An Open Marriage

[Meowzltov]

Do you know if there are any statistics on these kinds of divorces?

I'm not aware of any such statistics. In cultures where polygamy exists, the norms are that the wives are economically tied to the marriages and are not so free to leave. There are also in some cases religious shunning reasons why women can't divorce as in the case of the FLDS. Because polygamous divorces are hard on women, such women don't usually divorce. That would not be the case in our own culture, where women work full time and are highly autonomous, and where divorce holds no stigma.

 

[Meowzltov]

If it's morally not problematic

I don't think there's a moral problem with polygamy. I just think it's a dumb choice.

 

[Mister_Al]

How do people really decide what is moral and what is not. People can only say 'well I don't see a problem with doing something if it feels good.' That's why this debate is so useless, everybody is trying to debate their opinions without having any authoritative bases for their opinions--except for the dictionary which is very weak.

In order to discuss morality you have to have a standard that can't be refuted, like the Holy Bible. People as well as nations have used the word of God as a basis for governing for thousands of years yet we censure any reference to it in this discussion. If the argument for having an open marriage is so great then why are we not debating it in the light of God's word. Are you afraid it can't stand on its own merits if we judge it righteously?

God is the one that created marriage, He ordained marriage, and it is by Him that people become married. If God doesn't join you together you aren't married no matter what you think and to leave Him out of a discussion like this is just plain cowardly.

Alan

 

[quatona]

How do people really decide what is moral and what is not. People can only say 'well I don't see a problem with doing something if it feels good.' That's why this debate is so useless, everybody is trying to debate their opinions without having any authoritative bases for their opinions--except for the dictionary which is very weak.

Yes - unless we first establish a common ground for the relevant criteria there´s not much use in arguing whether they are met or not.

In order to discuss morality you have to have a standard that can't be refuted, like the Holy Bible.

No. In order to discuss morality you need a minimum of common ground - not a book that only a part of the persons discussing have declared authoritative.

People as well as nations have used the word of God as a basis for governing for thousands of years yet we censure any reference to it in this discussion.

I´m always wondering how people get the idea that the bible supports the idea of marriage as it was commonly held in those 1950s that they apparently deem the era of top notch morality.
If it were for the bible, we would beat our slaves half dead, we would stone people, we would be violent against our children, we´d consider our wifes property etc.etc.

If the argument for having an open marriage is so great then why are we not debating it in the light of God's word.

Because the idea that a God exist is not common ground (even less that its the god as depicted in the bible).

God is the one that created marriage, He ordained marriage, and it is by Him that people become married. If God doesn't join you together you aren't married no matter what you think and to leave Him out of a discussion like this is just plain cowardly.

Don´t let´s rash things. Let´s first establish that a God exists. Next, which God it is. Next, what God actually thinks.
Then we might start thinking about how to figure all this into our discussions.

 

[Mister_Al]

Don´t let´s rash things. Let´s first establish that a God exists. Next, which God it is. Next, what God actually thinks.
Then we might start thinking about how to figure all this into our discussions.

True, the first thing to do is to admit that there is actually someone that is higher evolved than mere humans and that we are not the ones running the show after all. Then we can discuss the possibility that this Higher evolved being (God) might actually be intelligent enough to make decisions of a moral nature.

Alan

 

[quatona]

True, the first thing to do is to admit that there is actually someone that is higher evolved than mere humans and that we are not the ones running the show after all. Then we can discuss the possibility that this Higher evolved being (God) might actually be intelligent enough to make decisions of a moral nature.

Alan

...but unfortunately the General Apologetics forum was shut down some years ago.

 

[Meowzltov]

In order to discuss morality you have to have a standard that can't be refuted, like the Holy Bible.

But honestly, people refute whether the Bible is a moral standard. Even people who use the Bible as a moral standard pick and choose which parts they use, i.e. is it moral to have sex when a woman is mensturating? is it moral to wear clothing that is both of linen and cotton? is it moral to turn on your stove on saturday? is it moral for a woman to teach a man?