Christian Polygamy

[rogueblack]

There are sects, like some Mormons, who are polygamous. There are some free-spirited Christians who are also polygamous (although not in an organised way, just more of a wanting-to-get-rocks-off way

Comments

[doctoreon]

God clearly describes one man and one woman. That's it. Simple, short, to the point.

Please cite chapter and verse.

[rogueblack]

Why do you think polygamy is allowed in different parts of the OT as an acceptable part of society?

Also, didn't St. Paul talk about this?

[doctoreon]

Exodus 21:10-11

10 "If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights.
11 "If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

1 Kings 11:3

3 He [King Solomon] had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.

2 Chronicles 11:2

21Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters

Deuteronomy 21:15-1715 "If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved

[rogueblack]

You've listed only OT. Do you think that's significant?

* That last sentence just seemed better with another verb.

[doctoreon]

Meh, it's not like I couldn't find more, I just got a phone call at work while I was searching. Anyway, you can always refer to the OT Laws + the Sermon on the Mount (i.e., Jesus came here to fulfill the Laws), and you have a sound Christian argument.

As far as I can tell, there are no places in the NT that forbid polygamy. There are proscriptions against divorce, of course, but that's not specific to monogamous marriages. There is one place in Paul's Epistles that says if you wish to be an overseer/bishop, you must only have one wife - I assume this is because all of those men with more than one wife are way too busy.

[virtual_anima]

The previous reason for one man, one woman was also from the OT. Do you think that's significant?

[olivechauclette]

about monogamy being unnatural-- personally, i wonder how realistic it is to expect to find someone to be life partners with for 60 years or so. i mean, when life expectancies were shorter, maybe this wasn't so much of an issue. It's just that people can change so much during the course of their lives; i think "serial monogamy" might be more realistic.

i think that the biblical abraham and sarah were married for a good long while, but even then, he had a kid by her handmaiden. does that count as polygamy?

[olivechauclette]

well, i do understand this view, but haven't you ever seen people who just got married for the wrong reasons? do you mean that you do not accept divorce?

[rogueblack]

There are many Churches who do accept divorce because of the "wrong reasons". Even Catholics do, although it takes some paperwork. People are flawed, after all. But if we're speaking in ideals, I think grace_of_spades summed that up well.

[mybodymycoffin]

Exodus 21:10
"If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish."

Historically polygamy was and is not uncommon, it's just that in most cultures it isn't the norm because having multiple spouses means having another person to take care of. In the case of polygyny it also means having to take care of the babies that come from not just the one but the two wives- lots of babies. So, while everyday John and Sara Hebrew may not have practiced polygamy for financial reasons, if one's finances were in order one could certainly go through the motions.

In the US, for example, marriage is monogamous for cultural reasons- most of us don't see the need for multiple wives or husbands. For humans, monogamy is as natural as polygamy, which is to say that it isn't an issue of 'nature' at all, just a matter of custom.

[rogueblack]

Do you think religion had influence on society or that society had influence on religion when it comes to defining this custom? Do you have any information on the historical turning-point of when Christianity became monogamous as a matter of morality instead of financial wherewithall?

[mybodymycoffin]

Well, I don't think Christians became monogamous as a matter of morality at all. Rather, I think after certain civilizations that practiced Christianity adopted monogamous relationships, through matter of convention and tradition, they developed the idea that monogamy was morally superior by way of ethnocentric observation. I don't have any information on any turning points, though. If I'm flat out wrong on anything it would serve me right for talking out of my ass, but this is sort of the culmination of info I've picked up along the years. I'm curious myself as to how common polygamy was in European cultures and where it turned around.

[doctoreon]

I have a hunch that Christianity became monogamous around the same time the priesthood became celibate and chaste. I'm searching for evidence now, though.

[ladypeyton]

Polygamy is mentioned in the Book of Mormon and, IIRC, the Articles of Faith as well. Both books supercede the Bible in the fundamental Mormon faith, the way I understand it.

[captain_brad]

Not in the AoF (which isn't a book, but basically the Mormon version of the Profession of Faith in Catholicism), but certainly in the BoM and D&C. Possibly mentioned in the Pearl of Great Price, but I haven't read that shit in 20 years.