this world to live elsewhere.

Answer 3

A new multilingual Islamic web site has been established.

www.islamic-invitation.com

Please visit the site and download the books that you need to know the truth about Islam.

May Allah guide the right path.

Web Master: www.islamic-invitation.com

Sister: Maryam ( Mary ) Smith van Eijden

Answer 4

I think that any man should be able to marry a second wife, if the first wife is amenable, if he can afford it, if he treats his wives with love and respect, etc. This is how it is supposed to be in the LDS church, IF we were still practicing plural marriage.

I would have much more respect for a man like this, than any man who has a wife, and a mistress or two or three (i.e. Slick Willie).

Answer 5

Secular government does not means that government should refrain from restricting certain religious practices such as ritual human sacrifices as they often conflict with others rights. Other religious practices prohibted are slavery, corporal and capital punishment ofr heretical beliefs.

So you are perhaps harping on one point that you take out of context regardless of validity.

If you would of phrased your question differently it would of been more appropriate as there often is intrusions into people's lives, and polgamy may be one of them which should be regulated and licenced in the least so as to prohibit abuse. In many cultures there are forced arranged marriages of minors also which should be strongly punished.

Answer 6

As a secularist, I would never be in favor of plural marriage because Islamic and Mormon plural marriages are designed to make the women subordinate to the one man. Plural marriage is untenable in a modern progressive society because it could never be an "equal" marriage for all parties involved. I have no problem with a group of poly amorous people who want to live together and call themselves married or whatever, if that is their free will. But the concept of free will is removed in these religiously coerced/forced plural marriages.

To me, it's more about human rights than religious freedom.

Answer 7

Yes, this country was built upon christian belief. Church and state are separate. The laws may not allow polygamy, but they also don't allow christian prayer in schools, homosexual marriage, christian pastors are not allowed to speak politically in their churches, ten commandments removed from public buildings......If one seeks polygamy then they need to move to a country that allows it. I don't think that because one man can't marry twenty women in the US makes those people persecuted. Take a look at persecution around the world because of religion.

Answer 8

I have always assumed that polygamy was outlawed due to inhertiance laws and spousal support laws. Who has the right to inherit stuff when the dad dies if there is more than one wife and tons of kids - that would legally be very sticky.
Also, in Mormonish and Islam it is ok to marry and have sex with a minor (under 18). That is not o.k. to most Americans becasue the girl is a child and should be able to agree to the marriage.
just my opinion.

Answer 9

firstly, i disagree with marriage itself because of the fact it is an unwarranted legal intrusion into what could desire to be a private, emotional count between 2 human beings. this could be utilized to gay marriage too, yet that could desire to point the regulation could desire to be silent on the subject of marriage, hetero or gay. i don't have a topic with long-term gay relationships, and that i see it as mere hazard that i'm in a protracted-term heterosexual one. even regardless of the undeniable fact that, i will think of of a reason to criticise gay marriage with infants, it is that the expertise of a organic and organic relationship between the two human beings and their infants facilitates an extension of the affection between them to the infants, so it spreads passionate love in an exceedingly visceral way. even regardless of the undeniable fact that, the nurturing relationship between person and newborn could additionally be pursued as a shared inventive venture that expresses love and create a similar hyperlink. i comprehend a lesbian and gay guy who had a newborn mutually and desperate it may be ideal to stay mutually with a view to improve her maximum meaningfully, and that they stumbled on they have been drawn mutually emotionally by potential of the adventure. If this occurred between a organic and organic verify interior of a relationship and yet another outdoors it, jealousy could improve and injury the youngster's upbringing. even regardless of the undeniable fact that, it extremely relies on the assumption of monogamous relationships being a extra robust way of stating infants than "an entire village" because of the fact the saying has it. consequently, i could say the ideal path of action could be no longer precisely to outlaw it, yet to do away with any legal popularity of marital status completely.

Answer 10

I would rather live in America, a country that allows all religions to exist, than in a country where it is forbidden to be anything other than a Muslim.
By the way, Orion, I hope you have a very nice day today. :o)