>For example, what if the girls are being killed if they can't be married?
If this were the kind of culture that a person lived in, why not just marry them to save their lives and then not consummate the relationship?
>Are you sure that is usually how the story plays out?
In cultures that allow children to be married to adults, yes, this is usually how it plays out.
Also, I realize there is a possibility that this particular story is fabricated. I just responded to the oft-repeated claim that we should try to be more understanding of pedophiles if and only if they are from a different culture. I can't imagine a circumstance where people should be forgiving to any 36 year-old man that has a sexual relationship with a 12-year old.
"why not just marry them to save their lives and then not consummate the relationship?"
That's what I meant - perhaps it often works out that way, and only the rape cases are being reported to the western world for emotional effect.
"I just responded to the oft-repeated claim that we should try to be more understanding of pedophiles if and only if they are from a different culture."
I've never heard that kind of story, but I admit that I don't read a lot about pedophiles.
But it seems normal that 12 year olds have sex. Perhaps criticizing the age difference has a lot of culture dependent aspects? For example the limit of 18 years to call somebody an adult seems somewhat arbitrary. In any case I don't think pedophilia can be attached to an age limit, only to body development?
Nature allows a lot of things. But it is not because of this that it is the best thing to let it happen. The decision to disallow this kind of behavior through law was rational.
You misunderstand me. I am not arguing against the law. Just against cultural bias.
If you left 12 year olds to their own devices without educating them that they shouldn't have sex, many of them will probably have sex. That is what I mean by "it is normal". Is it even illegal for 12 year olds to have sex?
Also, out of curiosity, how would you explain to kids that they shouldn't have sex? I think some reasons don't apply across all cultures.
If this were the kind of culture that a person lived in, why not just marry them to save their lives and then not consummate the relationship?
>Are you sure that is usually how the story plays out?
In cultures that allow children to be married to adults, yes, this is usually how it plays out.
Also, I realize there is a possibility that this particular story is fabricated. I just responded to the oft-repeated claim that we should try to be more understanding of pedophiles if and only if they are from a different culture. I can't imagine a circumstance where people should be forgiving to any 36 year-old man that has a sexual relationship with a 12-year old.