Would it be worng to?

[Scribs]

I'm not sure on it being right, but to throw in more confusion. Wasn't Abraham & Sarah step brother & sister?

half brother and sister actually. but things were different back then.

[Yojimbo]

half brother and sister actually. but things were different back then.

Yeah incest was pretty normal back in that time period.

[Nate]

Actually, did you know the rate of birth defects for blood related first cousins is only 2% greater than that of two people not related?

Uh...just saying is all...

>.>;;

[Yojimbo]

[quote="kaemmerite"]Actually, did you know the rate of birth defects for blood related first cousins is only 2% greater than that of two people not related?

Uh...just saying is all...

>.>]

Based on? I take stats with a grain of salt because they're so easily manipulated. I mean I don't think that every first cousin's offspring will have defects, but it's still not a thing that one can condone. I know you aren't though.

[SailorDove]

half brother and sister actually. but things were different back then.

Yes they were! I don't mean that its good now, but meant to draw attention that nobody's kinda referanced any bible verses for an answer.

[Mithrandir]

For a bit of mathmatical fun, try figuring out how many ways Joseph was decended from Abraham.

[Nate]

Based on? I take stats with a grain of salt because they're so easily manipulated. I mean I don't think that every first cousin's offspring will have defects, but it's still not a thing that one can condone. I know you aren't though.

Oh, you can make up statistics to prove anything. 14% of all people know that.

Kidding, kidding. I can't remember the source I read it in, perhaps I'll google and see if I come up with anything, but I have read it somewhere...

[Bobtheduck]

One of my favorite shows featured a troubled romantic stepsibling relationship, and it was somewhat disturbing. But maybe that's because they had been portrayed as blood siblings leading up to that point.

What show was that? Is it an anime, or just an American TV show... EDIT: Oh, sorry, just found it...

In any case, back on topic, I don't think there would be anything wrong with it, per se, but I seem to remember something about children who are raised as brothers and sisters getting married, it usually ends disastrously... I have no backing for this, this is just a small note that I remember from somewhere that is lodged in my brain right now... It probably wouldn't be good for children that were raised too closely from childhood to get married, even if there is not relationship by blood or law.

Then they're directly related and that's just not right.

I disagree with that. You won't find any biblical basis for that statement. I used to think that, but while it is strange, it isn't wrong. As for 1st cousins, I believe there is a test you can perform to see if they could have children, but there isn't any danger of deformed children in 2nd cousins, other than danger that exists with any couple.

[Nate]

Okay, after googling and checking things out, it turns out...

There really isn't anything definitive. Some sites say that the rate is 4%-6% higher for first cousins (a bit higher than what I previously reported), while other sites report that the rate is double that of non-related people.

So I guess it's just one of those things that you really can't find a solid statistical number for. Though I guess the fault lies in the nature of the study...how are you going to scientifically research that? Force first cousins to have children and see how many have birth defects? So, yeah, it's understandable that there are conflicting studies.

As far as what Bob said, I pretty much agree. I don't condone first cousins marrying, but I don't condemn it either. I'm like, neutral, because really the only things that are wrong as far as a Biblical sense are mother/son and father/daughter, and I think maybe brother/sister. I'm definitely sure about the first two, and only kinda sure about the third.

[SailorDove]

because really the only things that are wrong as far as a Biblical sense are mother/son and father/daughter, and I think maybe brother/sister. I'm definitely sure about the first two, and only kinda sure about the third.

I agree with you & that's what I thought incest meant, too.