Celtic Recons and old/societal norms

[Nuadu]

I was reading a thread on 'genetic sexual attraction', kissing cousins more or less, where the OP was asking how pagans felt about those relationships. It raises a question for me - Do the Brehon Laws on those relationships have an impact on recons view of cousin couples or does the natural cultural bias of the place youre raised win out?

Its probably a boring question for recons cos similar questions get asked so much but its an taboo subject and from that... fun!

[TuathaSidhe]

Hontestly im not sure how much I can/could speak on that in general as Im really really new at this. lol.

Myself personally...I couldnt fathom the idea of being with one of my cousins. But, I grew up "closely" to my cousins and I wonder if we are talking 1st cousins or further back?

I think, (and im not sure) but its actually legal in some parts (states?) to marry a cousin that is so far back..(4th or so?)

In now adays, while I find it a little creepy, I think people need to think about social norms that influence out choices now. Obvisouly I wouldnt stop two cousins from getting married so long as it was done legally and they were both consenting (adults) in it.

I wonder if, 'way back when' the idea of marring your cousin stemed from keeping the family together or pure or something of that nature?

Obvisiouly now a days its know that the closer in relationship the more of a chance the offspring will have a greater risk of problems.

I have no idea if that helps or answers your question.

[Nuadu]

I have no idea if that helps or answers your question.

Ah it does yeah thanks very much :thumbsup:
It is kind of what I expected, Recon isnt a religion for Ireland circa 5th century its for a modern society. Eamon mentioned in another thread that the brehon laws contain things like ethics and morals important to 'celtic paganism' and since recons take all the literary things that much more seriously I thought Id chance my arm that some recons took the Brehon Law in a similar way.

[odubhain]

I was reading a thread on 'genetic sexual attraction', kissing cousins more or less, where the OP was asking how pagans felt about those relationships. It raises a question for me - Do the Brehon Laws on those relationships have an impact on recons view of cousin couples or does the natural cultural bias of the place youre raised win out?

Its probably a boring question for recons cos similar questions get asked so much but its an taboo subject and from that... fun!

I think that social attitudes shape how one gets married in the United States. The regular laws generally do not forbid cousins marrying in most states though it's generally very much borderline in terms of social mores for most people. I know two couples where the partners are cousins (having the same grandmother. Both marriages seem happy and accepted. In one, it was a marriage of age while in the other the marriage was between college age students. The latter couple are from Tennessee and are very good friends of mine and have four wonderful children and loads of grandchildren. He is a physician and she is a school teacher. All their children are also college graduates. I am godfather to their oldest son who is now a Presbyterian minister.

FWIW I don't think that Brehon Law would forbid the marriage of cousins.

Searles O'Dubhain

[Nuadu]

I think that social attitudes shape how one gets married in the United States. The regular laws generally do not forbid cousins marrying in most states though it's generally very much borderline in terms of social mores for most people. I know two couples where the partners are cousins (having the same grandmother. Both marriages seem happy and accepted. In one, it was a marriage of age while in the other the marriage was between college age students. The latter couple are from Tennessee and are very good friends of mine and have four wonderful children and loads of grandchildren. He is a physician and she is a school teacher. All their children are also college graduates. I am godfather to their oldest son who is now a Presbyterian minister.

FWIW I don't think that Brehon Law would forbid the marriage of cousins.

Searles O'Dubhain

Thats very cool Searles,

Brehon Law doesnt forbid the marriage of cousins if history is any judge.
The conflict over marriages was a fairly big one cos the church couldnt enforce the degrees of separation in marriage where our secular brehon law allowed for closer relations to marry. I think they sorted it out in the 9th century with their own lawyers anyway but you still get second cousins marrying here so first cousins would probably marry if marriage wasnt a christian institution in Ireland.

I mean Id like to be buried but I cant be unless Im christian because all the graveyards are concecrated. Thats Ireland.