Women with de facto relationships, have played into the hands of males.

*Redefine marriage and you'll encourage polygamist agendas.*

Well, for one thing I have no problem with people wanting to live in polygamous marriages. It isn't any of my business. It isn't any of Jim Wallace's business either - the same Jim Wallace who says church schools should expel homosexual students, BTW.

It isn't any of the author's business either.

If it involves underage girls, then it's already criminal offense, so that's taken care of.

And as far as the "cults" are concerned they generally have their own notions of marriage, conduct the ceremonies themselves, and if the bride is underage they can't register the marriage anyway, and nothing is going to change any of that until an insider complains about it.

After watching a couple of seasons of Big Love I've decided polygamy wouldn't suit me. But I can imagine human beings with very generous natures who could make it work.

I don't see why its opponents, who can only see the dark side of it, should be getting themselves frothed up about it - nobody's going to make you do it, Ben. And if you're worried about bad things happening to women and children, have a look at the domestic violence and sexual abuse stats in heterosexual monogamous relationships. They are real, happening as we speak, and not somewhere in a threatening polygamous future.

There are a number of assertions made here which warrent some questioning.
- "boys raised by single mothers are filling up our jails, and dominating street gangs." - is that a fact, if so some credible research please. It's also worth noting that more active parents does not necessarily have the same side effects as having a single active parent.
- "I wonder too how many gang male members from polygamous backgrounds have grown up with many mothers and one father, meaning that they've received less dad-and-son time investments too." Again there are a whole bunch of factors at play including cultural values which are likely to cause a disconnect from the broader community. Is there any evidence that children raised in polygamous backgrounds are represented in gangs than children from the same cultural background but with two parents?
- "the Australian Christian Lobby is right to stand up for what was and is the best time-honored environment for raising children" Is there any evidence to support the claim that it's the best?

I'm not aware of societies where plural marriages have been common where there is not also a strong religious element to that society. Trying to judge how women are treated in plural marriages whilst ignoring the other issues associated with those societies is less than convincing.

I suspect that many of the concerns about plural marriage really are a reflection of other issues which have often been part of the mix.

Some solid evidence that all other things being equal plural marriages does more harm to non-consenting participants than conventional marriage is needed to give the argument weight. I've not seen any sign of that so far.

R0bert

De facto is convenience, Marriage is a commitment, Polligamy is for muslims. Shacking up is an excuse. Try it before you bye it. Easy come easy go. whatever floats your boat.

Briar rose,
"domestic violence and sexual abuse stats in heterosexual monogamous relationships"

What type of heterosexual monogamous relationships are you referring to?

Or, what is the most likely type of heterosexual monogamous relationship that domestic violence and sexual abuse would occur?

Also, if there is a family type that often results in the taxpayer having to fund that family type, then would this becomes the taxpayer's business.

BPT

I think you're flogging a dead horse here. For good or ill lifestyles have changed. Many babies are born without the parents being married at all. For such babies a polygamous relationship for their mothers might actually be an improvement!

Many people are serial polygamists - they're only married to one partner at a time!

I'm afraid our lives do not conform to what has long been the Judaeo-Christian model. Nor do they conform to the Muslim or Mormon model. Probably they never conformed to these models ever but we were less open about it.

Do I think children do best when they are brought up by two parents who love them.

Yes I do. And there's a lot of evidence to support that.

But can I impose that model on someone else's life?

Attempts to regulate people's sex lives have always failed.

It is what it is BPT.

It may not be perfect. It may be sub-optimal for the children. But you probably cannot change it.