Why are some people so defensive about Joseph Smith and polygamy?

[_zeezrom]

I do not believe that Joseph Smith was motivated by simple lust. From everything I know, his institution of polygamy was the result of a complex thought process, and may indeed have been motivated by "theological imperative," if I can steal a phrase.

How do people come to this conclusion?

So Joseph believed that God really, really needed him to do this? That was his motivation? I have a hard time believing that.

[_Nimrod]

I do not believe that Joseph Smith was motivated by simple lust. From everything I know, his institution of polygamy was the result of a complex thought process, and may indeed have been motivated by "theological imperative," if I can steal a phrase.

How do people come to this conclusion?

So Joseph believed that God really, really needed him to do this? That was his motivation? I have a hard time believing that.

I think it was combination of Joseph Smith's lust and his megalomania--I think Joseph Smith was trying to raise up seed of his own (not a righteous seed to God, but to increase the influence of his genes among the human population beyond what Emma alone could provide him). If Joseph Smith convinced himself that God really, really wanted Joseph Smith to engage in polyandry, I think he had intentionally begun to so self-delude himself. Whether he succeeded, or simply knew all along that it was a ruse, Joseph Smith's root motivations were his lust and megalomania.

[_Some Schmo]

Tiger Woods had sex with several women behind his wife's back...

OMG, did you see the major smack down I just put on Tiger Woods? That was one vicious, underhanded attack!

I bet some of you are thinking that I was full of crap when I said it, too.

The state of your colon isn't germane to the discussion. ;-)

Tiger Woods claims to be a prophet? Tiger Woods claims an angel made him do it?

That's the real difference, I guess. Nobody is invested in believing an angel made Tiger Woods do it or that he's a prophet.

[_Redefined]

I think it was combination of Joseph Smith's lust and his megalomania--I think Joseph Smith was trying to raise up seed of his own (not a righteous seed to God, but to increase the influence of his genes among the human population beyond what Emma alone could provide him). If Joseph Smith convinced himself that God really, really wanted Joseph Smith to engage in polyandry, I think he had intentionally begun to so self-delude himself. Whether he succeeded, or simply knew all along that it was a ruse, Joseph Smith's root motivations were his lust and megalomania.

Well, prepare yourselves for conspiracy theory 101 here. . .

I think it was because he had an "alpha-male" attitude, wherein everything had to be his, and he wanted command over people, and this just gave him more power and fed into his ego. Owning people psychologically was the key to any of his success. "Ruling" the females was the easy part, compartively. As for the males, he took the mans power away by "owning" the mans female pack. . . if the females accept him in, the males have to acknowledge him, and once he had a foot inside the door, he was able to take control.

[_zzyzx]

Joseph Smith was one of those types many of us know. Wherever and whenever an erection occurs, they believe they must satisfy it. They are driven by their urges and lust. Would screw a light socket if they thought it would feel good.

Dirtbags and slimeballs is the term. They are still with us. Joseph Smith just had the (mis)fortune of being 'A Prophet' and able to make plausible excuses that got him past the defenses of many of the women and even their parents. A few were smart enough to throw cold water on his advances and were summarily trashed, their virtue smeared with innuendo and outright lying as a result.

Young girls. Other mens wives. Even some older women. Got an urge? Try them all!
Power corrupts. Absolute Power corrupts absolutely.

[_Runtu]

How do people come to this conclusion?

So Joseph believed that God really, really needed him to do this? That was his motivation? I have a hard time believing that.

I do not believe God wanted Joseph Smith to practice polygamy, especially not behind his wife's back. But I think it's quite possible that Joseph was convinced that there were religious/theological reasons for the practice.

It's been 24 hours since I posted the OP. I've shown that my statements about Joseph Smith were not slanderous or false or even embellished. I provided sources and context (the lack of which was Nevo's main complaint). My challenge still stands: show me how I've made any slanderous or underhanded slams against Joseph Smith.

If telling the truth is what passes for slander in apologetic circles, I worry about their future.

[_Redefined]

What I object to are misrepresentations of the facts.

You say you object to misrepresentations of the facts. Yet the church's version of Joseph Smith could be called "misrepresentation". If Joseph Smith did practise polygamy for "worldly" purposes, then the critics aren't the ones misrepresenting. If he practised it because he was called of God then critics are misrepresenting. So misrepresentation depends on what position one chooses to believe.

Also, the church is notorious for misrepresenting facts. Ya might want to re-evaluate if you are representing the very thing that you object to.

[_Runtu]

What I object to are misrepresentations of the facts.

You say you object to misrepresentations of the facts. Yet the church's version of Joseph Smith could be called "misrepresentation". If Joseph Smith did practise polygamy for "worldly" purposes, then the critics aren't the ones misrepresenting. If he practised it because he was called of God then critics are misrepresenting. So misrepresentation depends on what position one chooses to believe.

Also, the church is notorious for misrepresenting facts. Ya might want to re-evaluate if you are representing the very thing that you object to.

Given that no one here can show that I've misrepresented the facts, I should think that no one objects to what I've said. That would explain the complete silence from the apologists.

[_Redefined]

Given that no one here can show that I've misrepresented the facts, I should think that no one objects to what I've said. That would explain the complete silence from the apologists.

That is usually the way it works, unless they are of the denial sort.

[_truth dancer]

Hi ZZ,

Joseph married Fannie Alger a couple years BEFORE the restoration of the keys for sealing in celestial marriage.

We know Joseph was caught in the barn with sixteen year old Fannie and was asked by friends to stop his nasty, filthy affair with Fannie but I don't think there is much evidence that there was any "marriage." A claim years later that there was a marriage (as you note, long before any "restoration") is a cover up, IMHO of course. (wink)

~td~