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Originally Posted by ChristopherHall
Oh, I hear ya sis and I certainly would want actions taken.
But lets say a girl was born in this community and raised with their values and beliefs her entire life. She's been taught that its an honor and a step to womanhood to be married and have children. Their customs are deeply rooted in their religious teachings (errant of course) and they have a tendency to be counter cultural and resistant government authorities. They truly believe that their leader is a persecuted profit. They love their children and the children love their parents. When a girl is 13 she is often reminded that she might "become a woman" next year. In her culture that means higher social status within the community. She turns 14 and her parents arrange her marriage....is she excited about this or does she feel trapped? Maybe it depends on the girl and who the man is. But when she's married she receives higher social status and respect she wouldn't have received if she waited. If she doesn't marry by the time she's 25 she's regarded as rejected and viewed like something is wrong with her. She's now 17 and suddenly armed men and vehicles with flashing lights show up and round her up separating her from her community, her husband, and her parents. All of this police action may be far more traumatic to her than the life customs she's known all her life.
Basically it seems these folks have resurrected OT culture in their community. Certainly TX has the legal authority to act where the law was broken...but let's remember...these are arranged marriages. The talking heads on television and radio are saying these girls are "raped". But what they are calling "rape" are in fact "arranged marriages". The logic is that since these girls didn't choose their partners and were under age (the age being a valid legal issue) their expected submission to marital consummation is therefore "rape". But for all we know no one was tied down, beaten, or brutalized. Who's to say some of these girls didn't rejoice in that they were being married? Not that it's right, it's still illegal...but the term "rape" to me denotes something far more brutal than an arranged marriage. If an arranged marriage is equal to rape....most of God's anointed in the OT are rapists.
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Your perception of what goes on in this group I think is a little idealistic. This isn't like the Amish where they don't want to go forward, but want to stay back in time due to preserving family values. What you have described reminds me of the Amish community I used to live in. What is going on in that compound is totally different.
These children are brought up by different women not just their mothers. They don't have a family life that is normal. If a women decides to leave this compound she can do so, but can't take her children with her. There is no love in this type of lifestyle it is fear and control. This is a cult that people are kept out of for a reason.
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