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Big Love

This topic is a place to discuss the religious aspects of the new HBO series: Big Love.

You can find out about the show here:
https://www.hbo.com/biglove/?ntrack_para1=l...category0_show1

The show apparently has a lot of religious issues popping up in it. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is officially condemning the show, and has asked HBO not to air it. Hundreds of individual LDS members have written to HBO complaining about the show, its content, and the way it portrays life among the Mormons. Ant-polygamists have been publicly screaming about it, concerned that people might come to think that polygamists aren't really the monsters and hicks that the anti-polygamist groups make them out to be. Polygamists are worried that the show might portray them AS the monsters and hicks that the popular culture, the anti-polygamists, and the states of Utah and Arizona make them out to be.

The polygamists that I personally have contact with seem, for the most part, to be enjoying this show. Some have said that the show gives a fairly balanced and realistic view of the trials and joys of polygyny (one man married to more than one woman). Most are uncomfortable with the portrayal of the main character's father-in-law, a "Prophet" who is overbearing, bigoted, and just plain a miserable man.

Do you think that a show such as this might bring about more discussion in the public about the legal issues, the moral and religious concerns, the joys and tribulations of people who believe that God has called them to live this type of life? Or will it just be another parody?

Love Big

Here are a couple of VERY important point to consider about this show, and the discussion of it.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has abandoned the practice of plural marriage. The Manifesto, a statement presented in 1890, officially ended the practice within the church. However, since that time, various groups have started up claiming to have the original authority to continue the practice. In the late 1960s, early 1970s, these groups were dubbed "Mormon Fundamentalists". They do NOT represent the LDS church in any way.

Most of these groups have their own "Prophets" that claim this authority. Some are really nice men. Some aren't. Some are tyrants (benevolent or malicious), some are gentle leaders. This particular show seems to portray the Prophet of this particular groups in a certain way, and the members of the group will react to him in a certain way. None of these characteristics have anything to do with the way LDS members and leaders act or think.

The LDS church is trying desperately to distance itself in all ways from this series. The fear is that most people who watch the show will come to think that all LDS embrace the ideas and principles discussed in the show.

There is a lot of difference between the various "Fundamentalist" groups, as well as between the "Independent Fundamentalists" (those who don't claim to be part of any of the groups) in doctrine, understanding, philosophy, and practice, that there are currently a lot of strong discussions going on among them about how well the show portrays their lifestyles.

Offtopic but, I placed this post as a separate entry in order to emphasize the fact that there is a huge difference between what is portrayed in the show, and what the LDS church and people believe.

Big Love Beliefs Religious General

This show brings something to the fore front of this debate that has bothered me from the first time my church spoke against polygamy when I was a kid. Why are people so vehement against a man that can support more than one family when so many cannot support one? In big love, the man supports all of his family, and doesn't neglect any of them. He loves them all and it seems like he is a moral and upstanding person in the community. What would stopping this practice or putting him in jail for it do for anyone involved besides leave three broken familys behind? I hope this show starts to show that it is not the act itself but the attitude and the actions behind the belief that are important. Perhaps it will allow others to start seeing this as a religious choice (though no longer endorsed) rather than a legal issue.

Love Big

With the Texas Polygamists under fire I recently saw Showbiz Today bring up this show. They were saying that "Big Love" brings in 6,000,000 viewers on the cable only show! The question they brought up - Why are people fascinated with polygamy?

Love Big

Sex. Anything related to it sells. You may ask: How is this related to polygamy? Well, no matter what everybody says, a lot of of men out there fantasize with being with more than one woman hence the topic is fascinated to them.

Big Love

I think the show is a nice show I do not watch it often but my wife does not miss a show. I think it is more geared toward women in my opinion.