The Story: “How does a polyamorous relationship between four people work?” by Jo Fidgen. August 18, 2013. BBC News Magazine Online
The Lead: “Polyamory is the practice of having simultaneous intimate relationships with more than one person at a time, with the knowledge and consent of all partners. The term entered the Oxford English Dictionary only in 2006, and such relationships are rare enough that Tom finds himself having to account for his personal situation time and time again.” . . .
“Perel sees polyamory as “the next frontier” – a way of avoiding having to choose between monotony and jealousy.” . . .
“Tom is cautiously optimistic that polyamory will become ‘average and everyday’.” . . .
“In the meantime, the four of them are planning an unofficial ceremony to mark their commitment to each other.” . . .
“They all agree managing a multi-partner relationship can be exhausting.”
Why It Matters: Follow the line of cultural logic. Remove the need for complimentarity and “marriage” can be whatever you want it to be. When man defines marriage to suit his or her own felt needs, on what logic do we limit formalizing sexual limitations of any kind, let alone determining those relationships to be, “marriage”?
Efforts to redefine marriage according to the felt needs of individual adults leave devastating consequences upon culture and the family. That is why it is essential that lawmakers look to an unchanging source from which to derive public policy. Now that marriage has been redefined, both here and abroad, coming up with valid reasons to avoid the formal, legal recognition of any relationship of multiple forms will prove exceedingly difficult.
Oh, and does the sequence sound familiar? “Next frontier,” a way of avoiding “monotony and jealously,” “average and everyday,” a commitment ceremony . . . Haven’t we heard this somewhere else?
Arguments for the continued expansion of marriage sounds a lot like Genesis 3:1, “Did God actually say . . .”? He did, and you can trust Him.
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