Polygamy & Polyamory on CNN @ Atlanta Pride Parade

[JustAGuy]

"We're not trying to say that monogamy is bad," said Billy Holder, a 36-year-old carpenter who works at a university in Atlanta. "We're trying to promote the fact that everyone has a right to develop a relationship structure that works for them. ...[Poly] is like having a regular, monogamous relationship but having more than one of them." That's why they're coming out, he said -- to change the status quo. And yet, their willingness to speak with CNN over the past 18 months came with conditions, such as the request to not name their employers. http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/26/living/re ... index.html

It's a very long article. My thoughts:

• I like it they're bold and organized and handing out flyer's from a parade float (http://instagram.com/p/faqAOosEra/) with banners (http://instagram.com/p/fahq9esEr_/)
• It's good CNN is shaping their request/plight in familiar terms and challenges as talked about here.
• There's a positive spin on the definition of "polyamory" (scroll way down the article and see definitions on the left boarder) and negative spin on the definition of "polygamy."

Thanks, JAG

 

[FollowingHim]

There's a positive spin on the definition of "polyamory" (scroll way down the article and see definitions on the left boarder) and negative spin on the definition of "polygamy."

This is to be expected. Satan, and therefore the world, doesn't actually care about polygamy vs monogamy. What He really is worried about is patriarchy. Marriage illustrates and parallels the relationship between the believer and Christ, and that is a hierarchical relationship. He's the boss. Satan doesn't want us obeying Christ, so he doesn't want women obeying their husbands either.

When you say "polygamy", what comes to mind for most people is actually patriarchal polygyny. They imagine something hierarchical. While polyamory makes them think of something not hierarchical, and therefore not illustrative of Christianity. Nothing to do with the actual definitions of the words, all about perception. So polygamy is given a negative spin and polyamory a positive one.

The same goes for the portrayal of patriarchal monogamy (which also reflects our relationship with Christ) vs feminist monogamy in the media. Same spin, same reason.

 

[JustAGuy]

Gosh, well said. Now can we put a more positive spin on the Biblical Families model? Like the BF flier at link here does so well. Like instead of accentuating the submission side, trumpet how this family model gives each participant more freedom of choice. (Of course we know the freedom comes from submitting, but non-Christians don't understand that, and can't - until Jesus does a number on their hearts).

How can we get the green light to marry how the Bible says (from either the USA government or the Christian church-at-large) until we get a better (or at least fair) image in the court of public opinion?

I like these guys in the parade because they're working to change the culture. Maybe like Paul did w/heathen Greeks, meeting them at the Mars Hill Parade in Acts 17.

 

[steve]

sadly, I think that changing the culture will result in destroying what little culture we have without replacing it with anything outside of lawlessness.