The child abusing polygamist legacy of Joseph Smith continues

[Kishkumen]

The biggest issue I have is that without Joseph Smith, there would be no American polygamy, and thus none of the abuses around it that we continue to see, 100+ years later. The church can't explain why God commanded such a blight on society, especially when it was so short lived. Nothing of value was gained, and a torrent of unnecessary capricious suffering was inflicted upon women and children and continues to be.

If you strike a match at a gas station, however small the flame is, you're responsible for the damage done when the fire explodes out of control.

I imagine you are aware of the existence of non-Mormon Christian polygamists?

[Everybody Wang Chung]

The legacy of Joseph Smith is the gift that keeps on giving. Misogyny, white supremacy, teen suicide, racism, domestic violence, homophobia, covering up sex abuse, dividing families, hoarding money, whitewashing its history, etc.

If Joseph was not just another sex cult leader, then why did he act just like every other sex cult leader? Attempted murder of Gov. Boggs, adultery with Fanny Alger and many others, Kirtland Safety Society, lying about polygamy, marrying other men's’ wives, and on and on.

Joseph Smith was arrested at least 42 times, for crimes ranging from bank fraud, conspiracy to murder, polygamy, and perjury, and was killed in a shootout with a mob while awaiting trial on a charge of treason.

[Kishkumen]

Gotta hand it to you. That meme is sheer genius.

[drumdude]

The biggest issue I have is that without Joseph Smith, there would be no American polygamy, and thus none of the abuses around it that we continue to see, 100+ years later. The church can't explain why God commanded such a blight on society, especially when it was so short lived. Nothing of value was gained, and a torrent of unnecessary capricious suffering was inflicted upon women and children and continues to be.

If you strike a match at a gas station, however small the flame is, you're responsible for the damage done when the fire explodes out of control.

I imagine you are aware of the existence of non-Mormon Christian polygamists?

If I was aware of it I wouldn’t have made the argument I did. What sects of Christianity practice polygamy in America?

The only other groups I can imagine who practice it in America are swingers (politely called polyamory) and Muslims.

[Kishkumen]

https://www.deseret.com/2008/2/28/20073 ... l-spouses/

[drumdude]

https://www.deseret.com/2008/2/28/20073 ... l-spouses/

You’re technically correct then, Kish. In 1994 an American polygamist group did indeed spring into existence:

Founder & Publisher
The Standard Bearer ™
Jul 1994 - Mar 1998 3 years 9 mos
This newspaper began on July 4,1994, and was distributed throughout Southern Maine. It laid down the rhetorical and biblical arguments that began the "Christian Polygamy" movement (i.e. non-Mormons). The growth of that movement catapulted Mark Henkel to the national stage (long before there were any TV shows about polygamy). For the first time in history, someone (i.e., Mark Henkel) could stand on the national stage to defend the free choice of unrelated consenting adult polygamy (UCAP) and not be dismissed by anti-polygamists as a Mormon, Muslim, liberal, or lascivious. As the published arguments from this newspaper spread, they were brought online to the new thing called the "internet." The TruthBearer.org organization was then formed online as people organized to fight for freedom. Eventually, this led to the overall National Polygamy Rights Movement for Consenting Adults for all forms of UCAPs. It all started with this newspaper from the '90s in Southern Maine.

Very interesting.

[Kishkumen]

Maybe the Bible is the real problem.

[drumdude]

Maybe the Bible is the real problem.

The way the Christians you found practice their polygamy doesn’t seem to be connected to child abuse, but I do appreciate your point Kish.

[Kishkumen]

The way the Christians you found practice their polygamy doesn’t seem to be connected to child abuse, but I do appreciate your point Kish.

At least child abuse of the type you have been discussing. I would doubt that no child abuse is taking place.

[I Have Questions]

Given that Smith married children as young as 14 years old, and other men's wives, and coerced families into giving up their young women with promises of eternal dynastic favour alongside threats of damnation if they didn't, I doubt that there wasn't any child abuse or other abuse types taking place.