The Polygamy Belief System Dichotomous Key

Polygamy is a controversial topic. So many people have different beliefs about it and it can be quite confusing to keep it all straight! I have done my best to organize the different beliefs into groups by using a dichotomous key. There are more beliefs for each of these categories than I have written down. This is meant to be a general guide to show the complexity of this issue, increase awareness of the various perspectives, and to help a person determine their own beliefs/biases. I recognize that this doesn't reflect the whole picture though. There are various differences in beliefs even among the people I've grouped into categories. 

Also, understand that each of us already have formed beliefs about this topic. We will find ourselves already in one of these categories. To change categories requires us to examine our belief sets and find new evidence to support those beliefs. This requires us to work from the bottom of the key up rather than from starting from the top of the key down. We first examine who we spend time listening to, what their beliefs and motives are, the outcomes of believing what they believe, and discovering what we personally believe. Then we have to surround ourselves with new perspectives and people with different paradigms. When we do this, we begin to recognize other beliefs (that I have not listed) that are deeply connected to our beliefs concerning polygamy. Changing our paradigm can be quite a long process. It can also be a faith-shaking process because we have to reexamine what beliefs are actually based on truth, what are only assumptions, what are beliefs from others, and what are traditions. 

Understanding this process can help us have compassion for others who are looking at this issue for the first time or for those who are unwilling to change their view on this topic. We need to recognize that when we ask if these various beliefs about polygamy are true, we are uprooting many other beliefs. Many people don't want to do this because it's uncomfortable and can be very scary!