Marriage, Morality & Legislation

I suspect that much of the confusion about polygamy begins first with marriage itself. The once legally binding business contract of marriage has become synonymous with morality. Marriage and morality is a classic case of religion working its way back into the government. 

Our founding fathers were adamant about the separation of church and state. They put their lives, reputations and livelihood on the line to maintain that separation. Many were not Christian men as many Americans have come to believe. They were Universalists who saw a much bigger picture of the energy many call God.  They were not atheists but were also not sworn to any religion. As with many politicians today they sat in churches out of the expectations of those around them, but their minds were not limited to one particular faith or set of beliefs. They had seen the unrelenting control that religion played in the old world and wanted their new country to be free from that control. 

Unfortunately religion has worked its way back into government and we willingly allow it. We give away our unalienable rights back to the government when we ask for legislation that controls our moral behavior. We give away our freedoms when we ask the government to make choices for us based upon religious beliefs. Out of our own disability to take responsibility for our individual morality we ask our government to take responsibility for us. In this lack of personal responsibility we give up the freedoms upon which our country was founded.

Morality is an individual choice based on personal beliefs. It cannot be dictated or controlled by government and rightfully should not be enforced upon the masses based on the desires of the few. When we are each living in our own inner truth and in the energy of real and genuine love, morality is not an issue. The government was never intended to control the expression of love. It is only when the appearance of love is grounded in fear and control that we find ourselves in the query of how to protect those who are under its control.

Because the history of polygamy is based in fear and control the conditions within polygamist relationships are prime for abuse. The question with legislation with regard to polygamy is not, nor should it be about morality, but about the protection of those who become victims to its abuses.