Equal marriage for all?

[Dawud]

Regarding equal marriage...

What of thruples (partners of 3: maybe of differing or same gender)?

If two men and a woman are happy to all have a relationship with eachother and wish to have this enshrined in law - must we punish one of them by continuing to stuck to the Christian model of marriage?

[The Grand Nudger]

Probably shouldn't - but I think, at least here, we'll have to get our shit together with the equality under law of just two people - before we add a third to the mix.

What christian model of marriage?
(this was an area that the church was generally content not to intrude upon until very recently, if you weren't aware. Perhaps it was just something they clung to as they lost all their power elsewhere)

[Zen Badger]

If consenting adults agree to engage in a group marriage then it is no ones concern but theirs.

[KichigaiNeko]

You really should seek psychiatric help mate.

You model (xtian) is no different than any of the abrahamic religions and has nil all to do with Equal marriage before the law that the LGBTQ community is advocating.

You want beastiality? go for islam. You want polygamy? Go for mormonism. These religions seem ok in the US for this type of behaviour. Here in Oz it is not that common.

[festive1]

I have no problems with plural marriages. However, all parties should be involved. By this I mean, if a man and woman are married, and the man wants to take a second wife, than his first wife should get a say, and be legally bound (married) to this second wife as well. None of this, "I'm a man, I can marry as many women as I want," (or vice versa) nonsense. Either all parties are for the plural marriage or it doesn't happen. Equal voices for equal partners.

[thesummerqueen]

Who gives a shit what other adults do as long as they're not hurting other people or unconsenting animals/children?

Marriage is a piece of paper that legally binds two people's finances together. The relationship itself is up to those two people. The words on the page don't have any magical meaning. If three people can keep a relationship together in a healthy manner, that's what counts. Especially since it's so easy these days to write out inheritance or test paternity.

I know several polyamorous couples down here in the local atheist group. Two of those couples consist of the most well-adjusted people I've ever met. Granted, this isn't polygamy, but they are certainly capable of being healthy outside this 50's-ish idea of the nuclear family.

[Zen Badger]

In fact, one could postulate 3 women and two men.

Or 5 men and 3 women and so on and so forth.

And this would also provide a better level for the family unit as the death or departure of a member would not be as injurious to the whole as it would be in a monogamous relationship.

[KichigaiNeko]

Have to agree Summer Queen. This "holyer than thou" ideal of marriage is nothing more than a social contract regarding financial status of the parties involved. As such it is beyond religion to interfere and should be recognised in secular law to achieve equality before said law.

[thesummerqueen]

I think people also fear that if this is allowed, there will be jealousy issues. There very well might be, but those happen in monogamous relationships too.

I can tell you - the slow introduction of gay marriage hasn't done fuck all to the monogamous, 'traditional' relationship I currently hold with my boyfriend, and the idea that some couples are fucking other couples ALSO hasn't made us want to go out and fuck other people. That's just how we are together. People just need to mind their own goddamn business instead of worrying about other people to mask the fact that they can't be successful in their own relationship.

[Dawud]

I think the thing is that there should be the protection of law there too?

What I meant by Christian view of marriage is really a monogamous relationship between a pair of opposite sex - the prevailing model in UK etc. There are differences in the 'Abrahamic faiths' if you know them intimately but they are really a side point and surely not relevant?

I think that it is more of a legal question - are thruples legally protected and should they be treated different with regards to marriage and is this not inequality? should our legal system penalise them?